Jan. 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Wide receiver David Ball of New Hampshire, Massachusetts running back Steve Baylark and tight end Ben Patrick of Delaware have been invited to play in the prestigious Dell East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 20, 2007, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. The game will be aired live on ESPN2 at 7:00pm (EST).

A 2006 consensus first-team All-America selection, Ball led the A-10 in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,114) and touchdowns (13) and finished his career as the all-time FCS leader in scoring receptions with 58.

One of three players in league history to have four seasons of 1,000 rushing yards, Baylark rushed for a league-best 1,960 yards and 15 touchdowns en route to earning 2006 A-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. Baylark was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sports Network.

Patrick led all FCS tight ends with 64 receptions for 639 yards and six touchdowns and earned consensus first-team All-America accolades.

Don Shula will coach the East team while the West team will be coached by Dan Reeves. Shula retired after the 1995 season as the NFL's all-time winningest coach with 347 career regular and post-season victories. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Shula is one of five coaches to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl, along with Reeves, Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells and Dick Vermeil.

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.