Here are a couple of articles about people your not likely to otherwise hear about during Super Bowl week.
They are written for a "local" perspective for readers in Beaver County, outside of Pittsburgh, PA. The author is a friend of mine.
They are written for a "local" perspective for readers in Beaver County, outside of Pittsburgh, PA. The author is a friend of mine.
Super Bowl: Little-known Ventrone set for big time
You must be registered for see imagesAP photo/Stephan Savoia Ray Ventrone, a Chartiers Valley High School graduate, will see action on special teams for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff
Published: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:39 AM EST
GLENDALE, ARIZ. — The list of former WPIAL stars who experienced the thrill of playing in the Super Bowl includes legends like Joe Namath (Beaver Falls), Mike Ditka (Aliquippa), Tony Dorsett (Hopewell), Dan Marino (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Jimbo Covert (Freedom), Joe Montana (Ringgold) and Ty Law (Aliquippa). On Sunday, Ray Ventrone will join that select fraternity.
Who, you may ask, is Ray Ventrone?
He’s a former Chartiers Valley High School star who, as unlikely as it sounds, has a chance to be part of the greatest team in NFL history.
A third-string strong safety, Ventrone probably won’t play a down of defense Sunday when the unbeaten New England Patriots play the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. But he figures to play extensively on special teams.
“It’s amazing … a dream come true,” Ventrone said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than to be playing in the most important game of my life on the biggest stage in the world.”
If the Patriots win and become the first NFL team to ever go 19-0, Ventrone will receive a $78,000 paycheck. That may be chump change for most Patriots starters, but for a guy like Ventrone who’s spent most of the past three years on the practice squad or on injured reserve, it’s a handsome payday. After all, practice squad players only make around $80,000 a year.
But more important than the money he’ll make at the Super Bowl — the loser’s share is $40,000 per player — Ventrone will always have memories of playing in the world’s most popular sporting event.
He got that chance on Dec. 22 when he was re-signed by the Patriots, who were in need of special teams help.
Ventrone, who played college football at Villanova, started his pro career in 2005 when he earned a spot on New England’s practice squad as an undrafted free agent.
In 2006, he spent the year on the Pats’ injured reserve list with a shoulder injury he suffered while playing for the Cologne Centurions of the NFL Europe League. But when the season ended, Ventrone was cut.
Ventrone was then signed by the New York Jets in February, made their practice squad on Sept. 2, but was cut a week later.
A few days later, Ventrone was back on the Patriots’ practice squad where he remained until his promotion to 53-man roster on Nov. 3. A day later, he made his NFL debut in a come-from-behind win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Three days later, the Patriots released him. But on Dec. 22, they signed him again. Ventrone played in the Dec. 29 season-finale against the Giants. He didn’t play in the AFC divisional playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. But he was back playing special teams when the Pats beat the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.
Now, Ventrone is here in Arizona preparing for the Super Bowl.
“It would have felt great to be here even if I was on the practice squad,” Ventrone said. “But now that I’m playing, you feel like you’re contributing more.”
Even though most pro football fans might not know who Ventrone is, former Beaver Falls High School three-sport star Ron Sciarro knows all about him. When Ventrone was a freshman and sophomore at Chartiers Valley, his head coach was Sciarro.
“He’s the best football player to ever play at Chartiers Valley … he was the best player the school ever had by the time he was a sophomore,” Sciarro said. “Ray was such an explosive athlete. He played running back for us, but whenever we had to throw the ball, we’d line him up at wide receiver. He was a great free safety, too.
“Even as a young player, you could tell Ray really loved the game. When we brought him up to the varsity when he was in ninth grade, I remember all the times that when I’d come in (to practice) early, and Ray was right behind. You could sense even then that he was a special.”
Ventrone, who wears jersey No. 41, hopes to be special Sunday.
He wants to help the Patriots finish off an incredible season in style.
"Playing in a game like this is forever,” he said.
