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We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland
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.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
February 29, 2020
A wonderful telling of the entire team that went down on a plane in 1977, all dying including the young high energy coach that had driven them to 5 championships,working on a 6th. The story tells the grief the entire town experienced, how a sport brought a town together. It tells about each families grief and how this town and families came together to conquer their grief and rebuilt another winning small college basketball team. So much grief and so much love and respect. A story that you will be wanting to discuss, warning very emotional but it is so good!
December 19, 2019
To be honest I did not read this entire book. I relegated it to my "will-not-be-finishing-this-one" bookshelf. Way too many details on every coach, player, anyone involved with a coach or player (family & friends) for me to stay interested. Sports nuts interested in decades old high school basketball in a small town will love this!
May 1, 2020
Thoughts soon.
December 9, 2019
Excellent book on a sports tragedy
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. 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.
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. From legendary coach Arad McCutcheon, who won multiple Division II titles in Evansville to the heartbreaking loss in the 1982 NCAA tourney to Marquette, Beavan's account reads like a history lesson of Evansville University basketball. The most interesting part of this information is the six day coaching stint (no games,.practices, or recruiting) by Jerry Sloan, who abruptly resigned after making his alma mater excited about their most famous player coming to coach. Don't feel.sorry for Sloan...he ended up with a long and successful career coaching in the NBA, most notably for the Utah Jazz more than 20 years.
Of course, in the middle.of all this basketball history is the terrible night of December 13, 1977. Here, Beavan describes the night of the crash with great detail, especially with the delayed takeoff and resulting errors that led to the fatal.crash and the doctor who heard the crash, ran out of his house and tried to help any survivors. The reader will also know something about !many of the young men on the plane, such as prize recruit Mike Hoff and Kevin Kingston. Even the only player not on the plane, David Furr, couldn't escape tragedy as he and his younger brother were killed in a car crash two weeks after David's teammates perished.
But this somber story is not the mood for the book, nor the school or its basketball team. There is great detail in how the Purple Aces, under coach Dock Walters, hired to replace the popular Bobby Watson after the crash, built the team.back to its winning just three years after the crash. While Meagan also is able to write about some of the surviving family members of the players and how they mourned, soles and moved on, their stories are not as.prominent in the book after the crash as the basketball is and that is the only minor flaw, in my opinion, in an otherwise very uplifting book.
Fans of the story of the Marshall football team rebuilding after a plane crash, told in the movie "We Are Marshall", will enjoy this similar tale of tragedy and resurrection after a very dark period. Especially recommended for college basketball fans who recall that tragic day.
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. 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.
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. From legendary coach Arad McCutcheon, who won multiple Division II titles in Evansville to the heartbreaking loss in the 1982 NCAA tourney to Marquette, Beavan's account reads like a history lesson of Evansville University basketball. The most interesting part of this information is the six day coaching stint (no games,.practices, or recruiting) by Jerry Sloan, who abruptly resigned after making his alma mater excited about their most famous player coming to coach. Don't feel.sorry for Sloan...he ended up with a long and successful career coaching in the NBA, most notably for the Utah Jazz more than 20 years.
Of course, in the middle.of all this basketball history is the terrible night of December 13, 1977. Here, Beavan describes the night of the crash with great detail, especially with the delayed takeoff and resulting errors that led to the fatal.crash and the doctor who heard the crash, ran out of his house and tried to help any survivors. The reader will also know something about !many of the young men on the plane, such as prize recruit Mike Hoff and Kevin Kingston. Even the only player not on the plane, David Furr, couldn't escape tragedy as he and his younger brother were killed in a car crash two weeks after David's teammates perished.
But this somber story is not the mood for the book, nor the school or its basketball team. There is great detail in how the Purple Aces, under coach Dock Walters, hired to replace the popular Bobby Watson after the crash, built the team.back to its winning just three years after the crash. While Meagan also is able to write about some of the surviving family members of the players and how they mourned, soles and moved on, their stories are not as.prominent in the book after the crash as the basketball is and that is the only minor flaw, in my opinion, in an otherwise very uplifting book.
Fans of the story of the Marshall football team rebuilding after a plane crash, told in the movie "We Are Marshall", will enjoy this similar tale of tragedy and resurrection after a very dark period. Especially recommended for college basketball fans who recall that tragic day.
