Poole To Play In East-West Shrine Game

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee tailback Tauren Poole will be playing in the 2012 East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 21, 2012 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Poole is the 43rd Volunteer to be selected to the game.

Poole ran for 1,883 yards in his career at Tennessee, playing in 49 games. He scored 16 touchdowns in his career including five as a senior in 2011. He gained 693 yards this past season while catching 21 balls for 164 yards. He gained 100 rushing yards on three occasions this past season with a season-best 107 vs. Vanderbilt (11/19) in addition to 101 vs. Buffalo (10/1) and 100 vs. Cincinnati.

Poole was a 2011 preseason member of the Doak Walker and Maxwell Watch Lists in addition to being a candidate for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award.

As a junior, Poole named AP All-SEC Honorable Mention accolades starting all 13 games and gaining 1,034 yards on 204 carries. He scored 11 touchdowns and gained 100 yards on six occasions to tie for the lead in the SEC. His 1,000-yard season was the 16th in UT history and his total of 1,034 ranks 14th on the single-season list. Poole gained a career-high 162 rushing yards against Oregon (9/11/10).

About the East-West Shrine Game
Since 1925 the East-West Shrine Game® has been more than just a football game. It’s been a showcase for the next generation of NFL greats and a priceless benefit event for Shriners Hospitals for Children®. The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running all-star college football game, combining great football with a great cause and creating experiences for players that will last a lifetime.

Playing for the kids at Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children specialize in treating orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, burns, and cleft lip and palate, for children up to age 18, regardless of their ability to pay.

Coaches and players gain a personal understanding of the meaning of the game.

Shriners International – the men behind the hospitals
Shriners International was founded in 1872, and now has aproximately 325,000 members in 194 temples in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and the Republic of Panama. Shriners Hospitals for Children was founded by the fraternity in 1922 and they continue to support the hospital system.

Past Vols In East-West Shrine Game
1932 Gene McEver
Herman Hickman
1934 Beattie Feathers
1946 Bob Dobelstein
1964 Steve DeLong
1965 Frank Emanuel
1976 Ron McCartney
1977 Mickey Marvin
Andy Spiva
1979 Robert Shaw
1980 Craig Puki
Bill Marren
1981 Tim Irwin
Brad White
1982 Anthony Hancock
1983 Mike Miller
1985 Johnnie Jones
1986 Eric Swanson
1988 John Bruhin
Terry McDaniel
1990 Kent Elmore
Tracy Hayworth
1991 Roland Poles
1992 Tom Myslinski
1996 Scott Galyon
DeRon Jenkins
Jason Layman
1998 Jonathan Brown
Robert Poole
1999 Jeff Hall
2001 David Leaverton
2003 Omari Hand
2004 Rashad Baker
Casey Clausen
Gibril Wilson
2005 Jason Respert
2006 Jason Hall
2007 Jayson Swain
2008 Jonathan Hefney
2009 Ramon Foster
2010 Chris Scott
2011 Chris Walker
2012 Tauren Poole