We Will Rise

More about the book

In 1977, an aircraft crashed moments after taking off from an Indiana regional airport. On board were the University of Evansville's Purple Aces basketball team, their coach and associates. The tragedy was traumatic for the small manufacturing town where Aces basketball had become an obsession. Journalist Steve Beaven tells how a new coach and players, with the support of college officials, students and townspeople, summoned the leadership, skill and courage to resurrect the basketball program, culminating in 1982 with Evansville's first trip to the NCAA tournament. The team offers a warm case history showing how to bounce back and how to lead.