December 14, 2019
I eagerly anticipated reading Steve Beaven's "We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland," a book that remembers the December 13, 1977 plane crash that took the lives of the entire University of Evansville basketball team along with coaches, boosters, and everyone else on the plane. In fact, the lone player to not be on that plane would actually die a mere two weeks later in a car crash.
It was and remains a tragedy that has a permanent place in the Indiana consciousness, especially for those of us, myself included, who had any connection at all to that particular basketball team.
While I did not have a direct connection to the tragedy, my indirect connection was strong as I was in the same class as UE basketball player Mark Siegel. Additionally, Siegel's father, Ed Siegel, was a beloved Pike High School teacher and basketball coach. I would graduate from Pike in 1983. As was true for most Pike students, we felt this tragedy in our bones.
Beaven's book is a competent, though often quite scattered, account of the tragedy though the book devotes surprisingly little time to the tragedy itself. A good amount of the early part of the book is devoted to the years leading up to the tragedy, while Beaven does serve up quite a bit of information about the Dick Walters years that followed and began, I believe, in late 1978.
In terms of the tragedy itself, it seems like Beaven did what most sportsbooks do - he devoted most of the material to the team's stars while offering very little information about the bit players. There's a sliver of a chapter about Mark Siegel, mostly an accurate accounting of the impact on Mark's death on his father. However, it's a surprisingly abrupt chapter lacking anything resembling nuance.
I also found Beaven's back-and-forth approach to the stories distracting. "We Will Rise" often lacks a cohesiveness that allows you to emotionally invest in a story that absolutely should lead to your emotional investment. While the direct chapters around the plane crash are involving, most of the closing chapters aren't much more than your usual sports reporting. At times, it actually feels rather disrespectful.
I wanted to truly love "We Will Rise," but I simply had trouble engaging with the book and can't help but feel like it's a missed opportunity to create a truly gripping tale of a tremendous tragedy that many people don't even know about or know very little about. Beaven has crafted a competent account, but it's a disappointingly uneven one that never quite connects as much as it should.
It was and remains a tragedy that has a permanent place in the Indiana consciousness, especially for those of us, myself included, who had any connection at all to that particular basketball team.
While I did not have a direct connection to the tragedy, my indirect connection was strong as I was in the same class as UE basketball player Mark Siegel. Additionally, Siegel's father, Ed Siegel, was a beloved Pike High School teacher and basketball coach. I would graduate from Pike in 1983. As was true for most Pike students, we felt this tragedy in our bones.
Beaven's book is a competent, though often quite scattered, account of the tragedy though the book devotes surprisingly little time to the tragedy itself. A good amount of the early part of the book is devoted to the years leading up to the tragedy, while Beaven does serve up quite a bit of information about the Dick Walters years that followed and began, I believe, in late 1978.
In terms of the tragedy itself, it seems like Beaven did what most sportsbooks do - he devoted most of the material to the team's stars while offering very little information about the bit players. There's a sliver of a chapter about Mark Siegel, mostly an accurate accounting of the impact on Mark's death on his father. However, it's a surprisingly abrupt chapter lacking anything resembling nuance.
I also found Beaven's back-and-forth approach to the stories distracting. "We Will Rise" often lacks a cohesiveness that allows you to emotionally invest in a story that absolutely should lead to your emotional investment. While the direct chapters around the plane crash are involving, most of the closing chapters aren't much more than your usual sports reporting. At times, it actually feels rather disrespectful.
I wanted to truly love "We Will Rise," but I simply had trouble engaging with the book and can't help but feel like it's a missed opportunity to create a truly gripping tale of a tremendous tragedy that many people don't even know about or know very little about. Beaven has crafted a competent account, but it's a disappointingly uneven one that never quite connects as much as it should.
April 14, 2020
4.5 - only occasionally did I get confused about who was who, but wow, was this captivating! I think you have to be a bit of a sports enthusiast to love it, but it was so great. I cried way too many times. 😭
December 18, 2019
Boring and meaningless
It reads like an infinite number of old newspaper stories. No human interest, no story line, no emotion, no passion.
The author seems not to care why should I.
It reads like an infinite number of old newspaper stories. No human interest, no story line, no emotion, no passion.
