Members of the Ball State University field hockey team were so struck by the injury to senior wide receiver Dante Love that they are honoring him as one of their own.
Like many students, the field hockey players watched Ball State's football team defeat Indiana University 42-20 and were startled Love's injury. After the team learned the extent of his injury and that his football career was over, they wanted to do something to show their support. Senior defender Jodi Mann teamed with her soccer player roommates to get "Love 86" wristbands for both teams.
"I think they're such a great idea," senior defender Melanie Pasillas said. "We all wear it just to show our support for him and that we were united."
In addition, Pasillas made a card that the team signed and gave to the athletics department to send to Love. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Maura Sawicki came up with the idea of sending a signed field hockey ball and a Ball State field hockey T-shirt along with the card.
"We thought it was least we could do to show our support through everything," senior forward Casey Hunsicker said. "I can't imagine going through what Dante's going through and what some of his teammates must be going through."
Hunsicker knows Love through the training room and athletics support, but said she could only sign her name because she couldn't think of what to say.
"I could not think of the words that would make the situation better for Dante," Hunsicker said. "We hope that he likes the fact we made a gesture like that. He's in our prayers and we're playing every game for him."
Pasillas didn't know if Love had received their gifts. The deadline for teams to turn anything in to the athletics department was Monday and she did not know if they had even been sent yet.
Coach Annette Payne said she was happy her team's leadership got something together quickly to support of Love.
"When something like this happens you want to be there for him and you want to be there for a community," Payne said. "As an athlete it really hits home because you realize how close you are and that anything can happen any day. You want to be able to appreciate him and what he's given to Ball State."
The team wore the wristbands for the first time at Missouri State University Sunday.
Pasillas said she was happy that her team had come together in their show of support when she put wristband on for the first time.
"If someone did that for me I would feel so touched," Pasillas said. "I thought it was real awesome that we did that and real awesome that Jodi came up with that idea."
For Hunsicker, the wristband represents another reason to play her hardest every time she steps onto the field.
"When I put it on its just another reminder, like, 'Go out and do what you can because some people don't have the opportunity to.'"
Click here to see how the field hockey team is supporting Dante Love
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