SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth tight end Michael Allan has accepted an invitation to play in the 2007 Hula Bowl, one of the premier showcase events for senior college football players in the United States. The game will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 14th and will be carried live in prime time by ESPN.

"It is really an amazing honor," said Allan. "I never did make an all-star team in high school, so to be selected to this game is really special. And this will be my first time to go to Hawaii."

At 6'-7" and 264 pounds, Allan (Sr., Bellevue, Wash. - Interlake) has developed into a bona fide NFL prospect at tight end. He scored very well in strength and speed tests conducted by scouts over the summer and has been seen by scouts from every NFL team this season. Last fall he was named to the AFCA Division III All-America team after catching 36 passes for 693 yards (19.2 yards per catch). He set a new school record with 15 touchdown receptions, breaking the old record set in 1975 by Doug Long, who went on to play three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Allan leads the Pirates in receptions (40) and receiving yardage (737) this season, and has broken Whitworth's career record of 24 touchdown catches, set by Pirate legendary player and coach Sam Adams between 1948 and 1951. Allan now has 27 in his career.

"Mike is an example of the kind of high level student-athlete we can attract at Whitworth College," said Pirate head coach John Tully. "It goes to show that if you are talented enough, and work hard, you will have opportunities for post season honors and the chance to play at the next level, no matter where you choose to go to college."

Despite nearly constant double coverage, Allan ranks second in the Northwest Conference in receiving yardage and is third in the NWC in total receptions. His seven touchdown receptions is tied for the most in the NWC.

The Pirates (9-0, ranked 9th in the D3football.com poll and 8th in the AFCA Coaches Top 25) host Puget Sound (7-2) on Saturday at 12:30 pm in the Pine Bowl with a chance to become the first Whitworth team in history to win ten games in one season.