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Northwest Missouri State defensive coordinator Richard Wright was on a recruiting trip in Chicago the day after the NFC Championship Game when he got a call from one of his most well-known former players.
It was New York Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson wanting to let Wright know that he would be receiving one of his 15 free tickets to attend Sunday's Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots.
"It was neat," said Wright. "It means so much that he thought of me. I was very appreciative."
After attending a daddy-daughter dance Friday night in Maryville, Wright will begin his nine-hour trek east to Indianapolis.
A life-long Giants fan who grew up in up-state New York, Wright couldn’t be more excited for Super Bowl Sunday to arrive.
"For me to watch a kid I coached play in the Super Bowl for the team I’ve rooted for all my life, it doesn't get much better than that," said Wright. "For me, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to coach a kid and watch him in your sports biggest game. There's probably not anything better than that."
Wright, whose never been to a Super Bowl before, said he wants to soak in the experience as much as possible.
That includes tailgating before the game and visiting the NFL Village.
"I'm going to get to do all the things that fans get to do," said Wright. "I'm going to tailgate. I'm going to have fun. Those are the components of it I never get to do as a coach. I look forward to spending a couple days with family and going to see a great game."
Wright hopes to be able to get together with Tollefson at some point this weekend, but understands he’s pressed for time.
The two have maintained a close relationship since their two years together at Northwest in 2004 and 2005.
Wright, who was Tollefson's, defensive line coach before taking over as the defensive coordinator this past season, attended the Giants final regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 1.
Afterwards, he met up with Tollefson and was introduced to some of his Giant teammates. They shared with Wright just how much Tollefson talks up his time at Northwest Missouri State.
Northwest Missouri State defensive coordinator Richard Wright was on a recruiting trip in Chicago the day after the NFC Championship Game when he got a call from one of his most well-known former players.
It was New York Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson wanting to let Wright know that he would be receiving one of his 15 free tickets to attend Sunday's Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots.
"It was neat," said Wright. "It means so much that he thought of me. I was very appreciative."
After attending a daddy-daughter dance Friday night in Maryville, Wright will begin his nine-hour trek east to Indianapolis.
A life-long Giants fan who grew up in up-state New York, Wright couldn’t be more excited for Super Bowl Sunday to arrive.
"For me to watch a kid I coached play in the Super Bowl for the team I’ve rooted for all my life, it doesn't get much better than that," said Wright. "For me, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to coach a kid and watch him in your sports biggest game. There's probably not anything better than that."
Wright, whose never been to a Super Bowl before, said he wants to soak in the experience as much as possible.
That includes tailgating before the game and visiting the NFL Village.
"I'm going to get to do all the things that fans get to do," said Wright. "I'm going to tailgate. I'm going to have fun. Those are the components of it I never get to do as a coach. I look forward to spending a couple days with family and going to see a great game."
Wright hopes to be able to get together with Tollefson at some point this weekend, but understands he’s pressed for time.
The two have maintained a close relationship since their two years together at Northwest in 2004 and 2005.
Wright, who was Tollefson's, defensive line coach before taking over as the defensive coordinator this past season, attended the Giants final regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 1.
Afterwards, he met up with Tollefson and was introduced to some of his Giant teammates. They shared with Wright just how much Tollefson talks up his time at Northwest Missouri State.
"He is such an awesome ambassador of this place," said Wright. "I'm in the parking lot with Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Brandon Jacobs, Dave and Jason Pierre-Paul. They were talking about the game. Justin Tuck comes up and goes 'geez, this kid will never shut up about Northwest Missouri. I know what their record is better than my own alma mater and I played at Notre Dame.' He's very proud of this place. If you listen to any interviews with him, he's always talking about Northwest Missouri State. It's great for Maryville, great for Northwest and our football program."
On his bye week this year, Tollefson paid a visit to Maryville and attended Northwest's Homecoming win over Washburn.
Northwest head coach Adam Dorrel had Tollefson give the pre-game speech which he credited for firing the team up that day.
Tollefson, 29, was a Small College All-American and a two-time All-MIAA selection at Northwest.
As a senior in 2005, he broke the school’s single-season sack record with 12.5.
Now in his fifth season with the Giants and sixth overall in the NFL, Tollefson will be making his second Super Bowl appearance.
He was part of the Giants 2007 team that upset New England in Super Bowl XLII 17-14, a game best remembered for David Tyree's circus catch in the fourth quarter.
Tollefson, who only played in six games that year, has taken on a more prominent role on the Giants defense, headed by their menacing front four.
He's now the primary back-up to Tuck at right defensive end and started two games in place of an injured Umenyiora during the first two weeks of the season. Tollefson also plays on special teams.
During the regular season, Tollefson registered career-highs in tackles (21) and sacks (5). He also had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
If Tollefson is able to get to Tom Brady Sunday, it will produce quite a roar from Wright and the rest of Bearcat Nation.
