Sooners back breast cancer awareness

NORMAN — Sherri Coale laced on a pair of pink Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers as a key accessory to her sideline attire.

For Coale, a noted aficionado of footwear, it was no fashion statement that night last February.

It was a personal statement, struck for the cause of fighting breast cancer.

"Unfortunately, I have a lot of friends who have fought breast cancer,” Coale said, "and a lot of friends who fortunately have won.

"It's something that as a profession, women's basketball coaches face often.”

And it's something those in the profession aim to do something about.

Count Coale and the Sooners among the pacesetters to a movement that is quickly gaining momentum. In women's games across the country this weekend and on through the coming week, pink will be prevalent, part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "Think Pink” initiative aimed at raising breast cancer awareness.

After taking on Colorado tonight at 7 inside Lloyd Noble Center, the Sooners will return to action Tuesday for "Pack the Place Pink Night.”

With Texas A&M due in Norman, Coale will slip her feet into pink once again, this time with a fashionable flair — a pair of pink Jimmy Choo high heels. All fans will receive free pink T-shirts, and an auction will be held to generate proceeds for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Among the items: Coale's Choo heels, freshly autographed, along with specially designed pink Nike Air Force shoes to be worn by the Sooner assistant coaches and autographed by the team.

"We got a lot of great feedback last year,” Coale said. "The funny thing is, after you do that, you can't do that again. You can't wear Chucks again. It's hard to top them. I don't think there's a better shoe than that.

"So I'm going to the opposite end of the spectrum this year. I'm going with some pink stilettos.”

OU's "Think Pink” night was already scheduled a year ago when the idea went national and the WBCA jumped on board.

Coincidentally, Coale began her two-year presidency of the WBCA in June.

"It was at the top of our to-do list when I took over,” Coale said. "We had a full year to work and promote and get information on the Web site.”

The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, named to honor the North Carolina State coach who has battled breast cancer, was established in partnership with the Jimmy V Foundation.

Coale said the affiliation has helped the movement take off.

"It gives a central force for all this energy and passion that surrounds the cause,” Coale said. "Now everything can be channeled to this fund. And we know that by being part of the Jimmy V, we have access to cutting edge research, cutting edge doctors. That money will immediately go to the heart of trying to find a cure for breast cancer.

"So it's exciting to see such momentum being built with this and the opportunity for this foundation to grow financially very rapidly, because of the way this has taken off nationally.”

The "Think Pink” initiative has rapidly expanded.

Starting with games Friday and continuing on through Feb. 17, teams across the country are pushing pink.

Along with the Sooners, North Carolina State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and LSU are incorporating pink into their shoes and shooting shirts and even their uniforms.

When Tennessee and Rutgers go at it in a showcase game Monday night in Knoxville, both coaching staffs and officials at the scorers table are expected to be in pink.

At last count, more than 800 universities plan to participate. Referees are getting involved, too, with some 4,000 officials planning to wear pink whistles and even donate a portion of a game check to the fund.

"I can't forget last year and Coach Coale wearing those pink Converse,” said OU junior Courtney Paris. "I think it's awesome and I think it's a great opportunity for women's basketball to help bring out awareness for breast cancer. I think it's a perfect venue to do it.

"It's just cool to be a part of.”

Here in Oklahoma, "Think Pink” is even extending to the high school and middle school levels.

Coale played a part in putting forth a letter inviting state high schools to join in the cause with something as simple as wearing pink shoestrings.

"We know of at least 90 here in the state,” she said

Last year, Coale's Chuck Taylors, which she autographed, fetched $2,000 in an auction to benefit breast cancer research. The Sooners raised another $5,040 by selling 21 autographed T-shirts worn by OU and Texas players prior to their Feb. 12 game. Fan donations at the game and a silent auction bumped proceeds to $8,815, which went to the Breast Institute at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center.

"At the end of the day, you know it's for a higher calling,” Coale said. "So you feel like you're making a difference while you're doing the thing you love to do, which is a rare and wonderful combination.”