Four Downs: Miami Hurricanes in The Super Bowl
By Kyle Kensing
September 5, 2011; College Park, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed in attendance at the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to Four Downs, your morning fix of reads from around the ‘Net served up daily at SaturdayBlitz.com. The Feb. 3 edition takes on the Super Bowl, examining the collegiate ties to today’s NFL championship.
Yahoo! Sports: The U’s Astounding Presence in Super Bowl XLVII
The 2001 BCS championship-winning Miami Hurricanes were arguably the greatest college team of all-time. Thus, it should come as no surprise the Hurricanes represent well in the Super Bowl, the premiere showcase of the NFL season.
Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie were stars for that Miami team, and now are with the Baltimore Ravens. Current San Francisco 49er Frank Gore was cutting his teeth behind Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis.
They aren’t the only Miami representatives in the Super Bowl, either. Ray Lewis preceded them in Coral Gables, and his legacy endures into the 21st Century with his son committed to Al Golden’s Hurricanes in the 2013 signing class.
Canes Warning: Warren Sapp Selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Some more big news for Miami emanating from Super Bowl weekend is that former Hurricane defensive lineman Warren Sapp will be enshrined among the game’s greatest in Canton, Ohio. Sapp joins a class that includes Bill Parcells and Cris Carter.
Sports Illustrated: Colin Kaepernick Nearly Moved to Safety or Wide Receiver While at Nevada
Colin Kaepernick’s meteoric rise from barely recruited prep prospect, to 20-20 touchdown-scoring collegiate quarterback and now NFC-winning breakout star is staggering. All the more impressive is that Nevada head coach Chris Ault toyed with the idea of playing Kaepernick at safety or wide receiver due to his frame.
NFL GMs had similar concerns when Kaepernick was in the 2011 NFL Draft class. He continues to defy expectations.
The New York Times: Delaware Is A Cradle of Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco becomes the second quarterback from unlikely location Delaware to play in the Super Bowl. Rich Gannon took the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII a decade ago. Flacco has commanded new-found respect from NFL pundits this season, and a win today would solidify his place in the league. It would also give the FCS program a strong recruiting pitch.