Wide receiver David Tyree is one of eight with Syracuse ties participating in Super Bowl XLII.
The Orange has a Presence at Super Bowl XLII
1/29/2008 2:10:50 PM | Football
Super Bowl XLII has an Orange hue. Eight former Syracuse football student-athletes and coaches will be on the sidelines when the New York Giants face the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.
The NFC champion New York Giants, head coach Tom Coughlin, assistant strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul and wide receiver David Tyree have SU ties, while five members of the AFC champion New England Patriots, including secondary coach Joel Collier, running backs coach Ivan Fears, linebackers coach Matt Patricia, vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik were members of the Syracuse coaching staff during their careers.
The NFC champion New York Giants, head coach Tom Coughlin, assistant strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul and wide receiver David Tyree have SU ties, while five members of the AFC champion New England Patriots, including secondary coach Joel Collier, running backs coach Ivan Fears, linebackers coach Matt Patricia, vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik were members of the Syracuse coaching staff during their careers.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Tom Coughlin, Head Coach
The fourth-year Giants head coach played for Syracuse from 1965-67. Coughlin gained 336 yards rushing and 367 yards receiving for his career, including a team-leading 257 yards receiving in 1967. He held several coaching positions for the Orange after he graduated including as assistant freshman coach (1968), offensive backs coach (1975-77 and 1979), and offensive coordinator (1978-80). Most notably, he helped guide the Orange to a 31-7 victory against McNeese State in the 1979 Independence Bowl.
Markus Paul, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
An All-American cornerback for Syracuse from 1984-88, Paul was a four-year starter and still holds the school record with 19 career interceptions. Following a stellar playing career with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Paul turned to coaching in 1998 and won three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots as assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
David Tyree, Wide Receiver
A wide receiver and special teams standout, Tyree has played with the Giants since he was drafted by the team in 2003. A 2005 Pro Bowl selection, Tyree has recorded nine special teams tackles and has four receptions for 35 yards in 2007. Tyree was a two-year starter for the Orange and caught 75 passes for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns in his career. He was also a special teams threat during his career at Syracuse, registering 50 tackles, one forced fumble and five blocked kicks.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Joel Collier, Secondary
Collier worked his way up the NFL coaching ladder after beginning his coaching at Syracuse as a graduate assistant for former Orange head coach Dick MacPherson in 1988. Currently in his second stint with the Patriots, Collier has also worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins.
Ivan Fears, Running Backs
Fears has his sights set on his fourth Super Bowl title with the Patriots. A 32-year coaching veteran, Fears has worked in the NFL for 17 years, including 11 with New England. After spending 12 seasons as Syracuse’s receivers coach, he moved with former Orange head coach Dick MacPherson to New England to coach the Patriots wide outs in 1991. Fears moved to Chicago to coach the Bears wide receivers for six seasons before returning to New England in 1999. Since his return, he has enjoyed five division championships, three conference titles and three Super Bowl championships.
Matt Patricia, Linebackers
An offensive graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001 through 2003, Patricia is in his fourth season with the Patriots. He joined the New England staff in 2004 as an offensive coaching assistant and assumed his current role as linebackers coach prior to the 2006 season.
Scott Pioli, Vice President of Player Personnel
Known throughout the NFL as one of the top executives in football, Pioli has worked with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to turn around three NFL teams, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and the Patriots. Pioli, who was a graduate assistant at Syracuse in 1988 and 1989, began his tenure with Belichick in 1992 as a pro personnel assistant with the Browns. During his eight seasons with New England, Pioli has acquired several important players through free agency, the annual draft and trades, including quarterback Tom Brady, safety Rodney Harrison, wide receiver Randy Moss, defensive lineman Richard Seymour and linebacker Mike Vrabel. Pioli has been recognized for his expertise by the NFL Players Association, SI.com, The Sporting News and USA Today.
Mike Woicik, Strength and Conditioning Coach
A veteran NFL coach, Woicik owns six Super Bowl rings – the most of any player or coach in NFL history. Woicik developed the Syracuse strength and conditioning program in 1980 and worked with the Orange through 1989. He joined the Dallas Cowboys staff in 1990 and helped the team to three Super Bowl titles. He moved to New England in 2000 and has added three more Super Bowl Championships to his resume.
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