Playing for a cause makes the difference
Cure Bowl provides Tulane, Louisiana with a ‘unique perspective’
The avenues of life and football can meet in a number of ways, but the Auto Nation Cure Bowl offers a perspective not found anywhere else.
It didn’t take this year’s participants — the Tulane Green Wave or Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns — long to see that.
“This has been a unique opportunity,” first-year Louisiana coach Billy Napier said during Thursday’s press conference at Loews Royal Pacific Convention Center. “I think it’s great for our players and staff to be a part of a unique bowl and opportunity. Any time that you get a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself it’s tremendous. It creates great perspective.”
The fourth annual Auto Nation Cure Bowl plays out Saturday as the Green Wave (6-6) and the Ragin’ Cajuns (7-6) meet at Camping World Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m., and the game will air on the CBS Sports Network.
“Being able to play in a bowl game that supports cancer research is huge for everybody, espe---
cially because a lot of us know somebody who has been affected by cancer,” Tulane defensive back Roderic Teamer said. Like teammate Zachery Harris. The redshirt senior linebacker and New Orleans native lost his grandmother to breast cancer last year.
“It’s very dear to me, so just to be playing for that cause means a whole lot,” Harris said.
Louisiana linebacker Alonzo Brown said his grandparents also died of cancer. Participating in the Cure Bowl offers him a chance to honor their memory.
“It’s an honor to be here, most of all to try to find a cure for something that touches so many peoples’ lives,” he said.
Money from the Cure Bowl benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and directly funds individual breast cancer researchers, like Dr. Annette Khaled at the UCF College of Medicine.
Since its inception in 2015, the game has raised more than $3.55 million for breast cancer research, with $1.1 million going to Khaled’s work, she said.
“We’re really proud to be here at this bowl game,” said Tulane coach Willie Fritz, whose team rallied to beat Navy in the regular-season finale to reach bowl eligibility.
Fritz said hearing personal stories about cancer during Wednesday’s welcome reception for the teams opened a lot of eyes.
“There was one woman who got up and spoke, and I think that kind of gave everybody a little pause to just think about, ‘Hey, this is what the game is all about.’ So we’re really excited about being here,” he said.
This Cure Bowl holds extra meaning for Louisiana athletics director Bryan Maggard, whose wife was diagnosed approximately six weeks ago with Stage 1 breast cancer. Maggard, who at one time oversaw the academic support services for the FSU football program, praised efforts such as the Cure Bowl for helping fund research.
“Certainly we know the driver behind this particular bowl game has special meaning as it raises a great deal of money to properly enhance the research to hopefully find a cure for this disease,” Maggard said.
While the Cure Bowl’s focus is on finding a cure for breast cancer, there is still fun to be had. Napier said the key for his team is making sure the players understand how to strike a balance.
“They can prepare at a high level and play well in the game and also enjoy the opportunities that come along with the bowl game,” he said. “There’s two objectives: One is to play well in the game. Go play our best football game of the year, and at the same time enjoy our time here and certainly gain a little perspective in terms of the gratitude that we should have.”
Cure Bowl honors:
Tulane’s John Leglue and Louisiana’s Brown were named the Cure Bowl Community Service Soldiers for their volunteer work in their communities. Cure Bowl Executive Director Alan Gooch presented each player with their award Thursday.