Dec. 9, 2009
LAS VEGAS - Former UNLV linebacker Jason Beauchamp (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) has accepted an invitation to play in the 85th Annual East-West Shrine Classic scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at Orlando's Florida Citrus Bowl.
The game, which is being played in the Sunshine State for the first time ever, will kick off at 12 p.m. PT and be nationally televised by ESPN2.
Beauchamp broke the school record for games played with 48 and finished second in school history with 334 total tackles. The three-year starter finished his senior season with 95 takedowns, 6.5 quarterback sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss. The 2008 Mountain West Conference tackles leader with 127 was named the league's player of the week for the second time in his career after a dominating performance in UNLV's victory at New Mexico on Oct. 24.
Beauchamp will suit up for the West Team, which will be coached by longtime NFL head man Marty Schottenheimer. Beauchamp is the 13th Rebel in history to be invited to the Shrine Classic but the first since linebacker Adam Seward after the 2004 season.
"I'm excited to be playing and really motivated to represent UNLV and compete with, and against, some of the best players in the country," Beauchamp said. "It's a blessing to be able to come out of college healthy and be a part of something like this. I'm going to work really hard and make sure it's a great experience."
The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running college all-star football game. In April 2009, 90 percent of players from the 84th East-West Shrine Game were either drafted or signed as free agents by NFL clubs. A total of 307 East-West Shrine Game alumni were on 2009 NFL opening-day rosters.
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. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a system of 22 hospitals dedicated to providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, without financial obligation to patients or their families. For more information about the East-West Shrine Game, visit www.shrinegame.com.
