Sure... He's a Saint. And he's a Boiler. But can we call him a Hoosier? (February 4, 2010)
We have talked quite a bit the last couple of weeks about Super Bowl XLI.
There are so many parallels between the Colts game against the Bears and the upcoming Super Showdown against the Saints.
The Similarities You Likely Have Heard About Already This Week:
The game is played at the home of the Miami Dolphins (New name, same stadium)
The Colts are staying this week at the same Ft. Lauderdale hotel they used in 2007.
Some players, such as Kelvin Hayden are apparently in the exact same room.
Super Bowl XLI was played during a downpour. The Colts were welcomed by wind, rain, and inclement weather Monday afternoon.
One You Might Not Have:
The opposing quarterback for the NFC Champion is once again a very familiar face to local football fans.
Rex Grossman led the Bears into Super Bowl XLI. He did not have a spectacular career in Chicago, but played well enough in the 2006-07 post-season to guide a team which relied on a dominant defense and talented special teams unit into the Super Bowl.
Rex Grossman is a Hoosier. He was born in Monroe County, and led the Bloomington South Panthers to an IHSAA State Championship. While he went on to play college football at the University of Florida, he is a Hoosier.
Drew Brees, the Saints Quarterback is also a Hoosier...sort of. He sure sounded like one when I walked up to his podium during the media day festivities Tuesday at Sun Life Stadium.
Drew was comparing this experience and the larger than life game that awaits at the end of this crazy week with one of everyone's favorite movie scenes.
"Once you get to game day, it's like the movie Hoosiers. You know he takes them in the basketball arena (Hinkle Fieldhouse) the state finals and and he says, 'Measure the hoop, you know, ten feet tall. Measure the free throw line, fifteen feet.' The field is the same size, it is the same game we've always played, just go out there, relax and have fun."
It brought a smile to my face seeing Drew Brees handle the media day festivities like a pro and without being prompted quote Norman Dale of the Hickory Huskers.
Drew Brees, like Rex Grossman, is a guy many local football fans love to cheer for when they aren't playing against the Colts.
While for this game, you can expect most Central Indiana football fans to be cheering for the Saints offense to be shut down by the Colts speedy defense, it is hard to actually root against a true professional like Drew Brees.
While I wasn't working in Indianapolis during the golden years in West Lafayette, I have been very impressed with every time I've had with chatted with Brees.
One memory that specifically comes to mind is during that February week in 2007 when every TV station in Indiana was doing stories about Grossman, while covering the hometown Colts. On Monday of Super Bowl week, the other Indiana QB, Brees was taking part in a special educational workshop called, "Financial Football" meant to teach children the benefits of financial responsibility.
While Brees had to be disappointed about falling one game short of the Super Bowl, he was extremely gracious with his time and energy with both the kids and media members. I remember thinking that afternoon, "I hope one day that Brees gets a chance to play in the Super Bowl."
Here we are, Brees is competing head to head against Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. There might be a few fans in West Lafayette wearing Saints jerseys and Colts hats on Sunday. I won't be wearing logo gear from either team but will certainly be pulling for players on both teams.
Drew Brees may not officially, be "Hoosier" but he does know where his roots lie. After hearing his Gene Hackman reference Tuesday, I asked him if he considers himself an adopted "Hoosier"
I had a feeling how he might answer that question.
(After a brief chuckle) "Well, I'm from Texas, so I definitely got some of that Texas pride. I had four great years, unbelievable years at Purdue. I don't like saying Hoosier, because you've got Indiana Hoosiers, I'd say Boilermaker."
But in all reality a Boilermaker is a Hoosier, just not the one who wears cream and crimson.
Brees comments about the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry reveal a passion for Purdue that is a big reason why he is still so revered by so many in this state, especially those who wear black and gold on Saturday afternoons.
I asked if he had any special conversations with fellow Saints and former IU players Tracy Porter and Courtney Roby during Old Oaken Bucket Week.
"We smoked 'em every time I was there, so that is all that matters for me," said Brees with another very large grin.
How fitting on the week that IU and Purdue renew their basketball rivalry that Drew Brees is still talking with such pride about triumphs in the Bucket game.
Drew Brees still matters to football fans in this state, even if he doesn't like to be referred to as the second "Hoosier" to QB against the Colts in a Super Bowl game in Miami.
