![]() He uses his first hand knowledge of the town and the Purple Aces history, along with information from over 150 interviews and many other stories to paint an excellent picture of the basketball program. The grieving by the school and city as well as their recovery from this tragedy is the topic of this excellent book by Evansville native Steve Beaven. On December 13,1977 a plane crash near Evansville, Indiana killed all on board, including the players,coaches and managers of the Evansville University basketball team. Against all odds, his young men made history.Ī tribute to those who were lost, and to those who carried on, We Will Rise is the rich and powerful story of an underdog team and its fans and the spirit of a resilient community. Assembling a team of castoffs, walk-ons, and overachievers, Walters restored the legacy of the team and its fans. But, with the support of a city in mourning, ambitious new coach Dick Walters promised to rebuild the cherished institution. The tragedy seemed insurmountable, a devastating blow to the identity of a fading factory town. Then, on a foggy night, after just four games, the plane carrying the team and its coach crashed after takeoff, killing everyone on board. With a charismatic young coach and a freshman phenom, this small Indiana city hoped to see its team shine in the national spotlight. ![]() The inspiring true story of the tragic loss and triumphant resurrection of a basketball team and its coach at the heart of a small Indiana town.īy 1977 the University of Evansville’s Purple Aces basketball team had won five small-college national championships.
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