Team Plans Date Contest

January 26, 2009

WEATHERFORD, Okla. -  Members of Southwestern Oklahoma State University's popular men's basketball team have devised a unique plan that puts themselves front in center in their efforts to raise money for cancer awareness, research and assistance.

The team will be holding a silent auction to win a special Valentine's Date with the basketball player of their choice by the simple purchase of a $2 ticket. All ticket holders will then be registered in a special drawing that will take place at halftime of the SWOSU women's game against Texas Woman's on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Each participating basketball player will then meet their date at center court and sit with them through the remainder of the second half of the women's game. From that point, the couple will then spend the rest of the afternoon and later attend a pre-paid dinner at a Weatherford-area restaurant that evening along with all other other winners.

The idea of the special charity win-a-date contest was that of SWOSU basketball player Abdullah Lawal who said he met first with his teammates before approaching SWOSU officials.

"I know cancer touches a lot of people and has impacted the lives of many of my friends, teammates and coaches over the years," Lawal said. "The date drawing was something that I had heard about from some of my friends, and they all said what fun it really was."

Lawal said that when he looked at the upcoming basketball schedule next month and the Valentine's Day game on Saturday, Feb. 14 jumped out at him.

"It's unusual that we are not playing on a Saturday but our women do," Lawal said. "Hopefully, it will create added interest in the game and it also gives us something that we can tie the promotion too."

Lawal's idea quickly became embraced by Cindy Dougherty, SWOSU dean of students, who quickly got the Collegiate Activities Board (CAB) to sign on as a co-sponsor of the event. The program is part of the organization's ongoing "Tough Enough to Wear Pink Campaign" that helps generate funds for cancer research on campus.

"I think Abdullah should be commended for coming up with such a unique idea," Dougherty said. "Cancer deserves to take a beating, and I love this approach to funding it."

Those interested in participating can pre-register at the Dean of Students office located in Stafford 212. Fish bowls are currently set up next to each basketball player where purchased tickets will be placed in the bowl next to the player of choice.

Players who have agreed to participate are as follows: Kenneth White, Carles Estorach, Keith Richardson,

Kendall Smith, Jerard Campbell, Matej Mrkic, Jordan Frosch, Celestin Mayele, Jacob Campbell and Lawal. Each player will also be selling date tickets throughout the upcoming weeks in advance of the game.

Persons must be present at the time of drawing.  Those wishing to donate to the fund can do so for themselves or a friend. Additional tickets can be purchased by check simply by making it out to SWOSU Foundation - Student Alive Fund.