UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Bill O'Brien will tee it up alongside host Patrick Chambers with one lucky foursome at the 17th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament, Friday, May 31, at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses. The pairing of the Penn State football and men's basketball coaches highlights a strong field of celebrity captains that will be among approximately 300 golfers and 60 groups participating in the event that will push CVC-Penn State past the $2 million mark in total funds raised since the organization's inception in 1996.
The pairing of O'Brien and Chambers, two of the most visible and enthusiastic faces of the University, in their first-ever round of golf together is part of a silent auction package that also includes an authentic Penn State football helmet and game basketball signed by both coaches and four tickets to both a Penn State home basketball and football game in the 2013-14 season. The one-of-a-kind experience will be up for bid at the CVC Captain/Sponsor Reception, which kicks off the area's most anticipated golf event on Thursday, May 30 with a gala reception held at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Chambers said of the pairing with O'Brien. "I finally get to play in the tournament this year, after having knee surgery last year, and I can't wait. Bill and I are both passionate about fighting cancer and helping the community, and we thought this would be a unique way to help generate a little bit more for the cause. It's going to be a great event and I know we'll have a heck of a good time with our four playing partners."
O'Brien is among 10 Penn State head coaches participating in this year's event and five members of the Penn State football coaching staff, including assistant head coach Stan Hixon, defensive coordinator John Butler, quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher and director of strength and conditioning Craig Fitzgerald. Penn State head coaches participating include: Josh Brandwene (women's hockey), Guy Gadowsky (men's hockey), John Hargis (swimming and diving), Char Morett (field hockey), Greg Nye (men's golf), Mark Pavlik (men's volleyball), Russ Rose (women's volleyball), Jeff Thompson (women's gymnastics) and Bob Warming (men's soccer).
Nearly 20 former Nittany Lion basketball players and coaches will participate, including former head coaches Bruce Parkhill (1984-85) and Jerry Dunn (1996-2003) who were both instrumental in starting and building Penn State's Coaches vs. Cancer organization. Among the former players returning will be 1,000-point scorers Joe Crispin (1,986), Pete Lisicky (1,605) and Mark DuMars (1,139) and graduates from recent teams such as David Jackson, Ken Krimmel, Ben Luber, Danny Morrissey, Tyler Smith and Mike Walker.
Chambers will also welcome several area college head basketball coaches to State College for the event, including Jim Ferry (Duquesne), Bruiser Flint (Drexel), Rob Krimmel (St. Francis) and Dave Paulsen (Bucknell), as well as Big Ten Network analysts Tim Doyle and Rick Pizzo.
Penn State football will also have several former standouts participating, including College Football Hall of Fame inductee Glenn Ressler, All-American John Skorupan, career punting leaders Jeremy Boone and Jeremy Kapinos and standouts Keith Conlin, Scott Fitzkee, Galen Hall, Jay Paterno and Dan Radakovich.
The Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament, hosted by Nittany Lion head coach Patrick Chambers, has become one of the most anticipated golf events in central Pennsylvania annually hosting more than 300 golfers, sponsors and regional sports luminaries in flights taking place on both Penn State golf courses. The five-man, 18-hole scramble tournament is just part of the activities that include a gala Captain/Sponsors Reception, featuring high-end hors d'oeuvres, open beverage service and live music, and a post-tournament awards banquet at the Mount Nittany Club at Beaver Stadium.
To learn more on how to get involved with Coaches vs. Cancer-Penn State, please visit cvcpennstate.org. CVC-Penn State, which in its 18th year overall, has raised more than $1,900,000 to help support the American Cancer Society and provide direct aid to those affected by the disease in the Centre region.
The CVC-Penn State campaign is a year-round effort to raise funds and awareness in the fight against cancer. The 2012-13 event schedule kicked off with the CVC Reverse Car Drawing at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park last September and includes Coaches vs. Cancer Band Together Day and the CVC 5K Run/Walk so far this season. Dates of upcoming events include:
17th Annual CVC Golf Tournament - May 31 (Blue & White Golf Courses)State College Brew Expo - Aug. 17 (Tussey Mountain)CVC Reverse Car Drawing - Sept. 19 (Medlar Field at Lubrano Park)Coaches vs. Cancer Band Together Day - TBA (Bryce Jordan Center)
Coaches vs. Cancer-Penn State raised a record net total of $215,000 during the 2011-12 campaign, surpassing the $200,000 mark for the third-straight year, and has netted over $1 million in the last six years alone. CVC-Penn State annually ranks among the top 10 highest fundraisers among Coaches vs. Cancer organizations nationally. Much of CVC-Penn State funds are donated directly to the American Cancer Society, the largest non-profit funder of cancer research with over $30 million in research taking place in Pennsylvania each year, including three research grants totaling over $2.1 million at Penn State University.
Some of the money raised also goes directly to assist those affected by the disease in the Centre Region through the Bob Perks Fund (BPF). CVC-Penn State has donated more than $220,000 to the fund, including a donation of $38,000 in December, the fifth-straight year the organization has presented an annual grant in excess of $35,000 to the local charity that provides direct assistance to individuals and families affected by cancer in Centre, Blair, Clearfield and Huntingdon counties.
To get involved in any of Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer's events or become a sponsor or volunteer please visit www.CVCPENNSTATE.org or call 814-330-3337.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Associate Athletic Communications Director Brian Siegrist (@PSUSTRETCH) and the official Penn State men's basketball handle (@PennStateMBB) on Twitter and check GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatebasketball.