The University of Akron Athletics
Zips to Play Fourth Annual 4 Pete's Sake Purple Out Game
February 06 | Men's Basketball
Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Dambrot on Twitter
Purchase Men's Basketball Individual Game and Season Tickets Click Here
GAME NOTES (PDF) | #4PetesSake Gameday Preview
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron men's basketball team will hold its fourth annual "Purple Out" event, presented by Cleveland Clinic Akron General, when the Zips host the Ball State Cardinals on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The "Purple Out" event is to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer while celebrating the life of former Director of Basketball Operations Dan Peters – also known as "Pete" – who passed away on October 27, 2014, after battling pancreatic cancer. The UA Athletics Department will recognize the Peters family before the game accompanied by a "Purple Out" t-shirt toss.
"I don't think our program will ever fully recover from losing Coach Peters, his experience, care for the youth, and passion for the players can't be replaced," head coach Keith Dambrot said. "Everyday he taught us about life and what was important. He was a good person and great family man, and we are fortunate to play Ball State in this year's event because his son Danny is an assistant coach. This event is a great way to memorialize Coach Peters, and this game will never go away as long as I am Akron's coach."
As part of the event, the Zips will wear purple uniforms in honor of Coach Peters. The uniforms will feature the word "Zips" on the chest and will carry the name "Peters" on the back name plate for all student-athletes.
Zips Athletics will distribute purple "4 Pete's Sake" t-shirts, and IMG Akron will provide the first 500 students with purple rally towels. In addition, fans have an opportunity to donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for a 4 Pete's Sake t-shirt with all proceeds benefiting the fight against pancreatic cancer.
On Thursday, Feb. 2, members of the men's basketball team, including players, coaches, support staff, and Zippy, visited the Cleveland Clinic Akron General McDowell Cancer Center to learn more about pancreatic cancer in preparation for Tuesday's Purple Out game.
The Zips listened to Dr. Laurie Matt-Amaral explain several different types of cancer, as well as, the causes, treatments, and prevention of the different varieties of cancer. The hospital staff also explained the Art Therapy program which cancer patients have the opportunity to participate. Several member of the Akron basketball program also had the opportunity to contribute to the current art therapy project.
Peters, 60, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2013 and took an indefinite medical leave of absence after the Zips played Bethune-Cookman on December 14. Peters spent five seasons on the bench for the Zips before retiring in July 2014 after a 30-plus year coaching career.
Since Peters' diagnosis on December 2013, the men's basketball team has worn "4 Pete's Sake" patches on their uniforms. The Zips held the first "Purple Out" Event on January 29, 2014, against Ball State, and the event was a huge success on social media via the hashtag, #4PetesSake, as well as in the coaching community.
Both UA men's and women's teams wore "4 Pete's Sake" patches on their uniforms in honor of Peters. The patches drew the attention of the college basketball community as coaches and teams showed their support for Peters during last season's Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend (Jan. 25-26) by wearing a "4 Pete's Sake" pin on their lapels. Every school that Peters worked at, as well as every member of the Mid-American Conference, wore patches and/or pins in support of Peters.
The list of programs included Akron (men and women), Arizona, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Delta State, Eastern Michigan (men and women), Houghton College, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Ohio State, St. Joseph's College (Ind.), Toledo, Walsh University, Western Carolina, West Virginia, Western Michigan, and Youngstown State (men and women).
Peters was honored by the United States Basketball Writers Association's (USBWA) in February as the organization named him one of three recipients of its Most Courageous Award.
Peters joined the Akron staff in 2009 after time at Ohio State (2004-09) and Cincinnati (1999-2004) as an assistant coach, as well as the head coaching spot at Youngstown State (1993-99). He also was on former Akron head coach Coleman Crawford's staff for the 1989-90 and 1990-91 campaigns.
Peters was a Northeast Ohio native who was born in Cleveland and grew up in Canton. He graduated from Kent State University in 1976.
More About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase survival for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative — The Vision of Progress: Double Pancreatic Cancer Survival by 2020. Together, we can Wage Hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer by intensifying our efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research, and advocate for dedicated federal research to advance early diagnostics and better treatments and increase chances of survival. Visit them online at https://www.pancan.org/.
