For some others, watching from the stands and meeting the players up close is a dream come true.

Eight-year-old Alex Paige puts the fan in fanatic.

"Now that football season has started if we miss any of his favorite teams we'll get in trouble," said Alex's mother, Melanie Paige.

Doctors diagnosed Alex with spinabifida before he was born.

"He was born with a hole in his spine and they just closed it up the day he was born," said Melanie. "And he's doing really, really well."

Recently the Missouri football team has invited Alex and his family to practice.

"To us they're kids playing football, but to Alex these are celebrites and this is a big, big deal," said Melanie.

Here was Alex's big chance to see his football heroes up close.

"Chase and Maclin," said Alex Paige when asked which players he would like to meet.

But he didnt expect everyone to come visit with him.

"I'm Kurtis." "I'm Tim. We protect that skinny little guy you were just talking to," football players joked.

Alex got a few autographs.

"You the man," the team encouraged. 

And Alex even gave a few autographs of his own.

And the experience didn't end with practice. Alex was even able to meet and talk with Coach Gary Pinkel.

"Thanks for coming to practice," said Pinkel. "You coming to the game on Saturday?"

"Yes!" said Alex.

 "Good!" said Pinkel. 

"I think he's going to go get into it. We might have to contain him a little bit," said Melanie. "He might hurt anybody who is near him."

His perch at Faurot Field is perfect to see the Tigers pile on the points.

The Dream Factory made Alex's experience happen. The organization makes dreams come true for critically and chronically ill kids.

"I see that they just enjoy themself thoroughly. They forget that they have special needs and it makes them happy. It makes me happy," said Paula Stuebben of the Dream Factory. "The Dream Factory has been just that, a dream. They really take care of their kids."

"It means a lot. There are things out there that he's not going to get to do. So when things like this happen. It's something that a regular kids not going to get to do," said Melanie.

Missouri football is teaming up with the Dream Factory all season. At each home game they'll grant a Tiger football fan a dream just like Alex.