The author seems not to care why should I.
January 18, 2020
I am a resident of Evansville, Indiana, the city featured in this book. We were all impacted greatly by the airplane tragedy, and the author did an excellent job of explaining the degree of basketball importance in our city. Some readers are saying there are too many insignificant statistics and details, but true Aces fans appreciate every bit of it. It’s a matter of having the right reading audience.
November 13, 2019
As exceptional story of a college and community overcoming devastation and rebuilding a basketball program that was the heart of the town. Beaven lets the story unfold in all its heartache and triumph without any unnecessary theatrics.
January 9, 2020
Reading 2020
Book 2: We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland by Steve Beaven
Found amazon First Reads through Katie Colcomb Augustine AKA Pink Katie, and tried my first book from that service. You get books that are not published yet. I chose a nonfiction since I had not read one in awhile.
The story is of the 1977 University of Evansville Purple Aces basketball team. One foggy evening they take off late on their flight to their next game, the plane crashes shortly after takeoff, everyone on the plane dies. I know a cheery subject 😔. The book goes on to show how the school, the community, and the team rebuild not only the team, but their lives. From the national spotlight to pitied around the NCAA, can there be any hope of rebounding from such a tragedy?
I am excited to keep using the Amazon First Reads service on my Kindle, though it might get overwhelming with all the choices and the pile up of books on my Kindle to read. I did like the book, but not love it. The crash happens about midway through the book, too much story up front, would have liked the book detailed more afterwards. It was mired down in too much backstory of everything. I think also it was the writing style that did not hook me completely. Overall it was an interesting read, and I certainly would recommend it to someone who was interested in the topic. My rating 3⭐️.
Book 2: We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland by Steve Beaven
Found amazon First Reads through Katie Colcomb Augustine AKA Pink Katie, and tried my first book from that service. You get books that are not published yet. I chose a nonfiction since I had not read one in awhile.
The story is of the 1977 University of Evansville Purple Aces basketball team. One foggy evening they take off late on their flight to their next game, the plane crashes shortly after takeoff, everyone on the plane dies. I know a cheery subject 😔. The book goes on to show how the school, the community, and the team rebuild not only the team, but their lives. From the national spotlight to pitied around the NCAA, can there be any hope of rebounding from such a tragedy?
I am excited to keep using the Amazon First Reads service on my Kindle, though it might get overwhelming with all the choices and the pile up of books on my Kindle to read. I did like the book, but not love it. The crash happens about midway through the book, too much story up front, would have liked the book detailed more afterwards. It was mired down in too much backstory of everything. I think also it was the writing style that did not hook me completely. Overall it was an interesting read, and I certainly would recommend it to someone who was interested in the topic. My rating 3⭐️.
February 2, 2020
I really loved this book. It’s far from perfect and won’t be winning any awards, but it’s a wonderful tale of heartbreak and redemption in a struggling town. I’m a sucker for sports books and will generally go out of my way to read whichever one catches my eye.
I had very little knowledge or background of the tragedy surrounding the Evansville basketball team, so I went into this book with an open mind. I liked that the author went out of his way to explain the backgrounds and motivations of the team along with the managers, coaches, and families. The tragedy was a focal point, as it should be, but the deep explanations helped turn the novel into more than just about the tragedy. They died and it was awful, but they were people first and foremost with hopes, dreams, and ambitions. I liked that the author didn’t let their deaths define them and instead focused on their struggles, loves, and heartbreaks leading up to the tragedy. The path to redemption the school followed leading up to a rebuilt basketball team that captured the hearts of the town was wonderful to watch and I wish it would have ended on a much more positive note. Real life doesn’t work that way though and it brings me back to one of my favorite song quotes with, “It’s a boys last dream, and a man’s first loss.”
I had very little knowledge or background of the tragedy surrounding the Evansville basketball team, so I went into this book with an open mind. I liked that the author went out of his way to explain the backgrounds and motivations of the team along with the managers, coaches, and families. The tragedy was a focal point, as it should be, but the deep explanations helped turn the novel into more than just about the tragedy. They died and it was awful, but they were people first and foremost with hopes, dreams, and ambitions. I liked that the author didn’t let their deaths define them and instead focused on their struggles, loves, and heartbreaks leading up to the tragedy. The path to redemption the school followed leading up to a rebuilt basketball team that captured the hearts of the town was wonderful to watch and I wish it would have ended on a much more positive note. Real life doesn’t work that way though and it brings me back to one of my favorite song quotes with, “It’s a boys last dream, and a man’s first loss.”
