Stops include Benton, Cadiz, Hopkinsville, Clarksville and Madison; Kevin Dyson to join final two stops of day
NASHVILLE, TN, April 15, 2008 –Cornerback Cortland Finnegan has been selected to lead Titans Caravan 2008 into portions of Kentucky and Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, April 16, as the team continues its annual goodwill tour of the region. Finnegan will make appearances in Benton, Cadiz and Hopkinsville before being joined by former Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson and select Titans Cheerleaders at stops in Clarksville and Madison.
Along with six-time Pro Bowl mascot T-Rac and the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, Finnegan will kick off the day with a 9:15 a.m. stop at Jonathan Elementary School in Benton. The Caravan will make another stop for students at Belmont Elementary School in Hopkinsville at 1 p.m. All school stops during Titans Caravan are closed to the general public.
The school program, which will be performed a total of 16 times before an estimated 14,000 children on this year's Caravan, will emphasize the need to stay healthy by exercising. Through the "Play 60" program, the Titans and the NFL will campaign throughout the 2008 season to get kids to spend at least 60 minutes each day in active play or exercise. The crucial message will be delivered in hopes of making the current youth the most active and healthy generation ever.
The first public stop of the day will take place at WKDZ Studios in Cadiz at 11 a.m. Later in the day, Dyson and the Titans Cheerleaders join the rest of the crew for public appearances at Kroger in Clarksville (1489 Madison St. location) at 3 p.m. and Academy Sports & Outdoors in Madison at 5:30 p.m.
At each of the public stops, fans will have an opportunity to meet members of the Caravan and get autographs and photos. Each public stop is free, open to the public and will last approximately one hour.
Finnegan, who is entering his third NFL season, emerged in 2007 as one of the team's brightest young defensive stars. The former seventh-round pick out of Samford University started every game, led the team with 16 passes defensed and tied for third on the squad with 109 tackles. In 32 career games, Finnegan has accumulated 166 total tackles, three sacks, one interception, 23 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Dyson, a first-round pick by the Titans in 1998, played six NFL seasons and totaled 178 career receptions for 2,325 yards and 18 touchdowns. One of the club's most popular figures during his career, Dyson also is known for the "Music City Miracle," his kickoff return for a touchdown that helped to defeat the Buffalo Bills in a 1999 Wild Card Playoff game.
This year a special element will be added to the standard Caravan festivities. In addition to using the effort as a way to thank the team's fans throughout the Mid-South, this year's Caravan has added Dyson and other former players to celebrate the launch of the club's 10th season as the Titans. In 1999, the team moved into LP Field and changed its name to the Tennessee Titans. The season provided moments that included the "Music City Miracle" and ended with an improbable run to Super Bowl XXXIV.
Titans Caravan 2008 will make a total of 50 stops over a span of 11 travel days. During the last decade, the Caravan has totaled over 530 stops, traveled approximately 45,000 miles, visited nearly 200 schools and shaken hands with over 100,000 fans. The number of autographs signed and pictures taken is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Titans Caravan began in 1998 as a small effort to spread goodwill through the region. The current Caravan includes six full-time staffers that travel with Titans players, broadcasters and T-Rac throughout the Mid-South on a specially-decorated motor coach from Premiere Transportation.
