Former Husker Shanle, Saints on verge of title
Print
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
By KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
It wasn’t too long after the 2008 Super Bowl when Andrew Shanle was rolling around on the floor with his nephew Jagger.
“They were wrestling and playing and my brother pulls out his Super Bowl ring to show my son,” said Scott Shanle. “He’s in the NFL for part of one season and he has a Super Bowl ring from the New York Giants (2008). I’ve been at this for six years.”
Scott Shanle will finally get his chance Sunday when the New Orleans Saints face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.
Related Link(s):
The former Husker from St. Edward has been the starting weakside linebacker for the Saints the last three years.
He is the second-leading tackler this year and one of the top three tacklers the past three years combined.
“I’m still living the dream of playing football and getting paid to do it,” Shanle said. “Now, I get a chance to win the biggest game of the year with the greatest guys you can be around.”
One of his teammates, former Husker Carl Nicks, is the starting left guard for the Saints.
“I didn’t play with him at Nebraska, but I’ve gotten to know him, and Carl is a great guy and has made so much progress in two years; he is already one of the best linemen around,” Shanle said.
Shanle and many of the current Saints came to New Orleans when head coach Sean Payton took over the long-suffering franchise.
It was less than a year after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the future of the NFL franchise in Louisiana even seemed in doubt.
“We’re building a team here and I’m moving over from Dallas, where Coach Payton was, too, and we’re all coming in looking for housing, and people would laugh and say there was none,” Shanle said.
“But we found housing, a bunch of new guys — Drew Brees, Darren Sharper, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston and a lot of guys — some new coaches and some new goals,” Shanle said.
In 2006 the Saints lost to the Chicago Bears in the NFC championship game. The next two years weren’t as good, but the building blocks seemed in place. And two weeks ago, the Saints reached a pinnacle with a stunning win over the Minnesota Vikings.
“That win over Minnesota was something that was so much fun and so big for all of us here. I can only think a win in the Super Bowl can match it.”
Of course, stopping the Indianapolis offense will be even tougher, Shanle said.
“They have Peyton Manning and so much more, and they’ve been doing that offense forever,” he said. “It’s timing and execution. You have to blitz and you have to cover. That’s a lot to ask of any defense, but I think we’re up to the task.”
Shanle said the team’s recent success and the rebuilding of the city have gone hand-in-hand.
“This is almost like a college team in a college town,” he said. “Everybody around here feels like they belong to us and we belong to them. It’s like we all share in the winning, and that’s great. They’re passionate and die-hard, and they’re as much a part of our success as anything.”
Shanle scrambled a bit to find tickets for his family. His father and brother are in Miami, and his mother and wife, Erin, and sons Jagger (5) and Kingston (3) arrive soon.
“I think Jagger is old enough to get excited about watching Daddy play football,” Shanle said. “He puts on his Saints jersey and watches the game. I think that will just add to my enjoyment of what this whole year has been like.”
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
Most Commented Football