University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Use Helmets To Tell Their Cancer Stories
9/27/2022 9:46:00 PM | Football
Raising Awareness With White Out Saturday
UConn Athletic Communications / Sept. 28, 2022
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn football team has decided to tackle cancer head-on.
Saturday's game against Fresno State at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field (3:30 p.m.) has been designated as a game to White Out Cancer, attempting to raise awareness about the fight against the dreaded disease.
The UConn players will be dressed in all-white uniforms and are encouraging fans who attend to wear white as well.
In addition, the UConn players will personalize the fight against cancer by wearing special helmets adorned with decals that depict by colored ribbons the type of cancer that has affected their family in some way. It is all a part of the effort to shine attention on all types cancer as well as giving the players a chance to tell their own story.
"We are going to be honoring those in our organization who have fought the battle against cancer," UConn Coach Jim Mora said. "It's modeled after the NFL's Crucial Catch. It's important to recognize those who have fought the battle. Our players will wear a decal on their helmet, symbolizing the type of cancer that their family has been affected by. Some will have multiple stickers on their helmet."
The UConn coach explained how the disease has touched his own family.
"It used to be just breast cancer awareness month, now it is Crucial Catch and has expanded out," Mora said. "Particularly for me, it's breast cancer, which my grandma perished from and my mom has beaten three times and pancreatic cancer, which my wife's father died from and her sister-in-law is battling right now."
UConn becomes the second team in FBS football, after Miami of Ohio, to use personalized cancer ribbons on their helmets. Miami brought the idea to college football in 2018 and has worn the ribbons on their helmets in at least one game in every season since.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year, with about 600,000 victims passing away.
"All of our players have been touched in some way or another, all the members of our staff have been touched in one way or another – so we're just going to try to bring awareness to it," Coach Mora said. "It should be a great day."
