Story and photo By Cory Olsen
The Hope College football team wore purple jerseys Saturday in a show of support to cancer research being done by the Van Andel Institute, but for one fan watching from the stands and one on the sidelines, the game had even more meaning.
Jens Bach, grandfather of Hope College offensive lineman Jake VanderVeen, watched intently as his grandson and fellow Flying Dutchmen defeated Lakeland 37-35 at the Purple Community game.
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A crowd of friends and family huddled around Bach as he greeted Jake after his winning effort, but it nearly didn't happen that way.
The day before the game Vanderveen "took a tumble" while messing around with friends and hit his face on the ground. An inch-long cut opened above the left eye of the senior from Alto, Michigan (Caledonia).
Jake said his immediate thoughts turned to his grandpa.
"When it happened I was so upset because I was like 'This can't get in the way of this game,' because this is such a big deal," Jake said. "It's been on the schedule for so long and learning that my grandpa had cancer over the summer just made this game even more special for me personally."
Jake said tears formed in his eyes when he saw the severity of the laceration, but he got patched up and cleared to play after all.
"It was great to be able to come out and play and represent my grandpa who has been such a big part of my life for such a long time," Jake said.
Once Bach was diagnosed with cancer he wanted to make sure he saw his grandson play. A smile creased his face when he recalled hearing of his grandson's injury.
"Boys will be boys," he said with a sigh.
Jake and the rest of the offensive line opened up huge holes for their running backs and quarterback against Lakeland. The Flying Dutchmen rushed for 319 yards and averaged 9.7 yards per carry.
Bach was impressed with Hope's play as a group and his grandson.
"I think it was terrific, I love my grandson," Bach said. "He's a good player and he's a contributor.
"It was something to see."
Family members snapped pictures to document the moments after the game as Bach talked to Van Andel Institute chairman and CEO David Van Andel and Hope football coach Peter Stuursma.
"It was awesome for Jake and it was an emotional week for our guys," said Stuursma, who had many of his players wear on the back of their jerseys, in honor of or in memory of, family members and friends who had been diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.
"At the end of the day guys this is a game," Stuursma said. "It's a lot of fun and what a great day of entertainment, but it's still a game. But yet it's an incredible platform for what we can do with a game."
Jake smiled as he watched others talking with his grandpa, all dressed in purple shirts customized for the day.
"It's great to see everybody come together and be around him to show him how much he is loved," Jake said. "We love him and he loves us. He always has. It's been a really great experience."
