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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Three Gophers To Have Super Sunday
1/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Golden Gopher fans are usually conditioned not to cheer for a team wearing black and gold. That will probably change for many Minnesota fans this weekend, as three former Gophers will take the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
Strong safety Tyrone Carter, running back Gary Russell and tight end Matt Spaeth have all contributed to the Steelers' success this season. Carter has made 17 tackles on the year with three interceptions. Russell while has rushed for 77 yards and three touchdowns in 2008. Spaeth has pulled down 17 receptions for 136 yards.
Carter is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Steelers. He spent the first three years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, before playing one year with the New York Jets. In Week 17, Carter returned an interception 32 yards for a score against Cleveland. He had two picks against the Browns in a 31-0 victory, which sent Pittsburgh into the playoffs with momentum and a big victory.
Russell is in his second season in the NFL, both with the Steelers. He also scored in that Week 17 win over Cleveland. Then, in the divisional round of the playoffs, he recovered a San Diego onside kick, sealing the victory for Pittsburgh and sending them to the AFC Championship Game.
Spaeth is also in his second season in the NFL, both with Pittsburgh. He has started all 18 games the Steelers have played this year. Of his 17 receptions, 12 came in a two-week span back in Weeks 10 and 11. Spaeth had six receptions for 53 yards in a 24-20 loss to Indianapolis and came back to tally six more catches for 55 yards in an 11-10 win over San Diego.
The Steelers feature 12 former Big Ten student-athletes, including 10 on the active roster. Minnesota's trio of Carter, Russell and Spaeth are the most former Big Ten players on the Pittsburgh roster. Three conference institutions boast a pair of former student-athletes including fullback Carey Davis and running back Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois, linebackers Larry Foote and LaMarr Woodley of Michigan and tight end Sean McHugh and defensive tackle Scott Paxson of Penn State. Other conference players on the roster include Iowa linebacker Mike Humpal, Northwestern offensive tackle Trai Essex and Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Mendanhall and Humpal are currently on the team’s injured reserve list.
The Cardinals could highlight as many as 10 former Big Ten standouts, all on the active roster.
In all, 22 former Big Ten student-athletes are on the rosters of the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Big Ten and ACC are tied for the lead among all conferences with 22 players on the two Super Bowl squads, followed by SEC (14 players), Pac-10 (11) and Big 12 (10).
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