Jarrod Baxter, Mohammed Konte and Stephen Persley will represent theUniversity of New Mexico when they take the field in college footballall-star games this weekend to showcase their talents to National FootballLeague Scouts.
Baxter, UNM”s seventh all-time leading rusher, will play in the 77th ShrineGame on Saturday, Jan. 12, at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Calif.The game will be televised on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. MST. Baxter will be theonly fullback on the West squad, which will be coached by Oregon Duck headcoach Mike Bellotti. Other notables on the West team include quarterbackJoey Harrington and running back Maurice Morris of the Ducks, Texas Techrunning back Ricky Williams, UNLV Mountain West Conference DefensivePlayer of the Year Kevin Thomas, linebacker Justin Ena and tight end DougJolley of BYU, Utah lineman Doug Kaufusi, Air Force defensive lineman ZackJohnson and San Diego State defensive lineman Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.
Every year since 1925, the Shrine Game has been played to raise money andto help make the public award of the expert orthopedic and burn care, at NOcost, at all 22 Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. To date, the game hasraised more than $14 million for Shriners Hospitals and has helped informmillions of people about the mission of this extraordinary philanthropy.
Konte, an honorable-mention all-conference linebacker, and Persley, atwo-time second team all-conference cornerback will be participating in thefirst-ever Paradise Bowl at Hansen Stadium in St. George, Utah. Kickoff isat noon and will be televised live or on tape delay via the Fox SportsNetwork including Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Rocky Mountain, Fox SportsArizona, Fox Sports Bay Area, and Fox Sports North West. Broadcast coveragewill be brought to viewers in over 18 million homes.
The Paradise Bowl gridiron match-up of Senior Collegiate All-Stars will pitthe very best that Utah & Colorado Universities have to offer against theWestern States Universities football programs.
This Bowl Game will bring the excitment of true major college football intothe Southern Utah area. The Paradise Bowl featuring first tier players fromthe Mountain West, Pac 10, Big Sky, Big West and Western AthleticConferences.
Holmon Wiggins started the college all-star bowl season off with hisappearance in the Blue-Gray Classic in Montgomery, Ala. on Christmasmorning. Wiggins rushed for 12 yards on five carries, and he laid a hit ona punt-returner, forcing a fumble which the Blue team returned for atouchdown in the Blue’s 24-7 win.
This will be the first of two all-star games for Baxter. He also willcompete in the prestigious Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 26, in Mobile Ala.This is the premier college all-star game for players wanting to impressNFL scouts. The Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Holmgren and the Arizona Cardinals’Dave McGinnis will coach the North and South teams, respectively. DavidCarr of Fresno State, Marquise Walker of Michigan, Woody Dantzler ofClemson, Joey Harrington of Oregon, Oklahom linebacker Rocky Calmus, LSUquarterback Rohan Davey and defensive end Dwight Freeney are just a few ofthe big names that will be playing in the game. Official rosters will beannounced on Saturday, Jan. 19. The game will be shown live on ESPN at 2p.m. MST. Log on to www.seniorbowl.com for more information.