University of Tennessee Athletics
Poole Wins Prestigious Pat Tillman Award
January 21, 2012 | Football
Jan. 21, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Former Tennessee tailback Tauren Poole was honored with The East-West Shrine Game Pat Tillman Award this week after participating in the longest running all-star college football game.
The award is presented to a player who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. The award recognizes a student-athlete's achievements and conduct, both on and off the field.
Poole's achievement caps a week in which he was widely-raved about among the media. The 43rd Vol all-time to be selected to the game, Poole rushed for 17 yards on five carries and had a 14-yard reception in Saturday's 87th East-West Shrine Game.
First given in 2005, the award is named in honor of Pat Tillman, a professional football player who walked away from the game after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to join the U.S. Army and fight for our country.
A stand-out at Arizona State University, Tillman was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. After just three years in the NFL, Tillman turned down a multi-million dollar contract offer from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Tillman served multiple tours of duty, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, before he was killed during a mission in Afghanistan in 2004.
Poole ran for 1,883 yards in his career at Tennessee, playing in 49 games. He scored 16 touchdowns in his career including five as a senior in 2011.
