Texas A&M's Tripucka set to play in the 93rd East-West Shrine Game
Shane Tripucka, an All-America punter from Texas A&M, will wear No. 18 and play for the West squad in the 93rd East-West Shrine Game®. The Game will be held January 20, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., kicking off at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. central) and broadcast live on NFL Network and the East-West Shrine Game Radio Network.
Tripucka, from Allen High School, earned third-team All-America honors from Phil Steele and was recently named the Aggies’ Special Teams MVP. Tripucka helped the Aggies tie for the SEC lead in net punting at 42.3 yards per kick. His overall punting average was 45.5 with 30 kicks of 50-plus yards. Tripucka killed 26 of his kicks inside the 20 and forced 38 fair catches. The senior propelled the Aggies to second (tie) in the NCAA in net punting, behind only Texas’ net average of 44.2 yards. Additionally, Tripucka ranked sixth in the country in gross punting average at 45.5 yards per punt. Tripucka's season average ranked sixth on the all-time Texas A&M list, while his career average of 44.6 yards per punts tied Justin Brantly (2005-08) for third in the record books.
Tripucka joins an elite list of football greats, such as Tom Brady, John Elway, Brett Favre, and 74 NFL Hall of Famers, who have played in the East-West Shrine Game, in addition to more than 265 East-West Shrine Game alumni on NFL rosters each year. A strong performance at the East-West Shrine Game can greatly impact a player’s chances of a career in the NFL. More than 100 players from last year’s game signed with professional teams this spring, and more than 70 made final NFL rosters.
"The most important element of East-West Shrine Game has always been supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children," said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson. "But during game week, it also affords our players an unmatched opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first taste of a potential career in the NFL."
While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an international pediatric specialty health care system that treats children in orthopedics, spinal cord injuries, cleft lift and palate, and burns, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.
Those who would like to support Tripucka and the East-West Shrine Game can do the following:
Attend the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg on Saturday, January 20 at 3 p.m. ET, tune in to watch the game on NFL Network, or listen live on the East-West Shrine Game Radio Network. East-West Shrine Game tickets will be available for purchase beginning December 1 through all tickets.com outlets.
Game tickets are $15 general admission seating (price does not include service fees).
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
