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Penn State coach Mark Pavlik will slightly resemble the iconic look of former legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant while on the sidelines this weekend to help raise money for cancer research.
The Nittany Lions announced Wednesday that Pavlik will wear a fedora for the team’s conference match against St. Francis on Saturday in an effort raise awareness for the EIVA Rallies campaign.
The EIVA Rallies is an annual campaign the conference started last season that raises money for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and increases awareness for the importance of cancer research.
“The EIVA partnership with Sloan Kettering and cancer research touches all of us,” Pavlik said in a statement. “We all know someone who has been affected by cancer. I think the EIVA, and all the coaches and players understand how meaningful it is to support cancer research and the efforts Sloan Kettering.”
The EIVA leadership has experienced first-hand the affects of cancer. EIVA commissioner Ivan Marquez is a a seven-year cancer survivor and continues to undergo treatments.
Along with Pavlik wearing the fedora, the Nittany Lions will hold silent auction during its match against St. Francis with all proceeds going to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The Penn State event is one of several EIVA Rallies campaign events that will take place throughout the regular season. The EIVA also announced Wednesday that every team in the conference will have at least one campaign event, which will be take at unannounced dates later this season.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is one of the largest and oldest cancer research facilities in the nation. In addition, the center has provided patient care and innovative research for more than 100 years.
People have the opportunity to donate money online to the EIVA Rallies campaign throughout the regular season. To donate to the EIVA Rallies Giving Fund, click here.