Marahall UAB Football

A Freeuab banner is shown during a NCAA college football game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

(MARK ALMOND)

Several supporters of UAB's football program attended this week's Birmingham City Council meeting in a show of support for the team, but perhaps, none had an emotional testimony like Timothy Alexander.

Alexander, who is paralyzed from the waist down due to a 2006 car crash, has unofficially been a part of the program for the last few years. He shared the impact the program has had on his life with those in the chamber and members of the council.

"Today because of UAB, not only am I an athlete here, I'm also a graduate now," he said. "Not only that, my teammates went to the coaches and rose money for me to get a new wheelchair, the rose money and got me into grad school. They just stand by my side each and every day to say, 'Tim we're looking forward to seeing you at practice.'"

Watch the rest of Alexander's speech below: