Ole Miss-Vandy Game to Honor Mike Slive and Prostate Cancer Awareness

Photo courtesy of CBSSports.com

The Southeastern Conference will help raise awareness of prostate cancer prevention and honor former commissioner Mike Slive, who battled the disease during his athletics administration career, with Prostate Cancer Awareness Games on each of the 14 league campuses during the month of September.

The Prostate Cancer Awareness Game on Ole Miss’ campus will be Sept. 26 in an SEC tilt against Vanderbilt.

The 14 Athletics Directors of the SEC voted unanimously in May at the SEC Spring Meetings to recognize Slive by dedicating a game on each campus to prostate cancer awareness during which the home team will wear a commemorative helmet sticker in addition to other awareness activities determined by each school.

“The Athletics Directors saw this as an opportunity to recognize Mike Slive in a meaningful way while also bringing attention to an important topic that affects one in seven men in America during a lifetime,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.  “While honoring our former commissioner for his great service to the SEC, we can also raise awareness and influence prevention of this disease.”

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Although the disease is serious, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer can successfully fight the disease with early detection. Men over the age of 50 are highly encouraged to get regular prostate cancer screenings.

Slive was originally diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s.  He served as commissioner of the SEC from 2002 until his retirement in 2015. During that time, he oversaw one of the greatest eras of success in league history while helping shape the landscape of college sports as a national leader in intercollegiate athletics.

In October 2014, Slive announced he was stepping down after 13 years and was dealing with a recurrence of his prostate cancer.  After surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, Slive is enjoying a summer respite free from cancer treatment.  He remains under the watchful eyes of his doctor.

In addition to wearing helmet stickers, some schools will conduct various other activities around their designated Prostate Cancer Awareness Games, some of which will include video board announcements, prostate cancer screenings, recognition of prostate cancer survivors, game program ads and stories, production of public service announcements and social media outreach.

Slive will attend several of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Games during the month of September.

SEC Prostate Cancer Awareness Games:

September 3: Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt

September 5: UTEP at Arkansas, Southeast Missouri State at Missouri

September 12: East Carolina at Florida, Middle Tennessee at Alabama, LSU at Mississippi State

September 19: Nevada at Texas A&M, South Carolina at Georgia, Western Carolina at Tennessee, Auburn at LSU, Florida at Kentucky

September 26: Mississippi State at Auburn, Vanderbilt at Ole Miss, Central Florida at South Carolina

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Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information