Sam Houston State football will have its eighth annual “Pink Out” football game Saturday against Abilene Christian at Bowers Stadium.

The Pink Out game began in 2007 when the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter of Sam Houston State created Kats for the Cause and joined together with Bearkat Athletics to have a game in honor of breast cancer awareness.

The football team will wear pink shoelaces and wristbands for the game.

“If we can save a life by making someone aware of the importance of getting a checkup, then we’ve done something special,” senior wide receiver Dustin Moehlig said.

The Pink Out game hits home for Moehlig. His grandmother battled breast cancer and was able to defeat the disease.

“As players, we want to go out and fight as hard as we can to honor that spirit,” Moehlig said. “Some members of our team have family or friends who fought hard but were not able to beat the disease. We’re playing for them as well.”

In the years past, SHSU had welcomed survivors on to the field during halftime. This year, the Kats will have ZTA alumna Kelly Debaradinis as an honorary co-captain for the coin toss.

ZTA will also be recognized at halftime for sponsoring the event. The sorority will have a tailgate beginning at 1 p.m. on game day, including hamburgers, hotdogs and sausage on a stick.

Saturday’s game will hold a special place in the heart of SHSU’s head coach K.C. Keeler as the Kats get ready to host a 4-4 Wildcat team.

“Game preparation and the pregame itinerary will be the same, but the coaches and the players are very aware of what ‘Pink Out’ is all about,” Keeler said. “I lost a brother to cancer and families of many of our players and staff have been touched by breast cancer.”

ZTA had a “Dig Pink” event at the SHSU volleyball game against Lamar on Oct. 14. The girls will also continue to sell shirts to pink out the stands of different events before the end of the month.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 3 p.m.