January 30, 2020
Surprisingly good read for an only occasional basketball fan
This book is not my genre of choice but I saw it and it made me think of my father-in-law, a sports fan from Indiana. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I thought the writing was great and the story was compelling. There were great details and historical background and I loved how the city itself was treated almost as its own character with it’s own personality and biography.
I did get a little confused and bogged down by the very lengthy character list - various big name coaches and players not just on Evansville’s team but those of their rivals, and on various teams, McCutchen’s, the team that does in 1977, and the team that was built after their loss. Overall, a lot of people to keep track of and I sometimes forgot who was who. But I don’t know how this could have necessarily been avoided, it was just thorough in a good way.
I’m not a huge basketball fan and don’t follow college sports but I still found a lot to love in this book.
This book is not my genre of choice but I saw it and it made me think of my father-in-law, a sports fan from Indiana. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I thought the writing was great and the story was compelling. There were great details and historical background and I loved how the city itself was treated almost as its own character with it’s own personality and biography.
I did get a little confused and bogged down by the very lengthy character list - various big name coaches and players not just on Evansville’s team but those of their rivals, and on various teams, McCutchen’s, the team that does in 1977, and the team that was built after their loss. Overall, a lot of people to keep track of and I sometimes forgot who was who. But I don’t know how this could have necessarily been avoided, it was just thorough in a good way.
I’m not a huge basketball fan and don’t follow college sports but I still found a lot to love in this book.
January 18, 2020
I can't count the number of times I walked through Memorial Plaza, passing these words--"Out of the agony of this hour, we will rise."--without really thinking about the tragedy of the 1977 men's basketball plane crash as anything except a historical event.
This book is heavy to start, introducing us to the players and the promise of their futures even as we know what's going to happen. I have learned so much about the city of Evansville's history and the school's history and it makes me appreciate both so much more. I spent four great years in Evansville, Indiana.
Reading this book makes me miss the city and the people. If you're a UE alum or a basketball fan or an Evansville resident, you've got to read this book.
This book is heavy to start, introducing us to the players and the promise of their futures even as we know what's going to happen. I have learned so much about the city of Evansville's history and the school's history and it makes me appreciate both so much more. I spent four great years in Evansville, Indiana.
Reading this book makes me miss the city and the people. If you're a UE alum or a basketball fan or an Evansville resident, you've got to read this book.
March 3, 2020
Thank you to Steve Beaven and Goodreads.com I won this book in a Giveaway.
Perfect Timing ! My daughter just committed to UE and we while touring the school, not much was said about the memorial. This was a great way to find out about it and what these students and the team and basketball means to Evansville. It was quite moving and really explained where those students came from and how Evansville as a town rallied (sometimes not) around this tragic event. We both know alot more about the people involved and how the community enveloped them. Great read !
Perfect Timing ! My daughter just committed to UE and we while touring the school, not much was said about the memorial. This was a great way to find out about it and what these students and the team and basketball means to Evansville. It was quite moving and really explained where those students came from and how Evansville as a town rallied (sometimes not) around this tragic event. We both know alot more about the people involved and how the community enveloped them. Great read !
February 27, 2020
I eagerly read this book because having spent 8 years of my life near in that area-- I remember well the day it happened. The University of Evansville Aces were on the way to a game in Tennessee when the plane crashed and there were no survivors. It was full of memories for me.
February 12, 2025
I loved reading this book being a UE graduate. The tragedy happened a long time before I ever knew about UE but it is definitely something the university has never forgotten. I enjoyed reading how the families and university rose from the ashes from that tragic day.
December 30, 2019
The writing is strong and details vivid. I enjoyed the book despite not being a huge sports fan.
December 16, 2019
On December 13, 1977, the entire University of Evansville basketball team, their coaching staff, and radio announcer were killed in a plane crash while en route to a game. This novel introduces the players and coaches and explains how they each ended up at UE and how their families, and the town, rebuilt the basketball program after their tragic deaths.
