Super Bowl and the OVC, more tied together than you think

As we approach the big day, many of us our dreading the fact that we might soon be expanding our waist lines while consuming our favorite Super Bowl Sunday munchies. Here at the OVC we would like to provide a health conscious expansion by broadening your knowledge of the OVC's ties to the Super Bowl.

The conference and its universities have many links to the big game. Most notably would be Phil Simms, the MVP of Super Bowl XXI in which he strung together 10 consecutive completions in the second half ... tied for second in Super Bowl history all time by the way. Eastern Illinois has a big claim to fame with Sean Payton' s incredible run to the Super Bowl last year when he led the New Orleans Saints to victory with some entertaining play calling.

Recent years has also seen our fair share of former conference players involved in the Febuary showdown. After being drafted in the first round the former Tennessee State standout Dominique Rogers-Cromartie made a name for himself in the '09 playoffs with 3 interceptions on the way to the Cardinals Super Bowl run that year. This year Tennessee Tech graduate Frank Omiyale almost made it but him, Cutler and the Bears fell one game short.

We should point out some former OVC standouts that are playing a role in the Super Bowl this year. The Packers look mighty tough to beat heading into the game and OL Chris Campbell and Saftey Anthony Levine have helped the team get there.

Campbell, also known as Big Baby, perfected his trade at Eastern Illinois. Campbell is quite the story as he came to EIU as a walk-on and finished as a starter, earning second-team All-OVC that season. Campbell is currently a part of the practice squad. Levine is currently on IR for the Packers after being signed as a non-drafted free agent in May 2010. Levine impressed at the rookie oreintation camp warranting his signing, worthy enough to mention that Levine shared the defensive backfield with Rogers-Cromartie in his time at TSU.

The OVC has more connections to the Super Bowl than one might think and it is only growing over recent years. Let's hope that this game proves to be a good one, and the conference's former players and coaches continue to get into the mix.