Temple University Athletics
Brock and Klecko Help Indianapolis Colts To Super Bowl XLI victory
2.4.07 | Football
Feb. 4, 2007
MIAMI - Former Temple teammates Raheem Brock and Dan Klecko helped Indianapolis to a 29-17 win over Chicago Sunday evening in Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium. The duo's ring-earning triumph marked the sixth time in the last seven NFL Championships that the winning squad had an Owl alum on its roster.
Brock and Klecko's good fortune came at the expense of another former Owl, Chicago fullback Jason McKie. The trio played together in Cherry & White from 1999-2001. Both McKie and Brock received the starting nod Sunday night, with Brock earning his 20th start of the season at defensive tackle. Temple was the only college program to have a player in the starting lineup for both the Colts in Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Recent Temple players on Super Bowl champion rosters 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). The Colts' win earned Klecko his third Super Bowl ring in just his fourth NFL season. 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.
In addition to Brock, McKie and Klecko, there were additional Temple ties in the big game. Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson is the younger brother of former Temple running back Elmarko Jackson, who lettered on North Broad Street from 1997 to 1999 and earned All-Big East honors as a kickoff returner in 1998. Bears return specialist Devin Hester, who returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to pay dirt, is the first cousin of current Temple ECAC All-Star wide receiver Travis Shelton. Also, former Temple quarterback Mike McGann recently signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts and will be allocated to NFL Europe. Brock, Klecko, McKie and McGann all started for Temple in 2001, the season that Brock and McKie served as senior team captains.
Brock, McKie and Klecko all arrived in Owl Country with Temple ties. Brock, a Philadelphia native, is the son of former Owl running back and NFL veteran Zachary Dixon, who rushed for 1,522 yards and 12 TDs in Cherry & White from 1977-78. Klecko is the son of former Temple defensive lineman and four-time NFL All-Pro Joe Klecko, who earned All-America mention on North Broad Street in 1974 and 1975. McKie is the third cousin of former Owl and veteran NBA guard Aaron McKie, who scored 1,650 point on the TU hardwood from 1991 to 1994.
Brock posted a tackle, a quarterback hurry and had a key fumble recovery Sunday night. McKie had two receptions for eight yards and provided the blocking that helped Thomas Jones gain 112 yards on 15 carries. Klecko played in reserve role and was on the field when Bob Sanders intercepted a Rex Grossman pass in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
