CLEMSON FOOTBALL

ACC Schools to be well represented at Super Bowl XLIV

ACC Schools to be well represented at Super Bowl XLIV


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GREENSBORO, N. C.—When Super Bowl XLIV kicks off on this Sunday at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., the Atlantic Coast Conference will have a strong presence with both of the participating teams: the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. No fewer than 17 players on the rosters of the Super Bowl teams played their collegiate football at ACC schools while 10 of the coaches who will be working the game as participants have some connection to an ACC institution.

The American Football Conference Champion Colts have six coaches with ACC ties led by head coach Jim Caldwell, who spent eight seasons as head coach at Wake Forest from 1993 through the 2000 season, taking the Deacons to the 1999 Aloha Bowl where they defeated Arizona State, 23-3.

Joining Caldwell are Colts Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore who served as offensive coordinator at Wake Forest in 1969, and as the offensive backfield coach at Georgia Tech in 1970 and 1971; Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach Clyde Christensen, lettered as a quarterback for two seasons at North Carolina (1977-78) before graduating, then spent two years each as an assistant coach at Maryland (1992-93) and North Carolina (1994-95); Special Teams Coordinator Ray Rychleski spent eight seasons as an assistant to Caldwell at Wake Forest (1993-2000), then seven seasons at Maryland (2001-2007) working with Ralph Friedgen; Assistant Strength Coach Richard Howell spent two seasons at North Carolina (1998-99) as a graduate assistant strength coach; and Quarterbacks Coach Frank Reich, who lettered at Maryland at quarterback during the 1983-84 seasons. In 1984, Reich authored what was, at the time, the biggest comeback in NCAA history as he guided the Terps from a 31-0 halftime deficit to a 42-40 win over Miami. Reich, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, also led the Buffalo Bills to the greatest comeback in NFL history in 1993, overcoming a 35-3 lead for a 41-38 overtime win and a playoff victory over the Houston Oilers.

In addition to the six coaches, the Colts also have six players from ACC schools on their roster including three starters in center Jeff Saturday (North Carolina), wide receiver Reggie Wayne (Miami) and linebacker Philip Wheeler (Georgia Tech) as well as reserve safety Jamie Silva (Boston College). Tight end Tom Santi (Virginia) is currently on the Colts injured reserve list and guard Jaime Thomas (Maryland) is on their practice squad.

The National Football Conference Champion New Orleans Saints feature 11 players from ACC schools on their roster: tight end Jeremy Shockey (Miami), defensive linemen Anthony Hargrove (Georgia Tech) and DeMario Pressley (NC State), linebackers Jonathan Vilma (Miami) and Anthony Waters (Clemson) and defensive backs Pierson Prioleau (Virginia Tech) and Chris Reis (Georgia Tech) are all on the active roster for the Saints. Former Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe (Miami) is on the Saints practice squad and three former ACC standouts, defensive back Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest), and linebackers Jo-Lonn Dunbar (Boston College) and Stanley Arnoux (Wake Forest) are currently on injured reserve for New Orleans.

Additionally, four of the Saints coaches have a connection to ACC schools including offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Jr., who graduated from Boston College, lettered four years in baseball at BC but did not play football in college; wide receiver coach Curtis Johnson, who was an assistant coach at Miami from 1996 through 2005; Assistant Secondary Coach Tony Oden, who spent 1997 as a graduate assistant coach at Boston College; and Assistant Special Teams Coach Mike Mallory, was an assistant coach at Maryland for the 2000 season.

Players From Current ACC Schools In The Super Bowl


Name                Position            Team            ACC School (Years Lettered)

*Stanley Arnoux Linebacker New Orleans Wake Forest (2006-08)

*Jo-Lonn Dunbar Linebacker New Orleans Boston College (2005-07)

Anthony Hargrove Defensive Lineman New Orleans Georgia Tech (2001-2002)

Pierson Prioleau Cornerback New Orleans Virginia Tech (1995-98)

DeMario Pressley Defensive Lineman New Orleans NC State (2004-07)

Chris Reis Safety New Orleans Georgia Tech (2002-05)

*Tom Santi Tight End Indianapolis Virginia (2004-07)

Jeff Saturday Center Indianapolis North Carolina (1994-97)

*Glenn Sharpe Cornerback New Orleans Miami (2002-07)

Jeremy Shockey Tight End New Orleans Miami (2000-01)

Jamie Silva Safety Indianapolis Boston College (2004-07)

*Jaime Thomas Guard Indianapolis Maryland (2005-08)

*Chip Vaughn Safety New Orleans Wake Forest (2005-08)

Jonathan Vilma Linebacker New Orleans Miami (2000-03)

Anthony Waters Linebacker New Orleans Clemson (2003-06)

Reggie Wayne Wide Receiver Indianapolis Miami (1997-2000)

Philip Wheeler Linebacker Indianapolis Georgia Tech (2003-07)

* Listed on Practice Squad or Injured Reserve

Super Bowl Coaches With ACC Ties


Name                  Position              Team           ACC Team(s), Years

Jim Caldwell Head Coach Indianapolis Wake Forest (1993-2000)

Pete Carmichael, Jr. Off. Coordinator New Orleans Boston College (Baseball,1991-94)

Clyde Christensen Ast. Head Coach, Indianapolis UNC (1977-78), Maryland (92-93),

Wide Receivers UNC (1994-95)

Richard Howell Assistant Strength Indianapolis UNC (1998-99)

Curtis Johnson Wide Receivers New Orleans Miami (1996-2005)

Mike Mallory Ast. Special Teams New Orleans Maryland (2000)

Tom Moore Off. Coordinator Indianapolis Wake Forest (1969), Georgia Tech (1970-71)

Tony Oden Assistant Secondary New Orleans Boston College (1997)

Frank Reich Quarterbacks Indianapolis Maryland (1983-85)

Ray Rychleski Special Teams Indianapolis Wake Forest (1993-2000);Maryland (2001-07)

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