Afternoon Kickoff 7/9
It may be Arts Fest weekend in Happy Valley, but there is another event in town worth checking out if you make the trip. The Penn State football team and Uplifting Athletes will hold its seventh annual Lift for Life event Friday.
The competition will be held from 2-7 p.m. inside Holuba Hall, as 24 teams of Penn State football players will participate in various strength and endurance events to raise money for the Kidney Cancer Association.
Fight On State has a list of the teams and our Nate Mink checks in with various predictions and awards.
Last year, more than $70,000 was raised for the Kidney Cancer Association. Lift for Life is open to the public, with suggested donations of $5 for students and $10 for adults. You can also donate online and learn more about how to get involved by visiting here. Since its first Lift for Life competition in 2003, Uplifting Athletes has also spread to other schools with chapters now at Boston College, Ohio State, Colgate and Maryland.
It's really a great cause that everyone should support, and Friday should be a lot of fun.
Wayne Staats, Matt Fortuna and myself will be attending the event, and many players will be made available to the media. Look for a preview in Friday's Collegian and complete coverage early next week.
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Quick hits:
-Not surprisingly, the Mountain West and WAC caved and signed the BCS/ESPN contract. The two leagues will continue to fight for the anti-BCS cause... while also accepting BCS money and sticking with the system.
-USC's Everson Griffen and Jordan Campbell were arrested in Nantucket, Mass., on the Fourth of July on breach of peace charges. Griffen is expected to start at defensive end for the Trojans after recording 4.5 sacks last season, while Campbell is a reserve linebacker.
-The Big Ten will hold its media day July 27-28 in Chicago. We'll be there, as will three players from each team. Daryll Clark, Sean Lee and Jared Odrick will represent the Nittany Lions. For the most part, seniors earn the trip, which unfortunately means we will not be getting a chance to speak with Terrelle Pryor. The only non-seniors scheduled to appear are Illinois WR Arrelious Benn, Indiana QB Ben Chappell and Michigan State LB Greg Jones.
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Video of the Day:
Some Lift for Life background from a few years back:
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