A Kentucky coal miner rushed from work to watch a basketball game with his son. Now he's being rewarded with VIP tickets.

Michael McGuire got off of work at the coal mine and rushed to Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky. He was covered in dirt from work, having not had time to shower after his shift, but he had something important to do: watch a basketball game with his son.

As McGuire and his son enjoyed the game together, a fan snapped a photo – and it quickly went viral. It even made it to University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Coach John Calipari, who was moved by the image. 

Calipari said at a press conference on Tuesday that when he was sent the photo, it hit him "right between the eyes." The coach tweeted the photo and shared why it made such an impact on him: "My family's American dream started in a Clarksburg, WV coal mine, so this picture hits home," he wrote.