Sanders is going to be playing in the SuperBowl!

by PK » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:14 pm

How cool is that? Nice rookie season for him.

by **JesuitPony** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:42 pm

Congrats #88! Welcome home.

by **PonyPride** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:43 pm

From SMUMustangs.com:

Former Mustang Emmanuel Sanders Is Super Bowl-Bound
Sanders Becomes Second Mustang In Two Seasons To Advance To Big Game

Jan. 23, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - Former Mustang Emmanuel Sanders is coming back to the Metroplex for Super Bowl XLV after helping the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday at Heinz Field to win the AFC Championship. Sanders caught one pass for 20 yards in the victory. Sanders will be the second Mustang in two seasons to play in the Super Bowl, as punter/kicker Thomas Morstead and the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XXIV last season.

Sanders and his Steeler teammates were awarded the Lamar Hunt Trophy for the win, an award named for the SMU alumnus and former owner of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sanders was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Sanders was named an Honorable Mention All-American by SI.com as a senior at SMU in 2009 and left SMU ranked as the school's all-time leader in career catches, TD catches and yards, single-season and single-game receptions and single-season yardage.

Last season, Morstead executed a critical onside kick to start the second half, giving the Saints momentum. With the victory, Morstead became the first Mustang to earn a Super Bowl ring since Dale Hellestrae won a ring in 1996 with the Dallas Cowboys.

Super Bowl XLV is set for Sunday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m. (CT) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The game will be televised on Fox.

by **Junior** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:13 pm

Great news about a true Mustang legend. Great season, ES!

by **soccermom** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:23 am

So excited for ES--I'm definitely a Steelers fan b/c of him. Congratulations!!!

by **kull** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:41 am

The two teams to draft an SMU player end up in the superbowl in consecutive years.

by **Alaric** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:12 am

Great to see Mustangs on the biggest football stage. Lots of publicity between Sanders, Morestead, McCann, our two bowl games and Pony Excess.

by **DiamondM75** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:58 am

Last year rookie Thomas Morestead wins a Superbowl.

This year Emanuel Sanders is in the Superbowl.

So here is the recruiting spin. Come to SMU and when you leave, next year you are playing in the Superbowl.

by **mrydel** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:53 pm

DiamondM75 wrote:Last year rookie Thomas Morestead wins a Superbowl.

This year Emanuel Sanders is in the Superbowl.

So here is the recruiting spin. Come to SMU and when you leave, next year you are playing in the Superbowl.

We will be a much better team when we cannot make that statement because we have more than one or two kids going to the NFL each year.

by **smupony** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:55 pm

DiamondM75 wrote:Last year rookie Thomas Morestead wins a Superbowl.

This year Emanuel Sanders is in the Superbowl.

So here is the recruiting spin. Come to SMU and when you leave, next year you are playing in the Superbowl.

In terms of the NFL teams: Draft an SMU player and go to the Super Bowl that year...

by **Junior** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:07 pm

I see some guys as undrafted FA's in camp, but I just don't see anyone drafted this year.

by **PonyTime** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:19 pm

Only took him one year.

And it took LT . . . well - never.

by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:24 pm

I am very happy for these players and it is a great reflection on the turnaround of the program - but I really look forward to the day there isn't a new thread every time an SMU player makes a catch in the NFL.

by **The PonyGrad** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:11 pm

DanFreibergerForHeisman wrote:I am very happy for these players and it is a great reflection on the turnaround of the program - but I really look forward to the day there isn't a new thread every time an SMU player makes a catch in the NFL.

by **Big C** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:40 pm

Hawaii Bowl to SuperBowl is quite the jump! Get after em.