Tiffin University’s football team will host its first Kickin’ Down Barriers Day Saturday, August 22, at 7 p.m. at Frost-Kalnow Stadium, 300 S. Monroe St., Tiffin.
Kickin’ Down Barriers Day gives individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities the opportunity to play football, cheer and enjoy their “moment in the sun” alongside members of the Tiffin University community. Each participant will be introduced over the public address system before running onto the field through a tunnel formed by TU football players, cheerleaders, band members, family members and other supporters. Participants will rotate through skill stations. The Dragons will also set up a mock defense, giving each participant the opportunity to run the ball into the end zone and score a touchdown. At the conclusion of the event, participants will be recognized for their accomplishments.
The Tiffin community and TU faculty, staff, students, alumni and families are encouraged to attend and fill the stands to cheer on participants throughout the evening. Community members are invited to bring their families and friends and help create an energetic and supportive atmosphere for those taking part.
Kickin’ Down Barriers LLC is a movement dedicated to creating opportunities for people with intellectual and physical disabilities to build meaningful relationships, experience inclusion, and be an active part of their communities. Through partnerships with schools, universities, student-athletes and community organizations, Kickin’ Down Barriers works to break down barriers and create opportunities for people with disabilities to participate, connect, compete and belong. The movement was inspired by Caden Cox, the younger brother of Tiffin University Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Zane Cox. Caden, who has Down syndrome, became the first person with Down syndrome to score in a college football game. His experience as a student-athlete and member of a team inspired the Cox family to create opportunities for others with disabilities to be included, challenged, celebrated and given the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Tiffin University Athletics is also launching the Kickin’ Down Barriers Teammate Program, a year-round initiative designed to build lasting relationships between TU student-athletes and individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. The program will extend opportunities for inclusion beyond a single event by bringing participants together through social gatherings, athletic experiences, campus activities and other opportunities throughout the year. Through these shared experiences, the program aims to foster meaningful friendships and create a stronger sense of connection and belonging within the TU community.
“Our family has seen firsthand through Caden how powerful it can be when people are given an opportunity to be included, supported, and believed in,” said Zane Cox. “Caden became the first person with Down syndrome to score in a college football game, but what has always meant the most to our family is the opportunity he was given to be part of a team and show people what he was capable of. That is what inspired us to start Kickin’ Down Barriers.
“We are so excited and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin this movement at Tiffin University and to have Tiffin become the first chapter of what we hope will grow into a nationwide college athletics movement. This is about so much more than one night. We want to create genuine friendships and relationships between student-athletes and people with intellectual and physical disabilities, giving everyone the opportunity to feel like they belong. We hope the Tiffin community will come out, fill the stands, cheer these amazing people on and be part of the beginning of something very special.”
For more information about Kickin’ Down Barriers Day, contact Debby Roszman at RoszmanDL@tiffin.edu.