 
Gideon to play in 87th East-West Shrine Game
Jan. 6, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Longhorns senior safety Blake Gideon has accepted an invitation to play in the 87th East-West Shrine Game®, the organizers of the game have announced. The game will be held Jan. 21, 2012 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., kicking off at 3 p.m. CST and televised live on the NFL Network. The Longhorns have had a player represent the University of Texas in this annual all-star game every year since 1996. Past Longhorns participants include TE David Thomas (2006), DE Brian Robison (2007), LB Scott Derry (2008), DT Derek Lokey (2008), DT Frank Okam (2008), DT Roy Miller (2009), CB Ryan Palmer (2009), K Hunter Lawrence (2010), TE Greg Smith (2011) and OL Kyle Hix (2011). Gideon started all 52 games during his career at safety and saw action on special teams. His 52 consecutive starts rank tied for second most at Texas (Colt McCoy, 53). He was named to the 2011 Thorpe Award watch list and was a four-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Gideon has posted 276 tackles (166 solo), 10 INTs, 20 PBU, two sacks, eight TFL, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt for his career. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in 2010 after posting 68 tackles (42 solo), two INTs, four PBU, one sack, three TFL, one forced fumble and one blocked punt. Gideon was also an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2009 with 62 tackles (35 solo), two TFL, six INTs, five PBU and a fumble recovery. The six INTs tied for seventh on UT's single-season list. He started all 13 games at safety as a true freshman and was tabbed second-team Freshman All-America and named honorable mention All-Big 12 after finishing third on the team in tackles with 64 (41 solo) to go along with seven PBU, a TFL, a forced fumble and eight pressures. He was a two-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll (Spring 2009/Fall 2010).
Gideon joins an elite list of football greats, such as John Elway, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, and 62 NFL Hall of Famers, who have played in the East-West Shrine Game along with 52 players currently on active NFL rosters. "The East-West Shrine Game has always fielded players among college football's best," said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson. "With all 32 NFL teams represented by GMs, coaches and scouts during game week, our players have the terrific opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first glimpse of life in the NFL ... `Just Like on Sunday.'" The East-West Shrine Game tickets are on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets. Fans can purchase tickets for the January 21, 2012 game online at www.shrinegame.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 727-342-5777. All game tickets are $15 general admission tickets (price does not include service fees).
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