Maze and Blue invade Super Bowl XLIII
Submitted by Wes Sims on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 12:27
This Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals battle the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL and the Michigan Wolverines will be well represented. Nine former players and/or coaches are members of either the Cardinals or the Steelers. So let’s take a look at the Wolverine Alum involved in the big game.
Cardinals defensive backs coach Teryl Austin was the defensive backs coach at Michigan from 1999-2002 where he was very instrumental in recruiting during those seasons.
Arizona defensive end Alan Branch played 35 games for the Wolverines and complied 57 tackles, including 17 of those for a loss, along with 9 sacks. Branch was also named to the 2006 All-Big Ten Conference First Team.
Cardinals’ wide receiver Steve Breaston holds the all time punt return (127 returns for 1,599 yards) and kick return (81 returns for 1,933 yards) records at Michigan. Breaston also had seven 200 all purpose games for the maze and blue.
Steelers’ line backer Larry Foote played 48 games for the Wolverines where he had 212 tackles, 11 sacks and three interceptions. Foote was a two time All-Big Ten Conference First Team member in addition to be named to the All-American First Team by Football News in 2001.
Pittsburgh assistant offensive line coach Harold Goodwin was a offensive lineman for the Wolverines from 1992-1994 and then became a graduate assistant coach from 1994-1996, where he worked with four offensive lineman that went on to play in the NFL (Steve Hutchinson, Jon Jansen, Dave Brandt, and Jeff Backus).
Arizona line backer Victor Hobson played 49 games for Michigan where he totaled 277 tackles, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. Hobson was also a member of the 2002 All Big Ten Conference First Team.
Cardinals’ tight end Jerame Tuman played on the Wolverines undefeated 1997 National Championship Team. Tuman caught the game sealing touchdown in the 1998 Rose Bowl against Washington State.
Arizona defensive tackle Gabe Watson played in 45 games for the maze and blue and had 92 tackles and 5 sacks in those games. He was named to the 2005 All Big Ten Conference First Team.
Lastly, Steelers’ line backer LaMarr Woodley was a highly decorated player for Michigan. In 2006, Woodley was named the “Defensive Player of the Year” in Division-1 football along with winning the Lombardi Trophy as the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the D-1 football. He had 177 total tackles during his college career and was named to the All American First Team his senior season.
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