Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck uses subtle approach to honor Boston bombing victims

Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck noted that as a head coach, he never wanted to miss an opportunity to bring awareness to a worthwhile cause and on Saturday, he subtly did just that.

Fleck roamed the Western Michigan sidelines during Saturday’s spring game in a light blue pullover and blue shoes. While the outfit might have seemed strange for a team that reps brown and gold as its official colors, a closer look revealed that the jacket was actually from the 2013 Boston Marathon.

"I am an avid runner and I personally know the loss of a child,” Fleck told Yahoo Sports via email. “We wanted to do our part to remember those who were lost, injured or affected in any way by last year's tragic events that shook our nation, and bring awareness to the race."

Fleck received the jacket from a family friend who ran the race last year, but was about a half-hour to an hour behind the explosion and unharmed. Fleck was devastated by the bombing that killed three people (a fourth would be killed during the manhunt), including 8-year-old Martin Richard, injured 264 others and sparked a manhunt that would unite the City of Boston and captivate the country.

The Broncos held a moment of silence prior to the game, but Fleck made very little show of his outfit, choosing to quietly remember those who had been affected. Still it’s a nice tribute to those who were lost in last year’s bombing and those who decided to run in Monday’s race.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter Follow @YahooDrSaturday