Shrine Game: Strong legs run so that pro scouts can watch

By Darrell Laurant | Thursday, January 18, 2007 | ( 0 )

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Once upon a time, the charity-based East-West Shrine Game ("Strong legs run that weak legs can walk") was THE place to be seen for senior college football players aspiring to the NFL.

Somewhere along the line, however, the Senior Bowl moved to the head of the postseason line. One case in point: Florida QB Chris Leak and WR Dallas Baker were signed up for the Shrine Game until the Senior Bowl issued invitations, whereupon they bolted. Another case in point: Cal linebacker Desmond Bishop told reporters before a Shrine Game practice this week that he had a "chip on his shoulder" because he'd been snubbed by the Senior Bowl.

What's worse, the Shrine Game has become a nomad since leaving San Francisco two years ago. Last year's crowd in San Antonio was the smallest (18,533) since 1927, so the organizers moved it this year to Houston's Reliant Stadium.

All that having been said, however, it isn't like the Shrine Game will field squads of Division I-A second-stringers and guys from Northeast Oklahoma and Gardner-Webb. Although the Senior Bowl signed up Heisman winner Troy Smith, Notre Dame's Brady Quinn and national title winner Leak among its QBs, the Shrine Game has Brigham Young's John Beck, Nebraska's Zac Taylor and Iowa's Drew Tate, all with strong track records and something to prove.

And obviously, NFL scouts see something in Texas DE Brian Robison, because 11 teams met with him on one night.

It's true, however, that a glance down both team rosters shows a lot of players anxious to demonstrate to scouts that they can do it on the field before being subjected to the tapes and stopwatches at the NFL Combine.

Tate and Arkansas LB Sam Olajubutu (5-foot-9, 220 pounds) are among those supposedly too short for the pros. David Ball of New Hampshire, who broke all Division I-AA career receiving records, played at a small school. Nebraska TE Matt Herian is coming off a serious knee injury. Texas Tech wideout Joel Filani has been saddled with a supposed 4.76 40 time (hard to believe, considering the number of times he got open as a Red Raider). South Carolina's Syvelle Newton bounced back and forth between quarterback and wide receiver. Tennessee wide receiver Jayson Swain was overshadowed by teammate Robert Meacham. Syracuse LB Kelvin Smith played on a bad team.

And so on. Dan Reeves will coach the West squad, Don Shula the East, and Alabama DL Jarrett Clark made a big impression on Shula early in practice by accidentally leveling him as the former Dolphins' legend stood on the sideline. Unlike Joe Paterno, Shula emerged unscathed.

Some of the other more recognizable names on the East squad include Ohio State Buckeyes T.J. Downing (OG) and Brandon Mitchell (CB), Michigan DB Willis Barringer, linebackers KaMichael Hall of Georgia Tech and Mark Zalewski of Wisconsin, Miami RB Tyrone Moss and LSU DB Jessie Daniels. For the West, marquee players include Texas RB Selvin Young (who has the same agent as longtime friend Vince Young), Southern Cal LB Dallas Sartz, Oklahoma State wideout D'Juan Woods and Oklahoma LB Zach Latimer.

The game is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

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