COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech All-American wide receiver Tim Benford, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, has accepted an invitation to play in the 87th East-West Shrine Game®. The Game will be held Saturday, Jan. 21, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., kicking off at 3 p.m. CST and televised live on the NFL Network.

Benford 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 complete team rosters for the event have not been announced.

“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.’”

Brad Childress and Bobby Ross have been selected as head coaches for the game.

While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an international pediatric specialty health care system.

“We hope our supporters all over the country will come out and enjoy this exciting game,” said Douglas E. Maxwell, president and CEO of Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Our health care system depends on the generosity of our supporters, and this game is one of our signature events benefitting Shriners Hospitals for Children.”

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).

About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children, please visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.