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Lebanon, TN – As traditionally reported prior annually before every Super Bowl contest, we celebrate the collegiate careers of participants in games we refer to as “Super Memories.” We hold on to a vast number of photos from games attended. They depict live game action, catching glimpses of key plays or just accumulating file photos to assure we capture some of the hidden gems we see play in college.
Photographing line play and action at some smaller schools help us capture players we never knew would make it to this level. The practice is “hit or miss,” but fun when we find that we witnessed a player before he became a “household name.” Enjoy the action of players we saw who made it to the biggest stage in all of football when they provided us with super memories during their college football careers.
Super Memories of Kansas City Chiefs
Saw KC RB Isaiah Pacheco (1) in action several times for Rutgers. Here, we saw him in 2019 against Boston College.In 2015, we recorded a very super memory. Georgia Tech’s Harrison Butker converted a 35-yard FG here with 54 seconds left to tie No. 9 Florida State, 16-16. Tech defeated FSU on a blocked FG to win this game as time expired. Stanford Soph Safety Justin Reid (8) takes an angle to make a stop. The Cardinal defeated the Cal in their 2016 edition of The Big Game.In his sixth season in the pros, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) provided blocking for RB Marion Mack. Here, South Florida faced Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in 2016. The No. 19 USF Bulls fell to the Owls this evening, 46-30.As a redshirt freshman, Oklahoma C Creed Humphrey (56) can be seen here blocking for Kyler Murray. Here, his Sooners fell in the 2018 CFP semi-finals against Alabama. On Sunday, he will be blocking for Patrick Mahomes once again in the Super Bowl.Army LB Cole Christiansen (54) and fellow Cadets put a stop here against Navy in 2018. Army prevailed, 17-10. He’s now on the Chiefs’ active roster for his second Super Bowl as of January 17. Begs the question from him, what’s bigger – beating Navy or winning Super Bowl?
Super Memories of San Francisco 49ers
Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey (5) added this 90-yard touchdown explosion here against Cal in 2016. He made up for his earlier absence during this particular season when he missed the Notre Dame game we attended due to injury. His team also won that one in South Bend.South Carolina Gamecock WR Deebo Samuel (1), here against Vandy in 2018, is heralded now as a primary offensive weapon in the NFL.Gamecock DT Javon Kinlaw (3) also saw action versus Vandy that day. He will be right in the middle of things on Super Bowl Sunday.CB Charvarius Ward (2) steps in as one of four former Middle Tennessee players in this year’s Super Bowl. He’s the only one on the 49ers. Two years ago, he won it playing for KC. Here we saw him in action against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2017.Clemson WR Ray-Ray McCloud after a catch in the 2017 upset loss to Syracuse. Super Memory for us, not him. He went pro after his junior season with 49 catches, 505 yards, and one TD. He’s catching passes from Brock Purdy now. Penn State DE Kevin Givens (30) zeros in on Maryland QB in 2018 in PSU win. In his fourth year for the 49ers, he’ll need to apply pressure on Patrick Mahomes this Sunday, a much tougher chore.
All photos by Steve Koreivo, ed. Member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
