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Pair of Former Maine Football Coaches Heading to Super Bowl XLII as Members of New York Giants Coaching Staff
Jan. 21, 2008
ORONO, Maine - Former University of Maine assistant football coaches Steve Spagnuolo and Bill Sheridan are heading to Super Bowl XLII in two weeks as both currently serve on the New York Giants' coaching staff. The two defensive coaches had a hand in helping lead the Giants to a 23-20 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in the NFC Championship game, as New York's defense came up with two interceptions and limited the Packers to just 28 yards rushing. The Giants' second interception, courtesy of defensive back Corey Webster, came in the opening minute of overtime and helped set up kicker Lawrence Tynes' game-winning 47-yard field goal. The Giants will face the AFC champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, in Glendale, Ariz. The game will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium (current home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals), and will be aired live on Fox. Spagnuolo, who is in his first season as the Giants' defensive coordinator, coached at Maine during the 1993 season. He served as the team's defensive backs coach that season and helped mentor Greg Mikell who would go on to earn Third-Team All-Yankee Conference honors during his career. Spagnuolo will be making his second trip to the Super Bowl as a coach. He was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2006 (defensive backs/linebackers) and helped lead the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX where they faced the New England Patriots. Sheridan, who is in his third season as the Giants' linebackers coach, coached at Maine during the 1987-88 seasons. He was part of the coaching staff which led the Black Bears to the 1987 Yankee Conference title and the program's first berth in the NCAA playoffs. Sheridan helped tutor linebacker Nick Penna, who earned Second-Team All-Yankee Conference honors in 1987 and first-team honors in 1988.
This year's Super Bowl marks the third one in the last four to have Maine ties. In addition to Spagnuolo in Super Bowl XXXIX, former Black Bear linebacker Lofa Tatupu started at the position for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In all, three former Black Bear football players have competed in the Super Bowl and have started each one they have taken part in. In addition to Tatupu, Justin Strzelczyk started on the offensive line for the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys, while Mike Flynn started at center for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV and helped lead them to a 34-7 win over the Giants. For more information on Maine football, please visit the team's page at www.GoBlackBears.com(.) |
