Chris Spielman to be Featured Speaker at Outback Bowl Kickoff Luncheon

Tampa, FL – ABC/ ESPN college football analyst and four-time NFL Pro Bowl participant Chris Spielman will be the guest speaker at the annual Outback Bowl Kickoff Luncheon on October 3rd. About 800 bowl Sponsors and Club Members are expected at the popular invitation-only event held at A La Carte Pavilion and catered by Outback Steakhouse.

The luncheon begins the ceremonial send-off of the Outback Bowl selection committee representatives as they travel to Big Ten and SEC games as scouts/ambassadors of the Bowl as they search for teams to participate in the upcoming game. The luncheon is known for having high profile speakers over the years such as Urban Meyer, Erin Andrews, Craig James, Doug Flutie, Lou Holtz, Joe Theismann, Lee Corso and Chris Fowler.

Spielman currently teams with Sean McDonough on ABC Saturday afternoon telecasts. He was a two-time All American and Lombardi Trophy winner at Ohio State University then was drafted in the second-round in 1988 by the Detroit Lions where he led the team in tackles for eight straight years. In 1996 he signed with the Buffalo Bills where he set a team record with 206 tackles. After requiring spinal surgery in 1997 he sat out the next season to spend time with his wife who was diagnosed with breast cancer. He retired from football in 1999 after another neck injury. In 2009 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In his book, That's Why I'm Here, Chris gives voice to his remarkable journey and cherished memories of his late wife and their battle against breast cancer.

The 2013 Outback Bowl will kick-off at 1:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, January 1st. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster. Priority membership seats are also available through the Outback Bowl office at (813) 874-BOWL or on the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com.