Temple University Athletics
Owls' Super Bowl Success Poised To Continue
1.22.07 | Football
Jan. 22, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Three Owls - Raheem Brock, Dan Klecko and Jason McKie - are poised to compete in Super Bowl XLI on Sunday, February 4, at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida. Temple is the only program with players listed as current starters for both teams. Brock tops the depth chart at DT for the Colts and McKie is the listed starter at FB for the Bears.
Five of the last six Super Bowl winners have a former Owl on their roster and the current trio ensures that successful trend will continue. Recent Temple players listed on rosters of Super Bowl champions are Rian Wallace (LB, Pittsburgh, XL), Klecko (DL, New England, XXXIX and XXXVIII), Alshermond Singleton (LB, Tampa Bay, XXXVII) and Calvin Wilkinson (DE, Baltimore, XXV). Klecko has the opportunity to be a member of his third championship team on February 4. The Owl with the most Super Bowl rings is Randy Grossman, who captured four as a TE under head coach Chuck Noll with the Steelers in the 1970's.
Brock, Klecko and McKie were teammates at Temple from 1999-2001, with Brock and McKie serving as senior captains in 2001. Brock and Klecko teamed to lead a defense that ranked 19th nationally in total defense in 2001, Klecko's junior campaign. McKie and Brock were both instrumental in Temple's 28-24 upset of undefeated and No. 10-ranked Virginia Tech in 1998. With the trio playing together in Cherry & White, the Owls were undefeated against Rutgers (3-0) and earned victories over Boston College, Connecticut, Navy and West Virginia.
Brock, a Philadelphia native who is the son of former Owl RB and NFL veteran Zachary Dixon, ranked sixth on the Colts in tackles with 74 stops (59 solo), while starting all 16 regular season games and leading the team with three fumble recoveries. He played in 36 career games (33 starts) at Temple and made 160 tackles (93 solo), 30 TFLs, 12 sacks, 35 QBHs, 16 PBUs, four FFs and six FRs. Brock competed in the 2001 Blue-Gray All-Star Classic with teammate Chonn Lacey, helping the Blue (North) to a 28-10 victory.
Klecko, the son of former Owl DL and four-time NFL All-Pro Joe Klecko, played in 10 regular season games in 2006, serving as a reserve DL and goal-line FB. He caught TD passes from Peyton Manning in the Colts AFC Championship win over New England and in the team's regular season finale over Miami. Klecko, a two-time unanimous All-Big East selection, concluded his Temple career by being named the 2002 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team Associated Press All-American. He led the league in both sacks (10/0.91 per game) and tackles-for-loss (22.5/2.05 per game) to rank 13th and fourth nationally, respectively, in those categories.
McKie, a third cousin of former Owl and veteran NBA guard Aaron McKie, started 12 of the 15 regular season games he played in 2006, rushing eight times and catching 25 passes for 162 yards. His blocking was instrumental in helping Thomas Jones gain 1,210 rushing yards. He played in 43 career games (25 starts) at Temple and had 169 carries for 695 yards (4.1 avg.) and eight TDs. A two-time All-Big East Conference academic honoree, he had a career day in the Owls' 2001 season opening victory over Navy, carrying 11 times for 120 yards and a score, including an 80-yard touchdown run.
A fourth former Owl, quarterback Mike McGann, was signed to a futures contract recently by the Colts, but is not on their current active roster. McGann was a teammate of Brock, Klecko and McKie during the 2001 season.
Colleges with players listed on current active rosters of both the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts:
Temple - Raheem Brock, Colts, DT (starter), Dan Klecko, Colts, DT (reserve) and Jason McKie, Bears, FB (starter).
Brigham Young - Rob Morris, Colts, LB (reserve), Gabe Reid, Bears, TE (reserve) and John Tait, Bears, OT (starter).
Miami, Fla. - Reggie Wayne, Colts, WR (starter), Devin Hester, Bears, CB (reserve), and Darrell McClover, LB (reserve).
Michigan - Marlin Jackson, Colts, CB (reserve), Cato June, Colts, LB (starter) and Brian Griese, Bears, QB (reserve).
Purdue - Gilbert Gardner, Colts, LB (starter), John Standeford, Colts, WR (reserve), and Kyle Orton, Bears, QB (reserve).
UCLA - Bryan Fletcher, Colts, TE (reserve), Brendon Ayanbadejo, Bears, LB (reserve) and Ricky Manning, Jr., Bears, CB (reserve).
Baylor - Justin Snow, Colts, TE (reserve) and Fred Miller, Bears, OT (starter).
Virginia - Terrance Wilkins, Colts, WR (reserve) and Thomas Jones, Bears (starter).
Wake Forest - Ricky Proehl, Colts, WR (reserve) and Desmond Clark, Bears, TE (starter).
