Shoate played at the University of Montana in 1999 and San Diego State University from 2001-2003, recording 157 career tackles, seven interceptions, 28 pass breakups and five forced fumbles.
In 2003 Shields was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, for his work in The "Will to Succeed" Foundation, the charitable organization he started in 1993.
2003 | 2003 in music | Sports Illustrated | Sky Sports | EA Sports | 2003 invasion of Iraq | The Sports Network | CBS Sports | 2003 ATP Tour | Fox Sports | sports | Setanta Sports | 2003 Pan American Games | 2003 Rugby World Cup | sports club | NBC Sports | Yahoo! Sports | Wide World of Sports | Sky Sports News | International Motor Sports Association | Fox Sports (USA) | Communications Act 2003 | cap (sports) | 2003 in film | Ontario general election, 2003 | Hong Kong Sports Institute | 2003 World Series of Poker | 2003 World Championships in Athletics | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | 2003 in television |
In 2002 and 2003, the non-gender-specific Best Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award was presented, but the award was bifurcated by gender prior to the selection of the candidates for the 2005 ESPY Awards.