Titans quarterback kicks off the team's tour through the Mid-Southwith visits to Bowling Green, Mt. Juliet and Smyrna
- *NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker will kick off the Academy Sports + Outdoor Titans Caravan on Monday, April 29, headlining the first day of the team's two-week annual trip through the Mid-South. The Caravan will stop Monday in the communities of Bowling Green, Mt. Juliet and Smyrna.
Locker will begin the day with a 1 p.m. public autograph signing at Kroger in Bowling Green (350 West 31 Bypass). He then will make a pair of stops at Academy Sports + Outdoors locations, the first at 3:30 p.m. in Mount Juliet (549 Pleasant Grove Road) and the second at 5:30 p.m. in Smyrna (1150 Genie Lane).
Locker is entering his third NFL season. A first-round pick (eighth overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft, the University of Washington product appeared in 16 total games in his first two years in Tennessee, passing for 2,718 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Prior to the 2012 campaign, he was named the team's starting quarterback and was elected captain by his teammates. A left (non-throwing) shoulder caused him to miss five of the team's 16 games. He had surgery on the ailing shoulder in January, and a complete recovery is expected prior to the 2013 regular season.
Academy Sports + Outdoors Titans Caravan stops provide a way for Titans players, T-Rac and the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith to sign autographs and thank fans for their support. Posters are provided at no cost to all Caravan attendees for autographs, and photos are encouraged. The stops generally last one hour.
Locker's day on the Caravan is one portion of the 44-stop tour from April 29 through May 10. The complete itinerary consists of visits to schools and free, public autograph signings.
Titans Caravan began in 1998 as a small effort to spread goodwill through the region. Today, seven full-time staffers travel with Titans players and T-Rac through the Mid-South on a specially-decorated motor coach provided by Grand Avenue. Since 1998, the Caravan has made over 750 stops, visited more than 300 schools and allowed the team to interact directly with an estimated audience well in excess of 120,000 fans.
ABOUT ACADEMY SPORTS+*OUTDOORS: *Academy Sports + Outdoors is a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer with a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing and camping equipment and gear along with sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel and much more. The Texas-based company operates 160 stores throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Academy Sports + Outdoors philosophy is to deliver an unparalleled shopping experience by providing convenience, offering a broad selection of quality products, delivering exceptional customer service and selling the right stuff at everyday low prices. For more information about Academy Sports + Outdoors visit academy.com, facebook.com/academy, twitter.com/academy, pinterest.com/academy and youtube.com/academy.
