Players putting on purple for a purpose

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Fridays in the fall, for many, mean high school football. For players around the Austin area, Fridays in October are taking on an additional meaning.

October serves as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and local teams are showing their support for the cause.

It might be small, but a purple ribbon, worn on each varsity player's helmet, has a lot of meaning behind it. It symbolizes their awareness surrounding domestic violence and the prevention of it.

The purple ribbons are part of the Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign, sponsored by The Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Advocacy Project, plus several area school districts.

The message:  "Football is a contact sport; love shouldn't be."
    
The Sheriff's office says the help from the Texas Advocacy Project gives them a resource or outlet for victims and witnesses of domestic violence to get help. Violence against women is especially of concern.

Research from the Texas Council on Family Violence finds that nearly 150 Texas women were killed by their intimate partner in 2010.

In addition, unfortunately, most cases of teen dating violence, go unreported.

For law enforcement, it's a big deal to see the high school players in the Austin area tackling such an important issue.

"We're going to have all the schools from Hays County, all the schools from Travis County, and just send a strong message of support. And all of the high school athletes here today understand the importance of the message," said Travis County Chief Deputy Jim Sylvester, "Domestic violence; it's at home, it's at school, it's everywhere. And to stand up against that--it's a big deal because you're having to look that person in the face and tell them no."

The varsity players will wear the purple ribbons on their helmets throughout the month of October, and the schools will make announcements during their games Friday, officially recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month.