On Saturday, college football players from around the country gathered in St. Petersburg to play in the 90th annual East-West Shrine Game.
The game provides seniors one last chance to shine for NFL scouts before training for the NFL combine, something USF’s Marvin “Money” Kloss took full advantage of in the 19-3 victory over the West team.
Kloss, a former Lou Groza finalist, was named the game’s Offensive MVP after scoring all the games points heading into the fourth quarter. Kloss finished 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, hitting from 47, 39, 31 and 19 yards out and he also made an extra-point kick for the East team.
“I didn’t think I was gonna have this type of exposure, just in one game, but I was hoping I would,” Kloss said. “Just being able to showcase your skills and really show the scouts what you can do and what you can do for their organization has just been great.”
Joining his teammate was fellow USF wide receiver Andre Davis. Davis, who holds 13 USF receiving records, caught three passes in the game for a total of 36 yards.
“We had a great group of guys,” Davis said. “My receiver group was great. I feel like everybody on my team came out here and performed.”
Pro football hall of famer Mike Singletary coached the East team against former NFL coach Jim Zorn. Kloss said Singletary taught him a lot during his week with the team, not just game plays, but life lessons.
The event is much more than a game. It is played to bring awareness and raise money for the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Players visited the Shriner Hospital in Tampa earlier in the week, which gave several players the opportunity to make connections with patients.
“I’ve been there before a couple times with USF football and we volunteered,” Kloss said. “But just to see those guys and the little girls and boys and just have the smile on their face, for the circumstances they live with, it’s truly touching. Makes you realize how blessed you really are and not take anything for granted.”
Louisville’s defensive lineman B.J. Dubose, who did not play in the game due to an injury suffered in practice, said he met a girl in unfortunate circumstances at the hospital. He had a pair of gloves stored in his jacket pocket saved specifically for her in hopes of making her day.
There are 22 Shiner Hospitals in North America (one each in Mexico and Canada).
The hospitals specialize in areas of spinal cord injuries, burn care, orthopedic conditions and cleft lip and palate reconstruction to children under the age of 18, regardless of the families’ financial state.
“I wish the whole NFL was set up that way, where every game you play, for every point you score, somebody donated,” Singletary said. “That way, it’ll bring a whole new meaning to the game. To me, when you play football and you go out there and you’re playing, it’s like the gladiator, but you’re playing to help kids. There’s no better reason to play.”
