The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeff Wick Head coach Craig Robinson and assistant coach Doug Stewart (left) wear sneakers in Saturday's Civil War basketball game.

On Saturday the differences between Ernie Kent and Craig Robinson were apparent.

One coaches for Oregon and one for Oregon State. Kent wore an Oregon polo shirt as he coached his, winless in Pac-10, Ducks against OSU. Robinson sported a dress shirt, no tie and a blazer, while coaching the flourishing Beaver basketball team. Looking further down the two coaches dress, common ground could be found on each man's feet - sneakers. The Civil War coaching staff temporarily put aside the heated rivalry to come together in solidarity on behalf of Coaches vs. Cancer.

"This is my ninth year coaching and they've done it all nine years, at least that I've been doing it," Robinson said. "It's a great way to bring about awareness of cancer and for the coaches to come together as one group, in a business where you are trying to rip each others eyeballs out. I always enjoy being a part of that."

A collaboration between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society, Coaches vs. Cancer, began in 1993 and has helped raise over $45 million. Coaches simply participate by wearing a pair of sneakers with their suit or other coaching attire.

January 31 brought basketball games across the United States and from College Station, Texas to Corvallis, Ore. coaches were sporting their sneakers. In College Station, Texas A&M played host to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Travis Ford, head coach of the Cowboys not only united with coaches across the nation, but with his team by sporting a pair of orange Nikes, same as those on his players' feet.

The collaboration between the NABC and ACS has brought with it the creation of a 16 team tournament with teams from 16 conferences, known as the 2k Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Since 1996, the tournament has helped raise more than $4 million to support the fight against cancer.

According to the Coaches vs. Cancer website, the concept came from cancer survivor and former Missouri men's coach Norm Stewart. The program began with fans pledging a dollar amount for every three points scored by the Tigers. Now one of the marquee events is Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness.

The event utilizes televised basketball games to get the message out to America that cancer can be prevented and detected early. Television announcers, as well as in-arena announcers, acknowledge the event and include facts about cancer to spectators and television viewers.

Through their website donations may be made to support Coaches vs. Cancer in the name of your local universities coach. Money donated to a local coach or school will be used in the community of the coach or school. For more information visit the Coaches vs. Cancer website at, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/PAR_7_Coaches_vs_Cancer.asp.



Casey Grogan, sports editor

sports@dailybarometer.com

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