On March 14, 2008, during the Second Round of the 2008 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, a moment of athletic brilliance turned into an unintentional act of heroism. Mykal Riley, playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide, hit a buzzer-beating three-point shot to tie the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs inside the now-defunct Georgia Dome in Atlanta. His shot sent the game into overtime.

What many did not realize at the time was that severe weather was approaching downtown Atlanta. At 9:26 PM EDT, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning, and the alert was displayed on the stadium’s video boards. At approximately 9:38 PM, an EF2 tornado struck the Georgia Dome, damaging the roof and causing debris to fall inside the stadium.

Had Riley not made that buzzer beater, the game would have ended in regulation—and thousands of fans would have begun exiting the stadium just as the tornado struck. Because of his shot, the game extended into overtime, keeping fans inside and out of immediate harm’s way.

Although the Alabama Crimson Tide eventually lost the game, 69–67, Mykal Riley’s shot may have prevented serious injuries—or worse. It became more than just a dramatic basketball moment—it became a moment where sports potentially saved lives.

The NCAA Award of Valor honors individuals who demonstrate “courageous action or noteworthy bravery.” While Riley’s act was not intentional in a life-saving sense, the positive and possibly life-preserving consequences of his buzzer-beating shot align with the spirit of this award.

We respectfully urge the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to award Mykal Riley the NCAA Award of Valor. He deserves recognition not just for his athletic excellence, but for the extraordinary, unintended impact his shot had on the safety of thousands.

Sign this petition to recognize Mykal Riley—not just for making a shot, but for helping protect lives in one of the most unexpected ways imaginable.