Nearly 50 Special Olympics Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake County atheltes took to the grid iron on August 15th at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to test their football skills against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Each year, the Buccaneers invite Special Olympics athletes out to their training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for the Junior Gatorade Training Camp; a fun punt, pass and kick-style clinic.

After getting autographs and pictures with Bucs Head Coach John Gruden, everyone moved out to the practice field for the clinic, lead by longtime Special Olympics supporter and fan-favorite, Mike Alstott. Joining Mike were Matt Bryant - Kicker, Maurice Stovall - WR, Bruce Gradkowksi - QB, Captain Fear - the Buccaneers' mascot and members of the Buccaneers' Community Relations team, as well as countless media.

The athletes went through a series of offensive and defensive drills, with the Bucs players serving as everything from coaches, to cheerleaders to tackling obstacles for the athletes to navigate. Mike Alstott said to a Tampa area reporter: "Anything you do puts a smile on everybody's face and that's the humbling situation and satisfaction of doing it. You know, it's really hard to describe the feeling that you get, but it's awesome.”

The day was capped off by a surprise visit from Governor Charlie Crist who was at the same venue, shooting a public service announcement. Crist, a long-time supporter of Special Olympics Florida by serving on its Board of Directors and supporting the Law Enforcement Torch Run, posed for pictures, talked with athletes and tossed the football around with the group.

Check out all of the photos from the camp!

Read about the camp on the Buccaneers website: click on "News," "Archive," "8/15/2007 - A Reason to Smile"

And for all the latest on the Buccaneers and the 2007-2008 season, visit www.buccaneers.com