Monday, January 5, 2009

The Curse Continues

With the Denver Broncos late-season collapse, and the Minnesota Vikings playoff defeat yesterday, one of the most obscure curses in pro football will live for another year. Okay, maybe THE most obscure curse:

No player from my alma mater, William & Mary, has ever won a Super Bowl.

Not for lack of trying, mind you. Tribesters have played in eight SB games, with two games featuring a dynamic duo of W&M talent, Mark Kelso and Steve Christie. Here's the complete rundown:

XVII, Miami LB Steve Shull
XXI and XXII, Denver LB Jim Ryan
XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, Buffalo S Mark Kelso
XXVII, XXVIII, Buffalo K Steve Christie
XXXII, Green Bay S Darren Sharper

It probably won't change any time soon. The only W&M alums in the NFL currently are Denver TE/LS Mike Leach and Minnesota S Darren Sharper. Sharper didn't even last the entire game yesterday, depriving a national TV audience from seeing his amazing lack of tackling skills. His age and frequent injuries mean his time is likely running out. Leach has made his mark as a long snapper, so he could play for another, oh, 10 or 20 years. But I'm not holding my breath.

Of course, had Denver and Minnesota both gone on the the Super Bowl this year...