When acknowledging what service members have done for those living in the United States of America, it can be something as simple as wearing red once a week.
 
Ashland University's baseball team takes part in R.E.D. Friday every Friday. R.E.D. stands for Remember Everyone Deployed, and the Eagles became involved in the growing national remembrance thanks to second-year assistant coaches Seth Schroeder and Collin Scott, both of whom also work in admissions on campus in the Jack W. Liebert Military and Veteran Resource Center.
 
"It all started last year," Schroeder, a former AU baseball player, recalled. "Randy Spade, our Executive Director of Admissions, told us to wear red on Friday. We didn't really understand why, but we did. We showed up to work on Friday, and we were both wondering why he asked us to wear red. It turns out, Randy, and the rest of the Military & Veteran Services team, are actively trying to spread awareness about deployed military personnel.
 
"It especially hit home for one of our admissions co-workers, Ryan Yeater, who was deployed at the time. Every Friday, we wear red and take a group picture, and post in on social media to spread awareness. Eventually, Randy got a bunch of red shirts made for more people to wear. Coach Scott and I thought it would be a great idea to share this with our team. (Head) coach (John) Schaly thought it was a great idea. So, we got our team involved, explained the reasoning, and started taking team pictures before and after practice, games, and even when we traveled. The guys loved it, and everyone was on board."
 
Said Schaly, "We want to honor and recognize our military service members. With those two coaches working in that department here on campus, it made it a good fit."
 
For the 2024-25 academic year, a wrinkle has been added to R.E.D. Friday – players aren't just given a red shirt, they have to earn it.
 
"We designed a different red shirt with our Ashland 'A' logo and big R.E.D. on the front," Schroeder noted. "Our players can earn their shirt through a variety of ways, such as guys putting in extra work, showing up early, staying late, being a great teammate, guys giving the extra effort that we find noticeable. Basically, it boils down to respect, commitment and loyalty. The guys love it and are very eager to earn their own red shirt to spread awareness for a great cause.
 
"We want to let them know that there is something bigger than us. We're lucky enough to play a game that we love, come out here every day…when there's brave men and women fighting overseas for us, fighting for our freedom."
 
Added Schaly, "I thought it was a great idea, to have a nice-looking shirt that ties in Ashland baseball with it. But they have to earn it. And we can teach things that are important to our program – work ethic, being a good teammate, performance during practices and scrimmages in the fall."
 
Senior center fielder Cam Miller said, "This is my fifth year, and I felt like I needed to go out and earn it. You have to earn everything you get in this program, which is what we want our culture to be here. It's cool to have that symbolized in these shirts."
 
How much do the Eagles want to take R.E.D. Friday all the way to the 2025 NCAA Division II College World Series, May 30-June 7 in Cary, N.C.?
 
"That's our main goal," said Miller. "We've just got to keep pushing for that, and keep earning everything we can."
 
"I would love to do that," Schaly said. "I would love that."