SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Carolina Panthers made history on Thursday by holding a joint practice with a high school football team.

The Spartanburg High School Vikings went through warmups and had a chance to interact with Carolina’s coaches and players at Wofford College before breaking off and doing their own work on an adjacent field.

Panthers director of community relations Riley Fields said it is the first time an NFL team has practiced alongside a high school team.

Fields said the organization wanted to celebrate the NFL’s Play 60 initiative by doing something special and unique. He said the Panthers needed to clear everything with the NFL, the NCAA and state high school officials before the project initiative was granted.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said when Fields initially approached him about the idea he was against it. But the NFL Coach of the Year soon changed his mind once he realized it could be a huge benefit to the high school athletes.

“To me it’s about the love of the game and bringing it back to the community,” Rivera said.

Spartanburg High School coach Chris Miller said he thought it was a joke at first when his office received a call about practicing with the Panthers.

“It is just an unbelievable opportunity for us,” Miller said.