Nov. 7, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Former Terrapin football star Shawne Merriman will be on hand at the Comcast Center Monday, November 12 to host his Fifth Annual Lights On Foundation Coat Drive, which will be held during the men's basketball games that night.

Monday's games will mark the conclusion of the College Park Regional of the 2007 O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, and the match-ups will be determined by the results of Sunday's games. Tulsa and Hampton are set to tip off Sunday at 5:00 p.m. while Maryland will take on North Florida at 8 p.m. A championship and consolation game will be held Monday.

Merriman along with current Terrapin student-athletes will be accepting donated items of gently-used coats, hats, scarves and other warm clothing at the Comcast Center on Monday as soon as the doors open and will keep collecting items until halftime of the Maryland game.

The former Maryland star will also be available for a 30-minute autograph session about 45 minutes prior to tip-off of the Maryland game, and asks that fans interested wait for autographs until that time while he helps with the drive.

All donations are for the benefit of the Creative Community for Non-Violence Shelter in Washington, D.C.

For fans who are unable to make it to the game, donations can be dropped off at the Academic Center in the Gossett Football Team House, up until Monday, November 12th. The hours for the drop-off are Monday-Thursday from 9-4:30 and on Friday from 9-3.

The drive was the brainchild of Merriman, a defensive star for the Terps in 2002-05 from Upper Marlboro, Md. As a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, he was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 2005, and helped his team to a 14-2 record last season.