The story is a little scattered, with narratives bouncing between various families, geographies and points of view....but as a lover of NCAA basketball, I enjoyed learning about the college and university (now Division I and II) competitions, the start of ESPN and March Madness, and references to Jerry Sloan, Bob Knight, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and others.
Interesting and tragic story.
Favorite quote (describing the UE student section):
They are kids, eighteen, nineteen, twenty years old, full of unreasonable expectations, most born and raised within an hour or two of campus. They’ve been sheltered. They’re too young for cynicism. They’ve never been laid off or divorced. They don’t yet understand the disappointments of middle age, and that’s a blessing for them, because they can lose themselves in this night, they can stand and bellow at the screen until the final buzzer sounds and their throats are red and raw.
The story is a little scattered, with narratives bouncing between various families, geographies and points of view....but as a lover of NCAA basketball, I enjoyed learning about the college and university (now Division I and II) competitions, the start of ESPN and March Madness, and references to Jerry Sloan, Bob Knight, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and others.
Interesting and tragic story.
Favorite quote (describing the UE student section):
They are kids, eighteen, nineteen, twenty years old, full of unreasonable expectations, most born and raised within an hour or two of campus. They’ve been sheltered. They’re too young for cynicism. They’ve never been laid off or divorced. They don’t yet understand the disappointments of middle age, and that’s a blessing for them, because they can lose themselves in this night, they can stand and bellow at the screen until the final buzzer sounds and their throats are red and raw.
January 21, 2020
Full disclosure. I'm not a basketball fan, so reading this book was a bit of a challenge for me. However, it was interesting enough for me to finish.
We Will Rise, written by Steve Beaven, is a story of the University of Evansville basketball team that perished in a plane crash on 12/13/77. It is a non fiction book, so expect a lot of statistics, player and coach backgrounds -- before and after the plane crash. You don't read about the plane crash until midway through the book, and it is just a small part of the story.
I personally had to slog through all of the historical data. But, if you're a basketball fan, you'll probably enjoy this book. I'm rating it two stars (It was okay) only because I really expect a lot more out of this book than player/coach backgrounds.
We Will Rise, written by Steve Beaven, is a story of the University of Evansville basketball team that perished in a plane crash on 12/13/77. It is a non fiction book, so expect a lot of statistics, player and coach backgrounds -- before and after the plane crash. You don't read about the plane crash until midway through the book, and it is just a small part of the story.
I personally had to slog through all of the historical data. But, if you're a basketball fan, you'll probably enjoy this book. I'm rating it two stars (It was okay) only because I really expect a lot more out of this book than player/coach backgrounds.
February 2, 2020
This new release seeks to tell the tale of basketball at the University of Evansville, a small Division I school in Indiana. Like many areas in the American midwest, the community surrounding the school is tight-knit and obsessed with basketball. Before moving into Division I, the program even won several national championships at the Division II level.
There’s a wrinkle in the true story that makes its telling especially emotional. In 1977, the entire basketball team died in a plane crash. A new basketball coach and a new team were brought in to complete the season. Within a few years, they miraculously qualified for their first Division I basketball tournament (i.e., the NCAAs or “March Madness”). Obviously, this brought deep joy and pride – dare I say, redemption – in the Evansville community.
As the afterword suggests, this story is based on an abundant amount of research. It’s almost as if you can hear the words of the first-hand witnesses in the tale. The story presents as an anthology of short, personal anecdotes masterfully weaved together into a coherent narrative. Although probably not difficult to an Evansville fan, the cast of characters is so wide that it is tough to keep the names straight. Still, as the author sometimes deliberately slips into the first person, one hears genuine excitement through the narrative. The author thus portrays his personal connection to the story.
Why do we need another sports story? The movie We Are Marshall details the loss of the Marshall University football program in a 1970 plane crash. This tale has similar resonance. I’m composing this review days after Laker great Kobe Bryant died with his daughter in a helicopter crash. As evident by the national outpouring of grief in the Bryants’ deaths, these stories tend to define American culture. Sports make us feel as if we know the players, as if they are part of our circle of friends. The players’ untimely deaths, therefore, profoundly affects us – our hopes, our dreams, our perspective of life. In modern society, sports stories convey our humanity in a way that national politics, religion, and other unifying forces do not and cannot. We use these stories to show who we are in our hearts. As such, Beaven in We Will Rise uses the Evansville saga to remind us more of what it is to be human, to be alive, to be American, and to believe.
