UK HealthCare

Football Players Bring Homecoming Spirit to Kentucky Children's Hospital

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Photo of Sawyer Smith handing football to toddler
Courtney Love hands football to young patient

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2019) – The week of homecoming is a big deal at the University of Kentucky; events, parades and tailgating throughout the week lead up to the big game against the University of Arkansas. It's an exciting time to be on campus, and for the second year in a row, UK football players and cheerleaders are bringing that excitement to the patients at Kentucky Children's Hospital (KCH).

Last year, UK football tight end CJ Conrad stopped by KCH to visit with patients every Tuesday morning. They would play games, make slime in the playroom or just hang out. "Tuesdays with CJ" became a favorite event, and even though CJ has graduated and moved on, the tradition continues with "Tuesdays with the Wildcats."

“It’s been awesome to take what CJ Conrad started last year and continue visiting the Kentucky Children’s Hospital each Tuesday," said director of player development and former UK linebacker Courtney Love. "Our team really enjoys visiting with the kids and their families. For just a couple of hours each Tuesday, they can forget about their illnesses and just have fun making slime or playing catch in the hallway. We hope this partnership with UK Football and the Kentucky Children’s Hospital lasts for a long, long time.”

"CJ's visits meant so much to our patients, and we're thrilled that Courtney has picked up his torch and continues with the weekly visits," said KCH Child Life Coordinator Jennifer Guilliams. "Homecoming is such a special time on campus, and the football players and cheerleaders bring the excitement and spirit of UK to our patients."

Joining Love was quarterback Sawyer Smith, kicker Matt Ruffolo and offensive lineman Luke Fortner. They signed footballs, played games and handed out swag to patients and their families.

Conrad's visits started in part because he was inspired by the work Love did for the Central Kentucky community. In 2017, Love was awarded the Wuerffel Trophy, an award that honors college football's top community servant. While a student at UK, Love spent countless hours mentoring children living in one parent households or had parents who are incarcerated.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.