UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Attitude is the name of the game for everything Patrick Chambers does.

He and the Nittany Lion basketball program live by the motto of approaching adversity with a choice.  You can either face challenges with a positive attitude or dwell on them with a negative attitude.

For Coach Chambers, that choice is easy, and it goes far beyond the score of game on the court.

Friday's 16th Annual Coaches Vs. Cancer Golf Tournament was living proof of that.

Chambers was hired on the day of the CVC golf outing one year ago, so Friday was his first taste of the outstanding event held at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses.

"It is a class event, a premier event," Chambers said.  "You see how it is run, you see the sponsors, you see how it is organized - it is amazing.  There is pressure on you to keep it going, to keep it fresh and to make sure you are out front.  I want to be involved. I am going to be here.  I am in this for the long haul.  We want to keep it this way - first class and with the community so involved.  It is very important to me."

Chambers underwent a planned high tibial osteotomy on his left knee in May, and was therefore unable to play in the tournament.  The surgical procedure included a re-fracturing of the lower leg, cleaning of the knee, insertion of a bone wedge to straighten out his knee in order to distribute weight better to the outside of the knee.

Because he is on crutches for another five weeks (three weeks in his mind because he is an optimist), Chambers was limited to a seat outside of the clubhouse or a golf cart at the CVC Tournament.  But it didn't matter.  Limited mobility or not, Coach Chambers' enthusiasm is infectious.

Chambers has the perfect attitude to lead a fight against a deadly disease, largely because he truly never gives up.  He invited several Penn State head coaches, including Bill O'Brien, to be a part of this year's golf tournament.  Coach O'Brien jumped at the opportunity to help the cause.

"I am very honored to be here," Coach O'Brien said.  "I have formed a bond with Patrick Chambers.  He asked me to come over to this, and I couldn't be more honored to be here.  It's for a great cause."

The CVC event hits O'Brien on a personal level.

"It hits close to home for myself because my mom is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so cancer hits really close to home for me and hopefully I will be here every single year," O'Brien said.

The CVC Golf Tournament is the flagship event of the organization created to raise funds year-round to support the American Cancer Society affected by the disease in Centre County through the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BCAF).  In addition to the golf tournament, Coaches Vs. Cancer conducts a year-round calendar of seven events.

The golf tournament has more than doubled in size since it began in 1996-'97, and there could not be a better man to continue leading the CVC fight at Penn State than Coach Chambers.


To get involved as a sponsor or participant in Penn State Coaches Vs. Cancer please visit CVCPENNSTATE.ORG or call 814-330-3337.


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