There’s a wrinkle in the true story that makes its telling especially emotional. In 1977, the entire basketball team died in a plane crash. A new basketball coach and a new team were brought in to complete the season. Within a few years, they miraculously qualified for their first Division I basketball tournament (i.e., the NCAAs or “March Madness”). Obviously, this brought deep joy and pride – dare I say, redemption – in the Evansville community.
As the afterword suggests, this story is based on an abundant amount of research. It’s almost as if you can hear the words of the first-hand witnesses in the tale. The story presents as an anthology of short, personal anecdotes masterfully weaved together into a coherent narrative. Although probably not difficult to an Evansville fan, the cast of characters is so wide that it is tough to keep the names straight. Still, as the author sometimes deliberately slips into the first person, one hears genuine excitement through the narrative. The author thus portrays his personal connection to the story.
Why do we need another sports story? The movie We Are Marshall details the loss of the Marshall University football program in a 1970 plane crash. This tale has similar resonance. I’m composing this review days after Laker great Kobe Bryant died with his daughter in a helicopter crash. As evident by the national outpouring of grief in the Bryants’ deaths, these stories tend to define American culture. Sports make us feel as if we know the players, as if they are part of our circle of friends. The players’ untimely deaths, therefore, profoundly affects us – our hopes, our dreams, our perspective of life. In modern society, sports stories convey our humanity in a way that national politics, religion, and other unifying forces do not and cannot. We use these stories to show who we are in our hearts. As such, Beaven in We Will Rise uses the Evansville saga to remind us more of what it is to be human, to be alive, to be American, and to believe.
August 8, 2023
Synopsis is taken from the book.
"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."
I will first say I am not a basketball fan, but I wanted to read more about this heartbreaking story.
From page 1 to page 87 the book gives you a who is who and a little history about coaches and players. Page 88 to 104 is about the crash and where family, friends and others were when they heard the news about the crash and who was aboard the plane crash. From Page 15 on gives you the moving on and rebuilding the program and the ones left behind dealing with the loss.
Sorry I did not like the lay out of the book, it does not give you a full picture, feels disconnected and unfeeling at times. I would have liked less unnecessary details and more about the ones who perished in the crash.
"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."
I will first say I am not a basketball fan, but I wanted to read more about this heartbreaking story.
From page 1 to page 87 the book gives you a who is who and a little history about coaches and players. Page 88 to 104 is about the crash and where family, friends and others were when they heard the news about the crash and who was aboard the plane crash. From Page 15 on gives you the moving on and rebuilding the program and the ones left behind dealing with the loss.
Sorry I did not like the lay out of the book, it does not give you a full picture, feels disconnected and unfeeling at times. I would have liked less unnecessary details and more about the ones who perished in the crash.
March 1, 2020
Books seem to appear on my TBR (to be read) shelves by magic and with no clear memory of how they got there or what caused me to purchase them. So I’m not certain if I knew that this story would be such a personal one for me until I began reading only to find that it featured a town from my own history. Born in an even smaller town nearby in southern Indiana that my family would leave when I was three, I visited Evansville on yearly vacations to see relatives who lived there. I knew of Indiana’s storied love of basketball but I had no recollection of the tragedy of the doomed flight on December 13, 1977 that killed the Aces basketball team, coach, student managers, and supporters. The author drew me into the history of the university, the town, and the lives of those individuals killed in the tragic plane crash. I knew of the eerily similar fate of the football team from Marshall University but not of the Purple Aces. Although not a particular fan of basketball, Beaven’s recreation of pivotal games created a breathtaking suspense until the final buzzer. As most good sports story tend to be, it is about much more than the rudiments of a game, but speaks more to the bonds that can be created, the bridges built, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned. Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2020
A story of tragedy and resurgence. On December 13, 1977 Indiana Flight 216 would send shockwaves across Evansville. All 29 members on board were killed, ending what was just starting to become the rise of a small school among the basketball ranks. Prior to the crash, the Aces won 5 championships during their stint in division II. Young rising stars like Mike Duff, would never fulfill their potential and the expectations that was expected. Although a tragedy felt like a long lost of progress, Evansville would rise again. The heart aces basketball culture was knit tight with stringent standards, qualities you thats considered a rarity in today’s college basketball culture. Coach Watson instilled values in students that motivated them to play for him. Tough on defense, homework, grit, and pride was something that would forever define Aces basketball. The 1977 crash divided the small town, ending the glory days. The purple Aces would bounce back continuing to fight through despair and the long lost of hope. Coach Walter would build on the values Watson used, motivating basketball players to fight on every possession. Through upheavals, Evansville would soon return to its glory days. Although it’ll never be the same, December 13 1977, will always be remembered.
