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NASHVILLE – Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern, linebacker and Colin McCarthy are scheduled to join the Academy Sports + Outdoor Titans Caravan on Tuesday, May 7, the seventh day of the team's two-week annual trip through the Mid-South. Kern will visit Gainesboro, Celina and Byrdstown before being joined by McCarthy for stops in Crossville and Cookeville.
Kern will begin the day with visits to Gainesboro Elementary School (611 South Main Street) at 8:30 a.m., Celina K-8 School (1324 Mitchell Street) at 10:45 a.m., and Pickett County K-8 School in Byrdstown (1016 Woodlawn Drive) at 1:15 p.m.
Kern is then joined by McCarthy and Wright for a pair of public stops: 3:30 p.m. at the Crossville Downtown Depot (14 North Street) and 5:30 p.m. at the Cane Creek Sportsplex in Cookeville (2200 West Jackson Street).
The Titans school program is based on the NFL's Play 60 initiative, which encourages youth to get at least 60 minutes of active play each day. Students receive a high-energy, educational message from a Titans player, eight-time Pro Bowl Titans mascot T-Rac, host Rhett Bryan and
representatives from Tennessee State Parks. In addition to the Play 60 elements, audience members receive a message about making good choices in all parts of their lives. They also get up-close looks at Tennessee wildlife in the care of Tennessee State Parks, as well as information on nearby state parks.
The Titans school program will be performed 22 times during the Caravan and reach approximately 12,000 students.
Public stops during the Academy Sports + Outdoors Titans Caravan 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.
Kern, a sixth-year pro, is coming of the most successful season of his career in 2012. He appeared in all 16 games last year and set a franchise-record with a 47.6 gross punt average. He also posted a franchise-best 40.4 net punting average and placed 30 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
McCarthy was voted a defensive captain by his teammates prior to the start of last season. In 2012, he started seven games at middle linebacker and posted 45 tackles, three stops for loss and an interception return for touchdown. He missed nine games because of injury.
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.
This year's Caravan consists of 44 total stops from April 29 through May 10.
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.
ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS TITANS CARAVAN SCHEDULE:
TUESDAY, MAY 7
Please note: players are subject to change
The following stops are OPEN to the general public:
3:30 p.m. CT
Crossville, TN
Crossville Downtown Depot (14 North Street)
Player(s): Brett Kern
5:30 p.m. CT
Cookeville, TN
Cane Creek Sportsplex (2200 West Jackson Street)
Player(s): Kern, Colin McCarthy, Kendall Wright
