Monday, November 19, 2007

SAMPLES, DICKSON SELECTED TO EAST COAST BOWL

PETERSBURG, Va. --- Tusculum College's Adrian Samples and Manuel Dickson have been selected to play in the 2007 East Coast Bowl this Saturday in Petersburg, Va. Kickoff is slated for noon at Historic Cameron Field.

The East Coast Bowl is an annual college football all-star game that features the elite Division I-AA, II, III and NAIA players from across the Mid-Atlantic region. Samples and Dickson will be members of the South team.

Samples, a 6-2, 255-pound senior defensive end, is a three-time All-South Atlantic Conference First Team honoree. The Rome, Ga. native finished third on the team with 57 tackles this season, including a TC-best 15 for loss (-48 yds.). Samples also led the team with six sacks, while breaking up five passes, recovered three fumbles, forced another and blocked two kicks on special teams. During his stellar collegiate career, he made 130 tackles, including 43 for loss, which are the third most by a Pioneer. His 17 career sacks are fourth in school history.

Dickson, a 6-3, 285-pound senior offensive lineman, was a preseason All-Conference selection this year. He started in 10 games this year, while playing in 18 outings in his two seasons in a Pioneer uniform. He came to Tusculum following a successful JUCO career at Georgia Military College where he led the Bulldogs to a national championship.

Tusculum (6-5) recorded its seventh winning season in the last eight years. The Pioneers rebounded from a 0-3 start to win six of their last eight games, including two against nationally-ranked opponents to finish third in the conference.

- TC -