Sports

Super Bowl XLVIII Could be an All Marin Affair

Two of the eight teams left in the playoffs are coached by Marin County high school grads

Super Bowl XLVIII will be played amid what will likely be frigid conditions at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

But if the stars line up right, the first Super Bowl ever to be played outdoors in a cold weather environment might just have the feel of the shadows of Mount Tam.

Of the eight remaining teams left in the playoffs, two are coached by Marin County high school grads. And with a little luck, they could meet up on the ultimate stage.

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Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was a three-sport athlete at Redwood High in the 1960s. He was named the school's Athlete of the Year in 1969.

Carroll also played football at College of Marin for two years before playing Division I ball at University of the Pacific.

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San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy graduated from San Marin High before going on to play quarterback at Cal State Long Beach.

Although an all-Marin Super Bowl scenario is a long shot, it's not completely far-fetched.

Both teams need two wins to get to the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks (13-3) are the NFC's top seed and have home field advantage for the rest of the playoffs.  

The Chargers (9-7) are the No. 6 seed in the AFC face long odds of surviving this weekend in Denver (the Broncos are 9 1/2 point favorites) let alone going to the Super Bowl.

They seem to be thriving in their underdog roles, however. The Chargers weren't given much of a chance of even making the playoffs after a 4-6 start, but they finished strong, winning four of their last five games.

Seattle's chances of making the Super Bowl are listed by Vegas Insider at even money.

The Chargers odds of playing in their first Super Bowl in 19 years are 7-to-1, meaning the chance of both teams going to East Rutherford are 14-to-1.

 


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