According to reports, Mississippi State and Ole Miss will honor former Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive thrice this season with Prostate Cancer Awareness games. All teams will be wearing unique decals on their helmets during games in September.

Mississippi State will play in two Prostate Awareness Games. On September 6, it will begin with LSU and on September 26 at Auburn. On September 26, Ole Miss will also be wearing the decal when it will host Vanderbilt.

The games are intended to assist in spreading awareness regarding prostate cancer prevention, in addition to honoring the former commissioner. In the late 1990s, Slive was diagnosed with the condition. In May this year, the athletics directors of the SEC voted collectively at the SEC Spring Meetings to honor Slive. They decided to dedicate a game to prostate cancer awareness on each campus.

According to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, “The Athletics Directors saw this as an opportunity to recognize Mike Slive in a meaningful way while also bringing attention to an important topic that affects one in seven men in America during a lifetime”. He added that former commissioner will be honored for his contribution to the SEC and awareness regarding the condition will also be spread.

Slive made announcement regarding his retirement in October 2014. He was fighting a recurrence of the disease. He didn’t receive any cancer treatment in summer after his surgery and chemotherapy.