Jan. 23, 2012
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After two epic conference championship battles on Sunday, three University of Miami Hurricanes ended their weekends with plane tickets in hand, ready for a trip to Indianapolis, Ind. and Super Bowl XLVI. Vince Wilfork and the New England Patriots escaped Gillette Stadium with a 23-20 victor y over the Baltimore Ravens, while NFC ProCanes counterparts Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips helped the New York Giants edge the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime at Candlestick Park. Sunday’s thrilling finishes resulted in a scheduled repeat of the famed Super Bowl XLII, where the Giants bested the Patriots in Glendale, Ariz. by a final score of 17-14.
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New England Patriots – 23 vs. Baltimore Ravens – 20
On a cold day in Foxborough, Mass., no player was bigger – literally or figuratively – than the blue mountain on the defensive line wearing No. 75 for the Patriots. Vince Wilfork, who earned Game MVP honors after a six-tackle, one-sack performance, wrought havoc in the Ravens’ backfield for the game’s entirety. He finished the game credited with three tackles for loss, and was a constant disturbance to the gameplan of a talented Baltimore offense. Unsurprisingly, Ray Lewis led the Ravens on defense with a team-high 12 tackles and numerous momentum-stopping plays, while Ed Reed (four tackles) was a key contributor in the secondary to a poor overall performance from Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady.
Before his victory in yesterday’s AFC Championship Game, Brady was tied with Miami Hurricane alums Ted Hendricks and Jim Kelly with four Super Bowl appearances. Wilfork, selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, becomes one of six Hurricanes to appear in three or more Super Bowls.
Video highlights: Wilfork sack | Missed FG Ends It
San Francisco 49ers – 17 vs. New York Giants – 20
After an unlikely run beginning with a division crown in Week 17, the New York Giants are headed back to the Super Bowl. Though they finished the regular season sporting an unimpressive 9-7 record, the Giants toppled the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in a wild overtime victory that earned the team its second George Halas Trophy in four years. Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips, who combined for eight tackles in the secondary, helped hold 49ers quarterback Alex Smith to a meager 12-of-26 passing performance against a talented Giants defense. Frank Gore’s 129 total yards wasn’t enough for a San Francisco team looking for its first Super Bowl appearance since 1995.
Rolle is one of 21 Hurricanes to have multiple Super Bowl appearances over the course of their playing careers. Phillips, drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, will be making his first Super Bowl appearance on Feb. 5.
Video highlights: Game-winning FG
For a complete history of Miami Hurricanes in the Super Bowl, click HERE.
UM led all colleges with 42 alums on active NFL Rosters on NFL's opening weekend.
