Regardless of the outcome, this Friday's meet between the GymTide and the Auburn GymTigers will be an historic occasion. For the first time ever, the teams will compete in neither their beloved crimson and white nor their time-honored orange and blue. Instead, both teams will don shades of pink in an effort to raise awareness in, and donations for, the battle against breast cancer.

Who among us has not been touched in some way by this dread disease - by cancer in it's many forms? I have to admit, when I first heard of head coach Sarah Patterson's plan to point this meet toward breast cancer awareness, it immediately called to mind several personal brushes with cancer: from a colleague at work who passed away from breast cancer only a short while ago, to a dear friend whom I lost many years ago to breast cancer at a relatively young age, to my own mother, who is a colon cancer survivor. The specter of cancer has visited even among my gymnastics friends and 'foes', from GymTide coach David Patterson, a kidney cancer survivor, to Talya Vexler, a former Georgia GymDog and a breast cancer survivor.

Somehow it is very fitting that a women's gymnastics meet should be used as a vehicle for fighting breast cancer. To compete at the top of your sport in women's gymnastics you must be strong, both physically and mentally, yet you must also display your natural grace and femininity. Appropriately enough, these are precisely the traits most needed to fight a personal battle with this most personal of diseases.

Now, you might have wondered, as I did, just what those 'orange and blue' Tigers thought about wearing...well, it's not exactly red...However, my information is that Auburn head coach, Jeff Thompson, and the entire coaching staff and team, jumped at the chance to help in this cause and were very pleased to be included - regardless of the color of the leotard. In fact, you can get a preview of the Auburn PinkTigers here.

So, whether you're a Tider or a Tiger, why don't you come on out Friday night, wear your pink best, and help these two fine gymnastics programs 'Target the Cure'. Who knows, you might just get to see a pretty good gym meet, to boot! (In fact, I can just about guarantee that you will!)

Think Pink, Wear Pink!!!