Former Orange standout David Tyree's acrobatic catch makes for a compelling Sports Illustrated cover shot. (photo credit: Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated)
The Cover Shot: Tyree's Catch Greets SI Readers
2/8/2008 7:08:58 PM | Football
Wide receiver David Tyree, head coach Tom Coughlin joined a list of distinguished Orange football student-athletes with Super Bowl Championships on their resume. Twenty-three Syracuse football letterwinners own 30 Super Bowl rings, including Tyree and Coughlin who earned theirs as part of the New York Giants Super Bowl XLII victory against the Patriots. Former Orange All-American safety Markus Paul, who is currently the Giants assistant strength coach, won his fourth Super Bowl ring. In 16 of the past 17 years there has been at least one former Orange standout in the NFL’s championship game.
Tyree earned his way on to the Sports Illustrated’s cover with his acrobatic catch late in the fourth quarter that kept the Giants game-winning drive alive. The Giants, trailing 14-10, had a third-and-five from their own 44-yard line when quarterback Eli Manning took the snap, avoided the Patriots rush and heaved a 32-yard pass down the field to Tyree, who battled with New England safety Rodney Harrison for the ball. Tyree pinned the ball between his hands and his helmet, crashed to the ground and made one of the biggest catches in Super Bowl history. Four plays later, the Giants found the end zone for the game-winning score and secured the victory for trio of SU alumni.
Tyree gave the Giants their first score and a 10-7 lead with a touchdown reception at 11:05 remaining in the fourth quarter on slant into the end zone from five yards out.
Before the Super Bowl, Tyree had played 15 regular season and postseason games and had five catches for 39 yards. Against the Patriots he had three receptions for 43 yards, including the game-saver and the Giants’ first touchdown.
Coughlin, who coached at Syracuse in addition to playing for the Orange, joins Bill Parcells as the only coaches to lead the Giants to a Super Bowl victory. Coughlin is also second on the Giants career postseason victories list with four.
The third-year Giants head coach is the 26th head coach to win a Super Bowl. The Giants are only the second team to win the Super Bowl after winning three postseason games on the road and only the fifth Wild Card team to win the championship.
The Giants pulled off the third-largest upset in Super Bowl history, entering the games as 14-point underdogs.
Paul, a 10-year NFL coaching veteran, receives his fourth Super Bowl ring. He was member of all three New England championship-winning teams before working of the New York Jets for two season and now with the Giants. 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.
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