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NFL TITLE GAMES FULL OF LOCAL TIES |
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By Ken Trahan
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Wednesday, January 16 2008 |
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The question is both rhetorical and obvious. Who would have thought that the Manning playing for a conference championship game would be Eli and not Peyton? Such was the case with a pair of upsets in the Sunday NFL playoff games dominating the NFL weekend.
While favored New England and Green Bay took care of business at home on Saturday, road underdogs San Diego and New York were victorious on Sunday. In the process, a plethora of players with local contacts advanced to the larger stage that is NFL championship Sunday next week.
While the Colts, with local stars Peyton Manning (Newman High), Reggie Wayne (John Ehret High), Joseph Addai (LSU) and the injured Anthony McFarland (LSU), will not be playing next week, all four teams advancing have significant local ties which will make the rooting interest level very high in both contests.
The unbeaten New England Patriots feature former LSU stars Jarvis Green, Kevin Faulk, and Randall Gay, and are playing for the memory of New Orleanian Marquise Hill of De La Salle High and LSU. The San Diego Chargers have a pair of local heroes in punter Steve Scifres of Destrehan High School and former LSU and O. Perry Walker High School star Craig "Buster" Davis.
In the NFC title game, the Packers feature former Southern Mississippi star Brett Favre of Kiln, Mississippi, backup quarterback Craig Nall of Northwestern State via LSU, and corner back Tramon Williams of Louisiana Tech. The New York Giants have former Newman High School and New Orleanian Eli Manning at quarterback, running back Brandon Jacobs of Assumption High School in Napoleonville, and former LSU and St. James High School star corner back Corey Webster.
Even the other losing teams were well represented with Louisiana heroes. The Seahawks have former LSU defensive end Howard Green and strong safety Mike Green of Northwestern State. The Jaguars include former LSU and Independence High School star LaBrandon Toefield, defensive end Kenneth Pettway of Grambling, and former Louisiana Tech kicker Josh Scobee. The Dallas Cowboys roster features former LSU stars Marcus Spears and Bradie James, along with former Grambling defensive end Jason Hatcher.
The New Orleans area, LSU, and the state of Louisiana are well-known for being football country. The elite of the NFL certainly are a testimony to this and a source of great pride for all of us. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, January 16 2008 )
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