Mike Bires can be reached online at [EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL]
Super Bowl: Beaver native Ingram follows Coughlin to big game
You must be registered for see imagesNew York Giants
Beaver native Jerald Ingram pictured on opening day 2007 at the New York Giants' training camp.
By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff
Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 2:46 PM EST
GLENDALE, ARIZ. — As a mass of humanity jostled for position at an annual rite called Super Bowl Media Day, it was easy for Jerald Ingram to get lost in the shuffle.
As hundreds of journalists jammed notebooks, tape recorders and cameras in front of players and coaches, Ingram savored the moment even though only a few media types sought him out.
“It’s something you dream about,” said Ingram, the former Beaver High School football star who coaches the New York Giants running backs.
“Growing up as a kid, I always dreamt about playing in the Super Bowl. But once I got into the coaching profession, I obviously wanted to get here as a coach. Now I’m here. I’m here trying to help our guys win a ring. This is the greatest ring you could ever play for.”
Like most position coaches in the NFL, Ingram doesn’t receive a lot of publicity. But within the Giants organization, he’s a valued contributor to an amazing season that has brought the Big Blue to the Arizona desert for Super Bowl XLII
Six months ago when the Giants reported to training camp, one of their biggest question marks was a running attack minus Tiki Barber, who had retired as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. But as the Giants prepare for Sunday’s showdown against the New England Patriots their running game is a major asset.
During the regular season, the Giants finished fourth in the NFL in rushing. That’s their best rushing performance since leading the league in 1993.
Certainly, kudos are in order for the “Thunder and Lightning” combo of big back Brandon Jacobs and scatback Ahmad Bradshaw. But if you ask Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, Ingram’s role can’t be understated.
“Jerald’s a guy who doesn’t get a lot of credit because he has a very low-key way about him,” Gilbride said. “He stays in the shadow so to speak. But I’ll tell you what, he’s a contributor in our scheme. He has significant input in our running attack … his ideas about what to do in our run game, the nuances of running, decision-making in who to play at a given time, things like that. He’s phenomenal.”
Tom Coughlin agrees.
After all, the only assistant who’s been with Coughlin in each of his 15 seasons as a head coach has been Ingram.
After the Giants won the Super Bowl in 1990, Coughlin left his post as wide receivers coach in order to become the head coach at Boston College. He then hired Ingram as his running backs coach.
In 1994 when Jacksonville entered the NFL as an expansion franchise, the Jaguars hired Coughlin as their first head coach. Coughlin brought Ingram with him.
When the Jaguars fired Coughlin after the 2002 season, Ingram was out of football for a year. But he sensed that hiatus would be short-lived. It was.
A year later, the Giants hired Coughlin, who in turn brought Ingram with him again.
“He’s been with me every year because he’s a good football coach,” Coughlin said Tuesday at Media Day. “He’s a tireless worker. He’s good with our players. Our players like him, and they play hard for him. He’s grown as an X’s and O’s guy. He’s just a good, solid coach.”
At 47 years old, Ingram is still young enough to land a job as an offensive coordinator some day. He even dreams of being a head coach.
That being said, he’s in no hurry to leave the Giants.
“I would love to be a head coach or an offensive coordinator, but not everybody can,” Ingram said. “I’d like to think I’ve been trained to do either of those jobs. I played under Bo Schembechler (at Michigan) and I’ve worked under Tom Coughlin for 15 years. But it just hasn’t happened yet.
“The situation has to be right. You just don’t leave a position like I have just to make a move that most people might see as a step up. Sometimes, moving on doesn’t elevate you. I don’t see anything wrong with being the best assistant coach you can be and making sure your players play at the highest level they can play.”
Ingram has done just that since coming to the Giants.
And if Ingram’s running backs continue to play at a high level Sunday, it might be the Giants, and not the mighty Patriots, who win Super Bowl XLII.
Mike Bires can be reached online at [email protected].
