Monday, February 08, 2010
Eight Is Enough
One member of the New Orleans Saints who you may have seen in the
waning seconds of Super Bowl XLIV, but probably didn't recognize, was
Scott Shanle. The linebacker was closing in on Indianapolis
Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who dropped Peyton Manning’s final
pass of the game and sealed New Orleans' first-ever Super Bowl
victory. Steve Borer certainly recognized Shanle, though — and he
called me this morning to make sure I knew who he was, too.
Borer, assistant vice principal and activities director at Seward (Neb.) High School, spent 18 years coaching eight-man football
and has compiled books on the subject. He watched Shanle, a seven-year
NFL veteran out of the University of Nebraska, play running back and
defensive back for St. Edward (Neb.) High School’s eight-man team while
earning All-State and Player of the Year honors. Believe it or not, Borer says Shanle is
the third eight-man player out of Nebraska to wear a Super Bowl ring. The other two? Shanle's little brother, Andrew — who also played for St. Edward and was on the practice squad for New York Giants team that won Super Bowl XLII — and Randy Rasmussen, a starting right guard for the New York Jets in Super Bowl III.
"People say, 'Oh, well, it's just eight-man football.' Yeah, it is,”
Borer once told me, defending the smaller-roster game. “But it's still
blocking, running and tackling, and those kids are out there getting a
chance to participate in a great all-American game."
And maybe even win
a Super Bowl.
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