Sometimes life transcends football. That sentiment will be on display this Saturday when Georgia fans are set to honor the memory of Wendy Anderson with a ‘pink out’. Anderson is the late wife of Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson, and his Red Wolves will face off against the Bulldogs in Athens tomorrow.
Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson was brought to tears when learned of the plan by Georgia Bulldogs fans to wear pink in honor of his late wife Wendy, who died last month after a battle with breast cancer: https://t.co/PS7hjPEbmZ pic.twitter.com/btTmaC1In4
— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 12, 2019
Anderson lost her battle with breast cancer last month. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, and Anderson eventually went into remission. However, the cancer returned in 2018, and both antibiotics and chemotherapy treatments were unsuccessful. Anderson took a leave of absence from Arkansas State to be with his wife in her final moments, and he has coached with a heavy heart since his return to the sidelines.
Beyond grateful… thank you 💕 https://t.co/lfqZr48ZhJ
— Blake Anderson (@CHbanderson) September 10, 2019
The Arkansas State head coach expressed his support when he discovered that Georgia fans were planning the idea to wear pink, and he got a little emotional when discussing the event with local reporters in Jonesboro:
“It’s a completely genuine, classy gesture from people that don’t know you. Very surprising and obviously very much appreciated. Just caught me off guard, to be honest with you. Teared me up. I wasn’t expecting it, and extremely flattered and thankful for those folks and so many others that have stepped up in so many different ways.”
Anderson did not coach Arkansas State in the Red Wolves’ season opener against SMU, but he surprised his team by returning to the sidelines before their game with UNLV last Saturday.
👀 Look who walked in‼️#WolvesUp | #NOW pic.twitter.com/YGHmmEY7r7
— Arkansas State Football (@AStateFB) September 8, 2019
No one on the team knew that Anderson planned to coach against UNLV, but Arkansas State was fired up once he showed up for a pregame meeting. The Red Wolves were a one-point favorite on the road against the Rebels, but they jumped on the home team from the start.
Jeremy Smith returned an interception for a touchdown 75 seconds into the game, and Arkansas State entered halftime up 23-3. The Red Wolves went on to win 43-17, and Anderson was emotional after the game.
We’re ALL 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 here at Arkansas State‼️#WolvesUp | #NOW
— Arkansas State Football (@AStateFB) September 8, 2019
H/T 247 Sports and ESPN
