DOTD: Herb Hand Shaves Head for THON, Fallen Former Player
It’s no secret that Herb Hand is a community man. The Penn State offensive line coach has partnered with Onward State for a pizza crawl to benefit Uplifting Athletes and Bands4RAINN, defended his Nittany Lions over social media, and auctioned off his breakfast-cooking skills for the Penns Valley Youth Center.
Now, he’s shaved his head for THON and to honor a fallen former player.
Hand paid $10 at Evolve Studios in downtown State College on Monday to shave his head, with proceeds going to THON. More than 300 people showed up to have their heads shaved for the cause.
It was a special day for Hand for another reason, too. Monday was the four-year anniversary of the day Wilson Holloway, an offensive lineman at Tulsa during Hand’s tenure there, passed away after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
On 2/16/2011,we lost a warrior-@WilsonHolloway-Cancer took his life but NEVER broke his spirit. @YahooForde‘s story http://t.co/5W5q5rumDS — Herb Hand (@CoachHand) February 16, 2015
Holloway was especially close to Blake Griffin, and Hand reposted a 2012 ESPN clip in which the NBA all-star remembers his fallen friend. Following the buzz cut, Hand took a moment to remember Holloway.
My #NoHairDontCare shoutout is in memory of @WilsonHolloway – He is THE reason I will always @THON. #JustKeepSmiling pic.twitter.com/NNbnRwcB48 — Herb Hand (@CoachHand) February 16, 2015
Fight on State had video of the event, while StateCollege.com’s Ben Jones tweeted out a picture of Hand after the fresh cut.
.@CoachHand contemplates the new look. In part for THON but also for Wilson Holloway. pic.twitter.com/WkhjeGvwbV
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) February 16, 2015
Hand wasn’t the only notable member of the football program to join in. Offensive lineman Derek Dowrey shaved his golden locks FTK too.
Check out our full coverage of the event here.
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