January 4, 2020
Well-Written and Compelling Story (Finished a Few Months Too Soon)
No doubt the author wishes he could end the book with hometown son / new coach Walter McCarty taking the Aces into hallowed Rupp Arena against then-number-one-ranked Kentucky and winning in late 2019. I'm a basketball guy, and learned to hate Evansville in the early 90s when they were the conference hegemon who perennially seemed to end my Butler Bulldogs' season and steal the conference's NCAA bid. Damn you, Parrish Casebier! But I knew nothing about the Evansville program's longer history and found the narrative compelling and generally well-told -- if a little choppy in a couple of places, most notably the token nod to race issues, where the background explication didn't completely meld with the book's broader resurrection theme. Some interesting threads, including the understandable bad-blood and disenchantment on the part of certain surviving family members, also seemed like dead ends disconnected from the broader storylines. But those are nit picks. This was a quick, engaging, and rewarding read.
No doubt the author wishes he could end the book with hometown son / new coach Walter McCarty taking the Aces into hallowed Rupp Arena against then-number-one-ranked Kentucky and winning in late 2019. I'm a basketball guy, and learned to hate Evansville in the early 90s when they were the conference hegemon who perennially seemed to end my Butler Bulldogs' season and steal the conference's NCAA bid. Damn you, Parrish Casebier! But I knew nothing about the Evansville program's longer history and found the narrative compelling and generally well-told -- if a little choppy in a couple of places, most notably the token nod to race issues, where the background explication didn't completely meld with the book's broader resurrection theme. Some interesting threads, including the understandable bad-blood and disenchantment on the part of certain surviving family members, also seemed like dead ends disconnected from the broader storylines. But those are nit picks. This was a quick, engaging, and rewarding read.
October 3, 2021
This book was one of the Prime First Read choices for Dec. 2019. I selected it because I like to read about tragedies and the spirit to come back from that tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because at times it was hard to follow who the characters were. It's a good thing I can search on my Kindle so that I could go back and find out exactly who the person was. I think a list of the people and their positions/jobs would have been helpful.
I live in the Louisville, KY area and therefore not too far from Evansville. At the time of the accident in 1977 I was 25 years old (married with 2 children). I'm pretty sure it was all over the local news programs but I don't recall this. Another reason I wanted to read this book about the University of Evansville is that my son attended (graduated 1995) Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY which is very close to Evansville. I was almost done with the book when I called to tell him I was reading it and how interesting it was. He had not heard of the book but he knew of the accident from when he attended KWC. At that time he was the Student Assistant Coach with the men's basketball team and the head coach was Wayne Boultinghouse. Boultinghouse had played for Coach McCutchan at UE and been a part of the 1964 National Championship Basketball Team. Therefore all of the KWC players knew about this story.
I live in the Louisville, KY area and therefore not too far from Evansville. At the time of the accident in 1977 I was 25 years old (married with 2 children). I'm pretty sure it was all over the local news programs but I don't recall this. Another reason I wanted to read this book about the University of Evansville is that my son attended (graduated 1995) Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY which is very close to Evansville. I was almost done with the book when I called to tell him I was reading it and how interesting it was. He had not heard of the book but he knew of the accident from when he attended KWC. At that time he was the Student Assistant Coach with the men's basketball team and the head coach was Wayne Boultinghouse. Boultinghouse had played for Coach McCutchan at UE and been a part of the 1964 National Championship Basketball Team. Therefore all of the KWC players knew about this story.
August 15, 2022
Very good true story re Indiana basketball team - 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.
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.
