The East-West Shrine Game is the longest running college all-star game in the country. The 89th East-West Shrine Game will be played today. The Senior Bowl might get more attention. It certainly gets more attention from NFL scouts. The East-West Shrine Game has about 25 years on the Senior Bowl. Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Game has been played to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Strong Legs Run That Weak Legs may Walk
This has been the slogan and the reason for the East-West Shrine Game since that first game in San Francisco in 1925. The game was played in the San Francisco Bay area from 1925-2005. Due to war restrictions on west coast travel, the 1943 game was played in New Orleans. Most of the games were played in San Francisco but I grew up with the game as a Stanford Stadium fixture. It seemed that every year I had access to tickets. For reasons that I can't even fathom now, I attended only one game. That one game seemed fitting as my all-time favorite Minnesota Vikings player, and childhood hero, Alan Page was honored at half time. What a thrill! The game has moved around quite a bit since it was last played in San Francisco. San Antonio in 2006 and on to Houston from 2007-09. Orlando in 2010 and 2011. And St. Petersburg ever since. It doesn't feel right to see the game played anywhere other than Stanford but I'm starting to get used to it.
71 East-West Shrine Game alumni have been honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and more than 200 into the College Football Hall of Fame. More than 100 players from last year's game signed with professional football teams in 2013. On average, more than 275 East-West Shrine Game alumni are on NFL rosters each year. There will be a lot of football talent at Tropicana Field. I'm going in with my eyes on three players in particular. Quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo of Eastern Illinois and Jeff Matthews of Cornell and defensive tackle Beau Allen of Wisconsin. I'm sure that other players will catch my attention. Maybe, Dakota Dozier.
The 89th East-West Shrine Game will be a nice appetizer for the Conference Championship games tomorrow.
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