*Stops include Dyersburg, Memphis and Jackson
*
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Along with six-time Pro Bowl mascot T-Rac and the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, Finnegan starts the day in Dyersburg with a 9 a.m. public autograph signing at Perkin's Restaurant (1130 US Highway 51 Bypass W #1).
Next, the Caravan rolls into Memphis to visit with children at Wooddale Middle School at 1 p.m. The school program, which will be performed a total of 14 times before an estimated 15,000 children on this year's Caravan, will emphasize the need to stay healthy by exercising. In conjunction with the NFL's "Play 60" program, the Titans will campaign throughout 2009 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. All school stops on the Caravan are closed to the general public.
The Caravan stays in Memphis for its next stop, a 3 p.m. public appearance at Shoe Carnival at the Countrywood Crossing Shopping Center (2261 N. Germantown Parkway).
The day concludes with a public stop in Jackson, where Finnegan, Jones and the Caravan crew will gather with fans and sign autographs at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex (250 Bancorp South Parkway) at 5:30 p.m.
Each public stop is free and will last approximately one hour.
The following morning, Wednesday, April 22, Jones begins another day on the Caravan with a 9:30 a.m. stop at Malesus Elementary School in Jackson.
Finnegan, entering his fourth season in 2009, has emerged as one of the team's defensive leaders. Despite his humble entry into the NFL out of Samford University, the former seventh-round draft choice is considered one of the NFL's top defensive backs. In 2008, he earned first-team All-Pro honors as and his first trip to the Pro Bowl after tying for sixth in the NFL with five interceptions. His career totals include 245 tackles, four sacks, six interceptions and 43 passes defensed in 48 games. Although undersized, Finnegan has proven to be remarkably durable, having played in every game through his first three pro seasons.
Jones, a second-round draft choice in 2008 from Eastern Michigan, was a significant contributor to the 13-3 Titans last season and is expected to assume an increased role in his second campaign. The 6-foot-5 defensive tackle accumulated 49 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles in 13 games as a rookie. His sack total ranked fourth in the NFL among all defensive tackles and first among rookie defensive linemen.
Titans Caravan XII will make a total of 44 stops over a span nine travel days. In addition to using the Caravan as a way to thank Titans fans throughout the Mid-South, this year's Caravan will celebrate the organization's 50th season in professional football.
Over the last 11 years, Titans Caravan has made nearly 600 stops, traveled approximately 50,000 miles and visited over 200 schools. The number of autographs signed and pictures taken is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. The tradition 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.
TITANS CARAVAN XII SCHEDULE - APRIL 21-22
TUESDAY, APRIL 21:
to the general public/open to the media:*
1:00 p.m. CT; Memphis; Wooddale Middle School; Cortland Finnegan
to the general public:*
9:00 a.m. CT; Dyersburg; Perkins Restaurant (770 Highway 51 Bypass W); Cortland Finnegan
3:00 p.m. CT; Memphis; Shoe Carnival (2261 N. Germantown Pkwy.); Cortland Finnegan
5:30 p.m. CT; Jackson; Jackson Sportsplex (250 Bancorp South Pkwy.); Cortland Finnegan, Jason Jones
* WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22:*
to the general public/open to the media:*
9:30 a.m. CT; Jackson; Malesus Elementary School; Jason Jones
11:15 a.m. CT; Huntingdon; Huntingdon Primary School; Jason Jones
1:15 p.m. CT; Bruceton; Bruceton Central Elementary School; Jason Jones
* to the general public:
3:00 p.m. CT; Wendy's (120 Highway 641 North); Jason Jones
5:00 p.m. CT; Dickson; O'Charley's (2409 Hwy 46S); Jason Jones
