Hicks to Play in East-West Game

San Francisco, CA - Middle Tennessee's Dwone Hicks joins a group of 32 outstanding college football players among the early commitments to play in the 78th Annual East-West Shrine Game, Saturday, January 11, 2003, at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Jack Hart, Shrine Game executive director, announced today.

Hicks is only the second player in Middle Tennessee history to play in the East-West Game. Walter Dunson competed in the all-star event in 1992.

"We are delighted. It is tremendous to have such top-flight football players making this early commitment to the East-West Shrine game. This initial group includes 21 players for the West team and 11 players for the East squad," Hart said.

The roster of 32 players has four 2002 Heisman Trophy Candidates; 2001 Ivy League Player of the Year; Pac-10 Conference Passing Yards/Touchdowns Leader; Academic Honors Candidates; players from the three Military Academies (Air Force, Army, Navy); as well as other heralded offensive and defensive linemen and backs.

The West team head coach is Mike Price, Washington State University. Tyrone Willingham, University of Notre Dame's head coach, will guide the East squad.

Hicks, who will play for the West team, joins Stanford's Kerry Carter as the squad's two lone running backs to date. Other West team members are: Nick Barnett (lb, Oregon State), Bernard Berrian (wr, Fresno State), Lance Briggs (lb, Arizona), Nick Burley (dl, Fresno State), Wes Crawley (cb, Air Force), Kevin Curtis (wr, Utah State), Jason Gesser (qb, Washington State), Keenan Howry (wr, Oregon), Casey Moore (fb, Stanford), David Moretti (lb, Oregon), Spencer Nead (te, BYU), Carson Palmer (qb, USC), Morgan Pears (ol, Colorado State), Troy Polamalu (s, USC), Tim Provost (ot, San Jose State), Derrick Roche (og, Washington State), Chad Setterstrom (ol, Norther Iowa), Marcus Trufant (cb, Washington State), and Seneca Wallace (qb, Iowa State).

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