Craig Brackins was nervous.

The ISU forward walked into Hilton Coliseum Friday night for the Iowa Special Olympics opening ceremonies and was greeted with a thunderous roar of approval from the crowd.

Brackins said he tried to walk into the building unobtrusively and stand in line to greet the athletes, but then he heard his name announced over the loud speaker.

“I heard the crowd and turned around and it was like ‘oh my God,’” he said with a smile. “I was more nervous about this than any game I’ve ever played.”

Brackins was scheduled to appear at the opening ceremonies as an honored guest, a position he said has never been filled by an athlete.

“Last week my coach told me that I was an honored guest and asked me if I wanted to do it,” he said. “And I said, ‘of course.’ You can’t turn something like this down.”

When the ceremony closed, Brackins was inundated with fans. A line of about 50 people crowded around the stage, waiting to ask Brackins for an autograph or photo or to exchange a few words with him.

Brackins talked in an easy, jovial tone with the old and young, fans and coaches, athletes and even a few band members who approached him.

“I’ve participated in community service events like this before, but nothing at this magnitude,” Brackins said. “You know, this is like their NCAA championship, I bet they plan and think about this all year.”

Brackins opened the ceremony by saying the athletes should have fun because “that’s what it’s all about.”

He said his favorite part of the event was congratulating the athletes as they entered the building.

“They were so excited, their faces. I just — I can’t describe it,” he said. “Some of them knew me, and you know, it just brings out the joy in you.”