Please patronize our advertisers to help
keep theOzone.net free for everyone.

The-Ozone.net Mall

Interesting, Fun companies with interesting, quality products - and the-Ozone gets a piece of the action!

Football
Spring Game Supports Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research
By Jessica Weihrauch

Forget red, blue and yellow. The three primary colors in Ohio Stadium Saturday afternoon were scarlet, gray and pink.

Both the Scarlet and Gray squads wore jerseys with pink numbers.
Photo by Jim Davidson

A crowd of more than 30,000 came out to watch the Scarlet and Gray teams battle it out on the gridiron in support of the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. During the Spring Game, the team wore special jerseys with pink numbers in honor of the Spielman family’s fight against breast cancer. After the game, the jerseys were auctioned off at ohiostatebuckeyes.com, where all proceeds went directly to the fund.

Wife of All-American linebacker for the Buckeyes during 1984-88 Chris Spielman, Stefanie lost her long battle with breast cancer in November, but her impact on the Columbus community has been profound.

Since 1999, her fund has raised more than 6.5 million dollars for breast cancer research through everything from bake sales, revenue from Ohio State sporting events, to donations.

“This whole experience has been humbling from day one,” said Chris Spielman. “Sometimes I don’t feel worthy, but an event like this motivates me to keep going.”

Evan Turner has a word with Jessica Weihrauch
Photo by Dan Harker

Also honored at the game was basketball star and projected first-round NBA draft pick Evan Turner. He and his teammates were recognized at halftime for their Big Ten Championship, as well as the men’s swimming and diving teams, who also took home conference championships.

Though he called the halftime experience “humbling” and “crazy,” Turner kept the focus on Stefanie.

“She was a great woman who did a lot for cancer research,” said Turner. “One day I hope I can donate a little bit.”

In addition to the players, the coaches, cheerleaders and students also showed their support in pink. Coaches and cheerleaders wore hats and pink bows, and students who arrived early were given pink T-shirts with a black OSU logo. These students also made the tunnels for the teams to run through before the game.

“It was very exciting to feel the energy given off by the crowd,” said second-year psychology student Sarah Argentine. “I loved being a part of that spirit and tradition.”

Coach Jim Tressel may have started the next great football tradition at Ohio State. It was his idea for the teams to wear pink numbers this year, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them again next spring.

“It ended up being a beautiful day and a great crowd,” said Tressel. “The fact that the Spielman family was recognized made it even more special.”

Donate by Check :

Ozone Communications
1380 King Avenue
Columbus, Ohio

Help us bring you more Buckeye coverage. Donate to the-Ozone.

Click here to email this the-Ozone feature to a friend...or even a foe.

(c) 2010 The O-Zone, O-Zone Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, rebroadcast,rewritten, or redistributed.