Minutes before women’s basketball coach Kay Yow arrives at her office on Tuesday afternoon, her assistants are rushing around, preparing for the team’s upcoming game at Florida State.

The entrance door slowly opens and in walks a tall, slightly balding, middle-aged man who appears uneasy.

Assistant coach Jenny Palmateer stops to say hello and then the man mentions he’d like to help during Sunday’s Hoops for Hope game against Boston College.

He said he has a few items he wants to donate to the silent auction that is taking place before the game — including an object signed by Mario Williams.

“That’s something, isn’t it?” Yow said with a smile. “And we’d like more items for the auction too.”

Pink uniformsThis isn’t just any ACC game. It’s not just a typical Boston College at N.C. State game. And it’s not going to be the normal Wolfpack red stepping onto the court.

The team will wear pink on Sunday. Even though it’s no longer a surprise, the shade of pink is still a secret.

“We were sort of shocked at the color pink,” Yow said. “There are many different shades of pink. But what we had in mind, wasn’t exactly the same. There is no way you can know that. Nike just called and said they were going to do that for us.”

But that’s not the only surprise going into the game. The College of Textiles has teamed up with the Wolfpack to form a warm-up jersey for the entire team — including the coaching staff.

It all started when Yow visited the dean of the College of Textiles, Blanton Godfrey.

“I went over to talk with him just about some simple matter about making some kind of special cloth,” Yow said. “A week later, I received a letter from him. And he said the College of Textiles would like to become involved and get pink warm-ups made for this game.”

And the College went and found one of the nation’s top fashion designers. The College of Textiles brought in William Ivey Long. Long, a winner of five Tony Awards, has four shows running on Broadway — including Chicago and Hairspray.

Long has visited with the team twice. He has spent time eating with the team and taking input — input on what the warm-ups should look like.

“He had a pre-game meal with us once,” Yow said. “He came another time and we met with him. They are doing warm-ups. I mean, a ton of warm-ups. Not just for our team, but our coaching staff will be wearing them for the game.”

But they aren’t just quickly putting the outfits together. Each player was measured. Graduate students from the College of Textiles got together with Long to help, too.

“We have a top designer that’s going to help the College of Textiles,” Yow said. “We’ve never done a major project like that with another part of the University. It’s really neat.”

According to Yow, one of the biggest positives is that people from her team’s own University are providing so much help.

“When you have someone from your own University become that supported, that interested in what we’re doing that they would step up and do something that major, that is really special — because it’s family,” she said.

Oh, and Nike is sending the team specially-made shoes for the game, too.

Following growingSince the inaugural Hoops for Hope game in 2006, the game has grown in popularity over the past couple of seasons.

People from everywhere across the nation are sending in gifts for the silent auction, which will take place before the game. Tip-off is set for 4:25 p.m. and is scheduled to air on ESPN2. Doors open two hours before tip.

The silent auction, which is located on the main floor level, will offer many items to bid on. According to a release from the University, there will be “sports memorabilia, jewelry, concert and event tickets and hotel vouchers.”

Yow said all the donations show how much this game means to people.

“People really do care and really want to be a part of helping others in their fight against this disease,” she said. “And also, the booths there, the silent auction, the T-shirts given away are all about beating cancer.”

And even though it’s just a Sunday afternoon game, she said it can make a huge difference in the battle against cancer.

“Everybody working together, we can make a big difference. We can create an awareness, help to educate people, raise money that can be used for cancer project, cancer research. We can do that — we can do that right here.”

Not only that, other organizations and people have been sending items to the coaches — from personal gifts to objects publicizing the game.

Lapel pins. Printed flyers. Bracelets.

“I’m sure I’m forgetting something,” she said with a smile.

And the best thing is that people don’t want to be recognized, according to Yow.

“They don’t want people to know who they are. They just want do it,” she said. “And it’s just like, people are looking for ways they can help and add to this. It’s special because it really matters to a lot of people.”

Student support important for YowOne of the biggest struggles this season has been getting the student body out to women’s basketball games.

But this game should be different, Yow hopes. And that’s because everyone has a reason to fight cancer.

“I just know there are so many students that have been touched by this disease,” she said.

And the students are a focus for Yow this Sunday.

“I wish that we had some kind of student group there. I know a lot of people are into this. There are many students here who have already lost loved ones due to cancer. They have a passion and a heart for this,” Yow said.

“I wish there was some way we could connect with all the students on campus for a tie-in with Hoops for Hope. Because it would give a student perspective — it would be neat if the students could do something special.”

The Hall of Fame coach does have a message to males who she hopes attend the game.

“And guys got to know, on this day, it’s cool to wear pink,” the veteran coach said, grinning from ear-to-ear.

Also, even with all the festivities, there is a midseason ACC basketball game. But Yow knows, in the grand scheme, it’s small scale compared to the event.

“The bigger game is the battle against breast cancer, and cancer of all types. And it’s a very special game — obviously it’s one very close to my heart,” Yow said. “It’s just a very meaningful game for myself and all the other people that this game can touch who are battling cancer or are cancer survivors or have love one’s they’ve lost because of cancer.”