Middle Tennessee Pups Make Puppy Bowl Roster

FRANKLIN, TN — While the Super Bowl may well have a player with Middle Tennessee ties, it's a guarantee the popular Puppy Bowl will. In fact, three "players" in Animal Planet's popular pigskin counterprogramming hail from the Midstate.

Tucker, a 16-week-old Australian shepherd mix from the Williamson County Animal Center, will play on Team Fluff in Puppy Bowl XIII, as will Lucky, a three-legged 16-week-old terrier from Operation Education Animal Rescue in Rutherford County. They'll square off against Team Ruff, which includes Daphne (pictured above), a 19-week-old pit bull, also from Operation Education.

"Lucky didn't let her handicap slow her down at all. She showed that she was destined for glory by running circles around the four-leggers. ... Growing up in a litter of rough and tumble brothers, (Daphne) quickly learned she had the moves to be a star," a post on Operation Education's Facebook page read.

"This is the third year that a puppy from WCAC has been featured in Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl," WCAC director Laura Chavarria said in a statement. "We are delighted to be participating again."

The annual event airs February 5 on Animal Planet. All three of the Midstate pups have since been adopted.

All images via Animal Planet