This weekend is the 2017 Homecoming Weekend for the Titans and over 80 former players are in town for the game against the Ravens and a number of festivities. Saturday morning, Coach Mularkey led his team in a walkthrough to prepare for Baltimore at St. Thomas Sportspark, but the truly special moment occurred after practice inside the bubble. The Titans surprised former safety Blaine Bishop and informed of his induction into the 2018 class of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Bishop’s former teammates were able to witness the surprise and share that special moment with their teammate and friend.
Bishop is a local legend and many of you will know him from his work both on and off the field. Bishop, a hard-hitting safety was one of the faces of the Tennessee Oilers and Tennessee Titans after the move from Houston and he was an integral part of the 1999 AFC Championship season. After his retirement, Bishop made his home in Nashville permanently and has become a fixture on 104.5 the Zone. Bishop is a co-host on 104.5 the Zone’s morning show, the Wake Up Zone. He is also an analyst for Titans Radio during pregame and postgame coverage alongside Mark Howard, Kevin Dyson and Mickey Ryan.
Blaine Bishop was also honored by the Titans earlier in the season as well. Bishop served as the honorary 12th Titan for the Titans thrilling 33-27 win over the Seattle Seahawks in week three of the season.
Blaine Bishop began his football career at Indianapolis powerhouse Cathedral High. Bishop said that his coach coming out of high school did not believe he was a Division I football prospect, so he decided to attend St. Joseph’s College in Rensselear, Indiana. During his one season at St. Joseph’s, Bishop became a Division-II All-American and he parlayed that success into a move to the Division I level at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. After starring at Ball State, Bishop turned his focus to the NFL and his professional career began in earnest at the Senior Bowl.
Today’s surprise was certainly a special moment for Bishop, but this is not the first time that #23 has been selected for a Hall of Fame based on his stellar career. This spring, the four-time Pro Bowler was elected to the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame alongside former Bears Linebacker Lance Briggs and current Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Bishop reflected on his experience at the Senior Bowl during the 2017 Hall of Fame induction banquet. The former Ball State star said of his experience at the Senior Bowl that, “my confidence grew, and got bigger and bigger and by the end of the week I was like – hey man, these guys are good, but I think I’m going to be just as good. I may be better.” During that 1993 Senior Bowl, Bishop was named one of the top players alongside future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Bishop’s performance in Mobile launched him into the draft process, and the Houston Oilers took a chance on the future Pro Bowler in the 8th round – back when there were eight rounds. Bishop, the 214th overall selection said that he was never the most athletic or talented player on the Titans teams he helped anchor, but his hard work and ferocious playing style helped him succeed.
Congratulations again to 104.5 the Zone and Titans Radio’s own Blaine Bishop on becoming the 5th Titan inducted into the prestigious Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame has its 52nd Annual Induction Banquet on Saturday June 16th, 2018 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Tickets and sponsor packages for the induction banquet weekend can be purchased by contacting Lynn Powell Toy at (615) 202-3996 or her email: [email protected]
Below are a few links regarding that may interest you about today’s surprise:
- https://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Surprise-Blaine-Bishop-with-TSHOF-Announcement/13cd118f-7661-4a1e-a18d-8191121955e6
- http://www.1045thezone.com/2017/11/04/titans-surprise-blaine-bishop/
- https://twitter.com/1045TheZone/status/926856268979032066
- https://twitter.com/1045TheZone/status/926867164698640384
Listen to the flagship station of the Tennessee Titans, 104.5 the Zone tomorrow morning to hear Blaine Bishop alongside his co-hosts Mark Howard, Kevin Dyson and Mickey Ryan on the Lee Company Countdown to Kickoff. After that, listen to the award-winning Titans Countdown starting at 11 a.m. which will be immediately followed by Voice of the Titans Mike Keith and Coach Dave McGinnis with full coverage of Titans vs. Ravens from Nissan Stadium.
