Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Super Bowl 46: Patriots' Julian Edelman, from Kent State, and Giants' Chase Blackburn, from Akron, help carry MAC banner

Edelman, a quarterback at Kent, is important to the Patriots for his versatility. Blackburn is in his seventh season as a Giants linebacker. Many MAC alumni have played, and played well, in the Super Bowl.

chase-blackburn.jpgThe Giants' Chase Blackburn runs back a fumble recovery during New York's 37-20 playoff win over the Packers in Green Bay on Jan. 15.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's nothing unusual for the Mid-American Conference to be represented in the Super Bowl by former MAC players.

And, in numerous Super Bowls, MAC alumni have stood out.

Kent State's Jack Lambert, one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history, would be a strong candidate for an all-time Super Bowl team. He excelled in the Pittsburgh Steelers' four Super Bowl wins (1974, '75, '78 and '79 seasons.

Akron's Dwight Smith, a defensive back, intercepted two passes in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48-21 rout of the Oakland Raiders in the 2002 season Super Bowl, and returned them both (44 and 50 yards) for touchdowns.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, of Miami (Ohio), has been at the helm for two Steelers Super Bowl wins (2005, '08), though he didn't play especially well in the first one, and a Super Bowl loss (2010).

There have been many others to carry the MAC banner in football's biggest game.

On Sunday, when the New England Patriots play the New York Giants in Super Bowl 46, don't be surprised to see a couple MAC men in the middle of the action.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick employs Kent State's Julian Edelman in a number of ways -- as one of the league's premier punt returners, as a backup wide receiver and even as a defensive back. How versatile is Edelman? He was the Golden Flashes' starting quarterback as a dual pass-run threat for three years.

julian-edelman.jpgThe Patriots' Julian Edelman warms up before New England's 23-20 AFC championship game win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Chase Blackburn was a starting linebacker for three years at Akron. Ignored in the 2005 NFL draft, Blackburn is now in his seventh season with the Giants.

Ball State University belongs to the MAC. Andrew Mishler writes for the Ball State Daily News about MAC players reaching the Super Bowl, and about, specifically, Edelman and Blackburn.

Mishler writes:

Like many MAC players such as those at Ball State, Edelman ran under the radar during his pre-draft workouts and generated little buzz in the media.

That status didn't change on the day of the 2009 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected him in the seventh round with the 232nd pick.

With such little notoriety and expectations, Edelman had to face the same uphill battle most MAC players face at the next level of football — securing a roster spot in the NFL.

For Edelman, it's a challenge that makes the destination all the sweeter.

"We are hungry," Edelman said of MAC players. "Usually the MAC guys have a chip on their shoulder because they feel like they were snubbed their opportunity to play big-time ball in college. I think that is what helps small school guys get into the NFL."

Mishler also writes:

Blackburn joined the Giants in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. In similar fashion to Edelman, he had to earn a spot on the Giants as a special-teamer. He eventually became a starter on defense, but only after years of proving his abilities on kickoff and punt teams.

Looking back on the trials of his NFL career, Blackburn said coming from Akron and playing in the MAC taught him an important rule in the NFL.

"Nothing's easy," he said. "Coming out of Akron, I went there because they won the MAC the year before and I wanted to win championships. When I was there they didn't win, but they won one the year after. The thing that most prepared me for was just the fact that I knew I didn't want to come short again."

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2012/02/super_bowl_46_patriots_julian.html

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