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Kentucky Football returns to UK Children's Hospital for first time since pandemic

Nick-Roush-headshotby: Nick Roush05/04/22RoushKSR
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Patients from the UK Children's Hospital lead the way every Saturday at the front of the Cat Walk. (Image via UK Athletics)

It was a homecoming this week for the Kentucky football program. For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, UK Children’s Hospital opened its doors to friends from Kroger Field.

Mark Stoops’ players and the UK Children’s Hospital have cultivated a close relationship over the years. Before he was the Director of UK Player Development, linebacker Courtney Love made frequent stops to see the pediatric cancer patients. C.J. Conrad, now a grad assistant on the staff, turned that into a tradition with his “Tuesdays with C.J.” program.

Unfortunately, those visits by the Kentucky football team were one of the many things taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was an unnecessary risk to expose the immunocompromised patients to more people. After more than two years, the Cats can once again put some smiles on faces.

Luke Fortner was one of the early regular visitors with Conrad. Selected by the Jaguars in the third round of last week’s NFL Draft, the former Kentucky offensive lineman was happy to make one more trip before reporting to rookie minicamp in Jacksonville.

“Every time you walk in the room here and show up here, you forget how much you take for granted,” he told LEX-18. “It’s eye-opening and puts everything in perspective.”

This tradition will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Along with Fortner, veteran placekicker Matt Ruffolo was there to show the new guys the ropes. OG Tashawn Manning, WR Dane Key and DL Tomiwa Durojaiye left their first visit to the UK Children’s Hospital with a rewarding feeling.

“A lot of these guys are fans, a part of the Big Blue Nation,” said. Durojaiye. “We just want to interact with them and show them they’re family to us and we really appreciate them.”

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2025-08-05