| |
Notre Dame Footall News
February 5, 2007
Rocky Boiman, Hunter Smith Help Colts Win Super Bowl
Former Notre Dame linebacker Rocky Boiman and punter Hunter Smith became the 33rd and 34th former Irish football players to earn a Super Bowl title on Sunday, Feb. 4, as the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears, 29-17, in Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Fla. Boiman played primarily on special teams where he registered one tackle against the Bears. Smith averaged 40.5 yards on four punts, landing two punts inside the 20-yardline, and also served as holder on Adam Vinatieri's field goal attempts.
Boiman and Smith also extends Notre Dame's streak of at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl Champion to four years (David Givens, New England, 2004-05; Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh, 2006). Also, at least one former Irish player has appeared on six of the last eight Super Bowl champion rosters.
Of the 41 Super Bowls competed, only 13 teams have won the event without an Irish player on the roster. Looking at both participating team rosters, there have only been six Super Bowls that did not feature at least one former Notre Dame player on either team's roster - Denver vs. Atlanta, 1999; Dallas vs. Pittsburgh, 1996; Dallas vs. Buffalo, 1994; Washington vs. Denver, 1988; Dallas vs. Denver, 1978; and Baltimore vs. Dallas, 1971.
Notre Dame special teams coach Brian Polian also has a connection to the Super Bowl as his father, Bill, is the president of the Colts. Bill is widely considered the architect of this Colts championship team as he is responsible for drafting such players as Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders while signing free agents Gary Brackett, Dominic Rhodes and Jeff Saturday, and re-signing Marvin Harrison.
Source: Notre Dame Sports Information Office
|
|
