KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The 2009 East-West Shrine Game does not have a full roster listed on its web site at this time but three members of the Western Michigan football team know that they have a great change to play in the annual postseason all-star game in Houston scheduled to take place on Jan. 17, 2009. Seniors Louis Delmas (FS), Londen Fryar (CB) and Jamarko Simmons (WR) are being watched in order to be a part of the East roster.
Delmas and Fryar make up one half of the Broncos's returning starting secondary in 2008. The four returning starters, including E.J. Biggers and C.J. Wilson, boast 25 interceptions in their collective careers with Delmas the active leader at eight picks. Fryar set a new standard for pass break ups in a game with six against Akron last season, including three straight on one series and finished his junior campaign with 16, second most all-time at WMU.
Simmons had a breakout year at wide receiver, hauling in the second most receptions in a season in program history with 84 and came up just 20 yards shy of 1,000 in 2007. He had four 100-yard receiving games and four multi-touchdown games during his junior season.
An invitation for the Western Michigan would mark the first time in program history that more than one Bronco has been invited to participate in the East-West Shrine Game in one season. The last Bronco to receive an invitation was current Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings in 2006. Other Broncos to particpate were Bob Rowe (1966), Mike Siwek (1969), John Offerdahl (1986), Mark Garalczyk (1987), Tom Nutten (1995) and Jason Babin (2004).
The East West Shrine Game has never been "just another football game". The Shrine Game is the Premier All-Star Game in America, and has a long history of distinguished players and coaches in the Game.
But that's not what makes it "Football's Finest Hour." What makes the Shrine Game so special is its true purpose - helping to support Shriners Hospitals for Children. Every year since 1925, the Shrine Game has been played to raise money and to help make the public aware of the expert orthopedic and burn care available, at NO cost, at all 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children.
To date, the game has raised more than $14 million for Shriners Hospitals and has helped inform millions of people about the mission of this extraordinary philanthropy. The Shrine represents many things: good times, camaraderie, and tradition. But what really binds together the more than 500,000 Shriners nationwide is an attitude of caring.
