Big Ten well represented in Big Game
By Jeff Adcox
The Big Ten Conference will be out in full force when the Denver Broncos meet the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Thirteen former student-athletes and nine coaches with conference connections appear on the roster and staff of the Broncos and Seahawks.
Eleven Big Ten schools will be represented among the players and coaches, including draft picks and undrafted free agents who entered the NFL between 2004 and 2013. Wisconsin is tied for the second most players among all schools with four former athletes on the rosters, followed by Michigan State, Penn State and Purdue with two apiece. Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern will each have one former player competing for the title.
On the sidelines, Michigan State has four coaches with affiliation to the Spartan program, while Ohio State has two coaches with Buckeye ties and Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin each have one with a connection to the school.
Big Ten ties: Denver Broncos
Kevin Vickerson, DT, Michigan State (2005 NFL Draft – seventh round)
Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota (2010 NFL Draft – third round)
Stewart Bradley, LB, Nebraska (2007 NFL Draft – third round)
Marquice Cole, CB, Northwestern (2007 undrafted free agent)
Shaun Phillips, DE, Purdue (2004 NFL Draft – fourth round)
Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin (2013 NFL Draft – second round)
Coaches
Adam Gase, Offensive Coordinator (Attended Michigan State from 1996-99)
Dave Magazu, Offensive line coach (Graduate assistant at Michigan in 1983)
Jay Rodgers, Defensive line coach (Played at Indiana from 1996-98 and was a recruiting intern with Ohio State in 2000)
Big Ten ties: Seattle Seahawks
Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State (2008 NFL Draft – fifth round)
Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State (2013 NFL Draft – third round)
Michael Robinson, FB, Penn State (2006 NFL Draft – fourth round)
Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue (2008 NFL Draft – third round)
Chris Maragos, FS, Wisconsin (2010 undrafted free agent)
O’Brien Schofield, LB, Wisconsin (2010 NFL Draft – fourth round)
Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin (2012 NFL Draft – third round)
Coaches
Pete Carroll, Head coach (Secondary coach at Ohio State in 1979)
Darrell Bevell, Offensive Coordinator (Played quarterback at Wisconsin from 1992-95)
Pat Ruel, Assistant Offensive line coach (Offensive line and assistant coach at Michigan State from 1998-99)
Sherman Smith, Running backs coach (Assistant coach at Illinois from 1992-94)
Robert Saleh, Defensive quality control coach (Assistant coach at Michigan State from 2002-03)
Mondray Gee, Assistant strength & conditioning coach (Went to Michigan State for undergrad and graduate degrees from 1996-01)