Jan. 31, 2011
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By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With UCF's all-time Super Bowl participant list set to grow to six on Sunday when Josh Sitton and Atari Bibgy suit up for the Green Bay Packers (Michael Greco is also on Green Bay's practice squad), it's time to take a quick look back at UCF's Super Bowl history.
The four UCF alumni who have previously played in a total of seven Super Bowls are a combined 4-3 in the sport's biggest game. It isn't a bad showing when you consider that UCF football (founded in 1979) is 13 years younger than the great American institution of the Super Bowl and that UCF's Football Bowl Subdivision history (since 1996) is just hitting its teenage years.
It was 16 years ago however that UCF first made its breakthrough into the Super Bowl when wide receiver Shawn Jefferson helped the San Diego Chargers to an AFC title and a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at what was then Joe Robbie Stadium in Super Bowl XXIX. Jefferson started at wide receiver that night and caught a pair of passes for 15 yards but Steve Young proved to be the star of the show, throwing six touchdown passes to lead the 49ers to a 49-26 win.
Jefferson was back on one of the entire world's biggest athletic stages two years later, this time in the red, white and blue colors of the New England Patriots as they faced Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome. Jefferson again found himself in the Super Bowl starting lineup and caught three passes from Drew Bledsoe for 34 yards in the contest but for the second time came up short on the scoreboard as the Packers claimed a 35-21 victory.
Mike Gruttadauria, currently the color analyst for the UCF-ISP Sports Radio Network, became the second Knight to play on Super Sunday and the first to walk away with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Gruttadauria was the starting center for the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome. Gruttadauria helped protect Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner who was sacked just once in 46 passing plays while completing 24-of-45 for 414 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Rams' thrilling 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.
UCF's next Super Bowl appearance was also by an offensive lineman and was also a victorious trip as Cornell Green played as a backup lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Super Bowl XXXVII matchup with the Oakland Raiders in San Diego. It was a resounding 48-21 victory for the Bucs in their only Super Bowl appearance to date. Former Knight wide receiver Charles Lee was on injured reserve for Tampa Bay and was on the team sideline but unable to play in Super Bowl XXXVII.
A year later cornerback Asante Samuel would make the first of his three Super Bowl appearances for the New England Patriots, and earn the first of his two rings, appearing Super Bowl XXXVIII. Samuel played as a reserve in New England's 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers at Houston's Reliant Stadium, a game famously won by a 41-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal with four seconds to play.
By the following season Samuel had earned a starting cornerback spot and found himself covering Terrell Owens as the Patriots won their second consecutive championship, a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Jacksonville in Super Bowl XXXIX. Samuel made four solo tackles in the game and was a part of a defense that confused the Eagles' Donovan McNabb into throwing three interceptions.
After completing the 2007 regular season at 16-0, Samuel and his New England teammates were attempting to complete the second perfect season of the Super Bowl era when they faced the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. A third championship was not meant to be for Samuel that day as relentless pressure by the Giants on Tom Brady and a circus catch by David Tyree after an Eli Manning scramble lifted New York to a 17-14 upset win.
Sitton and Bigby will be aiming to bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back home to Green Bay on Sunday. With a dozen Knights on NFL opening day rosters for the 2010 season, and a few more likely to join this group in the upcoming NFL Draft, the list of Super Bowl Knights could even swell past the current half dozen next February when the league descends upon Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI.
To catch the next round of NFL Knights in action for UCF as they defend the Conference USA championship, place your deposit now for 2011 football season tickets. Contact the UCF Athletics ticket office at (407) 823-1000 for more information or place your deposit online on the main ticket page at UCFAthletics.com. To learn about the newest Knights right from head coach George O'Leary and his staff, don't miss the FREE UCF Signing Day Show on Wednesday Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the UCF Arena.
UCF IN THE SUPER BOWL
PLAYER GAME TEAM RESULT OPPONENT
Shawn Jefferson XXIX San Diego Chargers Lost San Francisco 49ers
Shawn Jefferson XXXI New England Patriots Lost Green Bay Packers
Mike Gruttadauria XXXIV St. Louis Rams Won Tennessee Titans
Cornell Green XXXVII Tampa Bay Buccaneers Won Oakland Raiders
Asante Samuel XXXVIII New England Patriots Won Carolina Panthers
Asante Samuel XXXIX New England Patriots Won Philadelphia Eagles
Asante Samuel XLII New England Patriots Lost New York Giants
Atari Bigby XLV Green Bay Packers
Josh Sitton XLV Green Bay Packers
="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cem%3ENote:%20Charles%20Lee%20was%20on%20Tampa%20Bay's%20injured%20reserve%20list%20for%20Super%20Bowl%20XXXVII%20and%20%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=2632" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/m-footbl/mtt/greco_michael00.html">Michael Greco will be on Green Bay's practice squad for Super Bowl XLV.