Even an IU fan will admit that Brees is a prideful football player and a class act. The "Hoosier/Boilermaker" QB deserves the opportunity to have a Bobby Plump like moment in leading the Saints into the championship game.
The Similarities You Likely Have Heard About Already This Week:
The game is played at the home of the Miami Dolphins (New name, same stadium)
The Colts are staying this week at the same Ft. Lauderdale hotel they used in 2007.
Some players, such as Kelvin Hayden are apparently in the exact same room.
Super Bowl XLI was played during a downpour. The Colts were welcomed by wind, rain, and inclement weather Monday afternoon.
One You Might Not Have:
The opposing quarterback for the NFC Champion is once again a very familiar face to local football fans.
Rex Grossman led the Bears into Super Bowl XLI. He did not have a spectacular career in Chicago, but played well enough in the 2006-07 post-season to guide a team which relied on a dominant defense and talented special teams unit into the Super Bowl.
Rex Grossman is a Hoosier. He was born in Monroe County, and led the Bloomington South Panthers to an IHSAA State Championship. While he went on to play college football at the University of Florida, he is a Hoosier.
Drew Brees, the Saints Quarterback is also a Hoosier...sort of. He sure sounded like one when I walked up to his podium during the media day festivities Tuesday at Sun Life Stadium.
Drew was comparing this experience and the larger than life game that awaits at the end of this crazy week with one of everyone's favorite movie scenes.
"Once you get to game day, it's like the movie Hoosiers. You know he takes them in the basketball arena (Hinkle Fieldhouse) the state finals and and he says, 'Measure the hoop, you know, ten feet tall. Measure the free throw line, fifteen feet.' The field is the same size, it is the same game we've always played, just go out there, relax and have fun."
It brought a smile to my face seeing Drew Brees handle the media day festivities like a pro and without being prompted quote Norman Dale of the Hickory Huskers.
Drew Brees, like Rex Grossman, is a guy many local football fans love to cheer for when they aren't playing against the Colts.
While for this game, you can expect most Central Indiana football fans to be cheering for the Saints offense to be shut down by the Colts speedy defense, it is hard to actually root against a true professional like Drew Brees.
While I wasn't working in Indianapolis during the golden years in West Lafayette, I have been very impressed with every time I've had with chatted with Brees.
One memory that specifically comes to mind is during that February week in 2007 when every TV station in Indiana was doing stories about Grossman, while covering the hometown Colts. On Monday of Super Bowl week, the other Indiana QB, Brees was taking part in a special educational workshop called, "Financial Football" meant to teach children the benefits of financial responsibility.
While Brees had to be disappointed about falling one game short of the Super Bowl, he was extremely gracious with his time and energy with both the kids and media members. I remember thinking that afternoon, "I hope one day that Brees gets a chance to play in the Super Bowl."
Here we are, Brees is competing head to head against Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. There might be a few fans in West Lafayette wearing Saints jerseys and Colts hats on Sunday. I won't be wearing logo gear from either team but will certainly be pulling for players on both teams.
Drew Brees may not officially, be "Hoosier" but he does know where his roots lie. After hearing his Gene Hackman reference Tuesday, I asked him if he considers himself an adopted "Hoosier"
I had a feeling how he might answer that question.
(After a brief chuckle) "Well, I'm from Texas, so I definitely got some of that Texas pride. I had four great years, unbelievable years at Purdue. I don't like saying Hoosier, because you've got Indiana Hoosiers, I'd say Boilermaker."
But in all reality a Boilermaker is a Hoosier, just not the one who wears cream and crimson.
Brees comments about the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry reveal a passion for Purdue that is a big reason why he is still so revered by so many in this state, especially those who wear black and gold on Saturday afternoons.
I asked if he had any special conversations with fellow Saints and former IU players Tracy Porter and Courtney Roby during Old Oaken Bucket Week.
"We smoked 'em every time I was there, so that is all that matters for me," said Brees with another very large grin.
How fitting on the week that IU and Purdue renew their basketball rivalry that Drew Brees is still talking with such pride about triumphs in the Bucket game.
Drew Brees still matters to football fans in this state, even if he doesn't like to be referred to as the second "Hoosier" to QB against the Colts in a Super Bowl game in Miami.
Even an IU fan will admit that Brees is a prideful football player and a class act. The "Hoosier/Boilermaker" QB deserves the opportunity to have a Bobby Plump like moment in leading the Saints into the championship game.
