We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland

by Steve Beaven

Overview

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.

By 1977 the University of Evansville’s Purple Aces basketball team had won five small-college national championships. With a charismatic young coach and a freshman phenom, this small Indiana city hoped to see its team shine in the national spotlight. Then, on a foggy night, after just four games, the plane carrying the team and its coach crashed after takeoff, killing everyone on board.

The tragedy seemed insurmountable, a devastating blow to the identity of a fading factory town. But, with the support of a city in mourning, ambitious new coach Dick Walters promised to rebuild the cherished institution. Assembling a team of castoffs, walk-ons, and overachievers, Walters restored the legacy of the team and its fans. Against all odds, his young men made history.

A 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781503942226
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	01/01/2020
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Steve Beaven is an Evansville native and a former staff writer at the Oregonian. His work has appeared in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and two sons.

Editorial Reviews

An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Biographies & Memoirs

“This story of [the] Evansville men’s basketball team’s rebirth after the 1977 plane crash is tragic and inspiring.” —Sports Illustrated

“The best stories about sports are about life, too…Beaven, who grew up in Evansville, crafts a beautiful story.” —Washington Post

“This is a story of community resilience and a tribute not only to those who were lost but those who carried on.” —Courier & Press

“We Will Rise is a heartwarming story of the spirit of this team, its fans, and a resilient community.” —Brooklyn Digest

“Such was the rallying cry that propelled one of the most stirring comeback stories in recent history, a story being remembered and retold this season thanks to a new book. In We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland, journalist and Evansville, Indiana, native Steve Beaven recounts the disaster that befell the University of Evansville men’s basketball team in 1977: a plane crash that killed players and their coach and devastated a basketball-crazy community that took great pride in their Purple Aces.” —USA Today

“This story exemplifies the resilience of the American heartland, where God-fearing people bear unspeakable pain and tragedy with grace and depth most of us cannot comprehend. The heart of Evansville beats like a basketball on hardwood with every word. You can almost hear the squeaking of high-top sneakers on the floor, the ear-splitting chirp of whistles and the quiet, gut-wrenching sobs of those who grieve. We Will Rise joins the pantheon of great sports books for one simple reason: it has very little to do with sports.” —Steve Eubanks, New York Times bestselling author of All American: Two Young Men, the 2001 Army-Navy Game and the War They Fought in Iraq

“Riveting and very personal…Steven Beaven has written the last word on the tragic crash of the University of Evansville basketball team. More, though, he celebrates the rebirth rise of the program after the devastating events of that winter day in 1977. A must-read.” —Bob Kravitz, senior staff writer for The Athletic and former columnist for The Indianapolis Star

“We Will Rise is an ode to spirit, to hope, to somehow carrying on after the greatest of heartbreaks. Steve Beaven’s masterful work is a true must-read.” —Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author and former senior writer for Sports Illustrated

“Growing up in Indiana, I heard the stories about the crash that destroyed the young team at the heart of We Will Rise. But I learned so much more reading this book. Steve Beaven honors the players and coaches who lost their lives and tells the stories of their families trying to move forward in the face of unthinkable grief. Here is the best of what sports can mean to a community.” —Brad Stevens, head coach of the Boston Celtics

From the Publisher