January 5, 2020
Well written; details the impact of a tragedy on a community
I was a 15 year old southern Indiana teen when the crash happened. I remember crying when I heard the news.
This is a factual account of the meaning of basketball on small town Indiana. The story of a communitys grief and the struggles to move forward. If you're expecting a happily ever after due to a single hero, this isn't it.
Mr Beaven does a nice job of telling the history of the town so the reader understands how something like basketball can have an impact. He also tells enough about the players and staff of the '77 team so that we remember these were people and not characters in a play. One is able to understand some of the difficulties there must have been in trying to rebuild a basketball program without being disrespectful to the memory of those lost.
I probably cried more reading his account of the crash than I did 42 years ago.
I was a 15 year old southern Indiana teen when the crash happened. I remember crying when I heard the news.
This is a factual account of the meaning of basketball on small town Indiana. The story of a communitys grief and the struggles to move forward. If you're expecting a happily ever after due to a single hero, this isn't it.
Mr Beaven does a nice job of telling the history of the town so the reader understands how something like basketball can have an impact. He also tells enough about the players and staff of the '77 team so that we remember these were people and not characters in a play. One is able to understand some of the difficulties there must have been in trying to rebuild a basketball program without being disrespectful to the memory of those lost.
I probably cried more reading his account of the crash than I did 42 years ago.
March 3, 2020
A very good telling of a basketball team rising from the ashes to make a huge comeback following the tragic loss of the entire team in a plane crash. It was a team lead by a new young coach in his first year trying to fill the shoes of a legendary coach who had won five national small college championships. Only four games into their season under this new coach all lives were lost in the plane crash.
Enter a new young coach from a tiny unknown school in Chicago to lead this small college in Indiana. They had recently joined Division 1 in the NCAA. Within four years this young coach built a competitive team leading them to their first berth in the NCAA tournament.
Follow along as the author, locally born and raised, describes the lows and the highs of this team. The in-depth storytelling will keep you reading to find out the results of this riveting rise from tragedy to triumph.
Enter a new young coach from a tiny unknown school in Chicago to lead this small college in Indiana. They had recently joined Division 1 in the NCAA. Within four years this young coach built a competitive team leading them to their first berth in the NCAA tournament.
Follow along as the author, locally born and raised, describes the lows and the highs of this team. The in-depth storytelling will keep you reading to find out the results of this riveting rise from tragedy to triumph.
January 9, 2020
Very compassionate, well researched, inspirational telling of the tragic story of the University of Evansville's basketball team, whose members all died in a plane crash, devastating the university and the city of Evansville & surrounding areas. The triumphant rebuilding of the team in subsequent seasons did much to revitalize & help the university & town come to terms with the loss of such promising young men.
Though this is a work of tragic historical non-fiction, it reads almost like a novel, adding to the enjoyment of the reading. We get to know the team members, their families & coaches, making the loss of life feel almost personal.
Basketball fans will enjoy the detail given to play by play analysis, historic retellings of well known games, rivalries & personal stories. Sports fans in general will appreciate the team building dynamics.
Though this is a work of tragic historical non-fiction, it reads almost like a novel, adding to the enjoyment of the reading. We get to know the team members, their families & coaches, making the loss of life feel almost personal.
Basketball fans will enjoy the detail given to play by play analysis, historic retellings of well known games, rivalries & personal stories. Sports fans in general will appreciate the team building dynamics.
March 30, 2020
First...full disclosure. My father was raised in Evansville and I still wear his Purple Aces sweatshirt to this day. I read this book because of my Evansville roots. We Will Rise details the successful history of Evansville's proud small-college basketball tradition, the shocking 1977 crash of the chartered plane carrying the team to a game and, most importantly, the emotional revival of Evansville basketball in the years following the crash. For those of us Hoosier senior citizens who lived through the shock of the plane crash, We Will Rise is full of memories and heart-touching history.
The book itself is historical and it reads as such. Frankly, it's style is a bit dry despite my personal interest in the subject. I am not sure that I would recommend to readers who are not personally connected to Evansville. For anyone who is....a must read!
The book itself is historical and it reads as such. Frankly, it's style is a bit dry despite my personal interest in the subject. I am not sure that I would recommend to readers who are not personally connected to Evansville. For anyone who is....a must read!
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