McGregor Set to Kick Off THON After Busy Friday

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to GoPSUsports.com coverage of THON 2012.  In addition to several members of the Penn State Athletics community dancing for 46 hours inside the Bryce Jordan Center, the Nittany Lion sports teams and coaches are actively involved in the 40th Penn State Dance Marathon for pediatric cancer.

Take a look at coverage as it transpires over the weekend.

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7:45 p.m. on Friday:

Coach Chambers and Men's Basketball Visit THON

Head coach Patrick Chambers and the Nittany Lion basketball team visited the THON festivities on Friday evening before they traveled to Wisconsin for Sunday's game in Madison.

Coach Chambers and team captain Tim Frazier addressed the thousands of individuals packing the BJC for THON 2012.

"As long as I'm coach of Penn State basketball, our program is all in in support of THON," said Coach Chambers.

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12 a.m. on Saturday (Friday night):

VIDEO - Head Coach Bill O'Brien Speaks at THON

Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien took the stage at THON for the first time in his career at midnight early on Saturday inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Coach O'Brien received a standing ovation before firing up the crowd for the 2012 season.

"One of the reasons I accepted the job here was because of people like you...because you are Penn State. We are Penn State," Coach O'Brien said.

Coach O'Brien told the crowd that he will annually buy season tickets for the couple that raises the most money at THON each year.  He capped off his speech with an enthusiastic "We Are...Penn State" cheer.  Take a look.

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12:30 a.m. Saturday (Friday night)

VIDEO: THON Dancer Shane McGregor Interview on the Floor

Nittany Lion quarterback Shane McGregor started his Friday with a 4 a.m. wakeup call to get ready for the football team's 5:30 a.m. run outside the Lasch Football Building.

From there, McGregor participated in the upper body lifting session in the football weight room at 7 a.m.  Less than 12 hours later, McGregror was beginning his quest of dancing 46-straight hours on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center at THON.  We caught up with McGregor on the dance floor shortly after midnight early on Saturday for an update.  Take a look.

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2 p.m. on Saturday:

VIDEO - Football Hosts THON Make-A-Wish Event

Forty members of the Nittany Lion football team welcomed 25 THON Make-A-Wish children and their families to a special tour of the Lasch Football Building on Saturday afternoon.

The Make-A-Wish event is circled on the calendar for the Nittany Lions every year.  The THON families gathered inside the home of Penn State football to take photos, get autographs, tour the facility with the Nittany Lions, eat ice cream from the Penn State Creamery and take a photo in the weight room.

Head coach Bill O'Brien spoke to the group after it received the facility tour and signed autographs with the THON kids.  Take a look at the Make-A-Wish event at the Lasch Football Complex on Saturday.

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10:30 p.m. on Saturday:

Men's Gymnastics Downs No. 3 Illinois; Wins Dance Competition

The student-athletes from a large list of Nittany Lion teams competed in front of a packed house at the annual THON pep rally on Saturday night.  The Nittany Lion men's gymnastics team stole the show with a superb dance medley.

After knocking off No. 3 Illinois (347.800-346.500) earlier on Saturday in Rec Hall, the Nittany Lions won the crowd over from the moment they started a high-flying acrobatic ensemble to "Shout."  By the time the dance ended, the crowd, already on its feet, roared with approval.  The men's gymnastics team, men's ice hockey team, football squad and men's / women's fencing team were among the final four in the competition, but the crowd vote went overwhelmingly in favor of the men's gymnastics.

VIDEO: THON 2012 Pep Rally Recap

Take a look through a complete photo gallery from the Pep Rally from a packed house in the BJC.

Pep Rally Photo Gallery

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4 p.m. on Sunday:

2012 THON Raises $10,686,924.83 for Pediatric Cancer

The largest student-run philanthropy effort reached new heights on Sunday afternoon when it was announced at the end of the 46-hour dance marathon in the BJC that efforts of the Penn State students raised a record $10,686,924.83 for pediatric cancer treatment and research this year.

Congratulations to everyone involved in THON 2012 and the members of Penn State Athletics who helped raise money, dance and participate in the THON festivities throughout the year and over the weekend in the Bryce Jordan Center.


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