Donruss and Pop Warner to Hold Second Annual Donruss Pop Warner Classic
January 29, 2009

Former Heisman Trophy Winner and NFL Veteran Vinny Testaverde Joins Tampa Bay Buccaneers Alumni In Coaching Pop Warner Players In The Second Annual
Donruss Pop Warner Classic at Super Bowl XLIII

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2009) – Former 1986 Heisman Trophy winner and Buccaneers QB, Vinny Testaverde (1987-1992) will join other Buccaneers alumni including quarterback Steve DeBerg (1984-1987 and 1992-1993), tight end David Moore (1992-2001 and 2004-2006), linebacker David Lewis (1997-1981) and running back Harold Hart (1976) when they take the field to participate as coaches to the East Tampa Bandits and the East Manatee Bulldogs Pop Warner Pee Wee divisions (ages 9-12) in The Donruss Pop Warner Classic: The Game Before The Game. It will take place at Jefferson High School in Tampa Bay, FL. on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 9 A.M.-12 P.M the day before Super Bowl XLIII. Also joining the event festivities will be Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders and mascot Captain Fear.

The game will be preceded by an exhibition between the South Shore Longhorns and the Palm Harbor Panthers Tiny Mite teams (ages 5-7). The Pop Warner Tiny Mite division is an on-field instructional division that introduces kids to the game of football emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship. Half time will feature performances by the East Manatee Bulldogs Midget division (ages 11-15) and Palm Harbor Panthers Jr. Pee Wee (ages 8-11) and Tiny Mite division Cheer Squads.

"We are pleased to have great partners like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Donruss and Jefferson High School to help bring this special Super Bowl experience to some of our Tampa Bay-area Pop Warner programs. The kids are excited and looking forward to the game," said Pop Warner Executive Director Jon Butler.

The Donruss Pop Warner Classic is designed to give Tampa-area Pop Warner youth football players and cheerleaders the opportunity to be a part of Super Bowl festivities and interact with current and retired NFL players. Donruss is also the Official Trading Card Sponsor of the NFL Experience" at Super Bowl XLIII. The game will be played with Spalding’s Official Pop Warner Football.

Testaverde, was selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and went on to play twenty one seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. Testaverde holds an NFL record for throwing a touchdown pass in twenty-one consecutive seasons and threw for more than 46,000 yards and 277 touchdowns in his career. In addition to participating as a coach in The Donruss Pop Warner Classic, Testaverde will also take part in a media tour on Friday, January 30.

"As the Official Trading Card of Pop Warner, Donruss is committed to providing Pop Warner participants with memorable experiences that will last a lifetime," said Scott Prusha, Director of Public Relations for Donruss Playoff.

The Donruss Pop Warner Classic is open to the public but donations in support of Tampa Bay Pop Warner programs are encouraged at the field. For more information visit: http://www.popwarner.com/articles/09donrussclassic.asp

About Pop Warner:
Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Langhorne, PA, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the largest national youth football and cheerleading organization in the United States and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as an equivalent to athletics. Currently there are over 400,000 children in Pop Warner organizations in 43 states, Guam, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Japan and Mexico. The NFLPA estimates that 70% of all current NFL Players got their starts in Pop Warner programs. For more information on Pop Warner and its programs visit www.popwarner.com.

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