This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah State's Lionel Aldridge played in the first Super Bowl. BYU's Steve Young delivered the most touchdown passes in the game's history. Utah's Kevin Dyson was featured in the most memorable game-ending play, as a member of the losing team.
The 50th Super Bowl will be staged Sunday, and products of Utah high schools, junior colleges and four-year schools have figured prominently in almost all of them. The Tribune's All-Time Utah Super Bowl Team was picked from nearly 70 candidates, with multiple choices available at all 22 offensive and defensive positions (selections were based strictly on Super Bowl performances). While judging players from different eras is tricky, this all-star team undoubtedly could compete with any Super Bowl champion.
That's especially true at quarterback, where Young basically played his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with his six touchdown passes in San Francisco's 49-26 rout of San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX.
"I can imagine what it feels like to be on Everest and to stick a flag in the ground with the wind whipping and you're on top of the world. That sense that there are very few human beings who have been here, and now I've been here … That's what it felt like to win that game." Young wrote in "Super Bowl Gold: 50 Years of the Big Game."
Dyson was tackled 1 yard short of the end zone after catching a pass on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV as Tennessee lost to St. Louis, 23-16. Also asked to contribute to the book, Dyson wrote, "It's crazy to think that's what I'll often be remembered for, just one play. … I remember sitting there and seeing the confetti fall wondering if I could have done things differently. There were all these cameras in my face, and I knew I just had to get up and stand up. Growing up, I was told to never let your opponent see your disappointment. At that moment, though, it was tough to do."
And it could be said that Mike Jones' tackle kept Dyson from making this team.
Offense
TE: Marv Fleming, Utah • In the second of Green Bay's consecutive victories to begin the Super Bowl era, Fleming caught four passes against Oakland. He also won two titles with Miami, while losing once with the Dolphins.
OL: Deuce Lutui, Snow • Lutui played guard for the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLII. The line protected Kurt Warner, who passed for 377 yards, only to have Pittsburgh rally for a 27-23 victory. Lutui had gone from Snow to USC.
OL: Bart Oates, BYU • Oates was the starting center for the New York Giants' victories in Super Bowls XXI and XXV and joined Young in the 49ers' win over San Diego.
OL: Jordan Gross, Utah • As a rookie, Gross started for a Carolina team that scored 29 points in a loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII. ESPN.com ranked Gross the No. 10 player in Panthers history.
OL: Gordon Gravelle, BYU • Gravelle started for Pittsburgh in consecutive victories in Super Bowls IX and X, becoming the first ex-Cougar to appear in the big game. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams in a loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV.
OL: Chris Kemoeatu, Utah • Two pairs of brothers have represented the Utes in Super Bowls. Kemoeatu was a starting guard for Pittsburgh in a win over Arizona and a loss to Green Bay. His older brother, Ma'ake, played defensive line for Baltimore in Super Bowl XLVII.
QB: Steve Young, BYU • Young's six-touchdown game for San Francisco against San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX earned him an MVP trophy and qualified him to join Joe Montana and Tom Brady as a quarterback on USA Today's all-time, 53-man Super Bowl roster, selected in 2007. Young also won two titles as Montana's backup.
RB: Jamal Anderson, Utah • Anderson rushed for 96 yards in a loss to Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII, after becoming one of the driving forces of Atlanta's only Super Bowl appearance with his "Dirty Bird" touchdown celebration.
RB: Corey Dillon, Dixie State • In New England's third Super Bowl victory, he rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. A season of junior college football in St. George may have saved Dillon's career, enabling him to move on to the University of Washington and enjoy a lengthy NFL stay.
WR: Roy Jefferson, Utah • Jefferson caught a total of eight passes for 102 yards, playing for Baltimore in Super Bowl V and for Washington two years later, in an era when the running game was every NFL team's offensive focus.
WR: Steve Smith, Utah • Smith's four receptions for 80 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown, put Carolina in position to at least force overtime in Super Bowl XXXVIII before Tom Brady led New England's drive to a winning field goal. ESPN.com ranked Smith the No. 3 player in Panthers history.
Defense
DL: Brett Keisel, Snow College/BYU • In Super Bowl XLIII vs. Arizona, Keisel recorded four solo tackles and recovered a fumble on the Cardinals' last play, clinching a 27-23 win. Known for his mountain-man beard, he played in three Super Bowls, including two victories.
DL: Paul Kruger, Timpanogos High/Utah • With limited playing time, Kruger made a big impact in Super Bowl XLVII. Each of his two sacks of San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick came on third down in the red zone, forcing field-goal attempts in an eventual three-point win.
DL: Jason Buck, BYU • While losing with Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII and winning with Washington in Super Bowl XXVI, Buck registered sacks of Joe Montana and Jim Kelly.
DL: Manny Fernandez, Utah • Fernandez was a monster for Miami in three straight Super Bowls, including the perfect season of 1972. Chosen as the third defensive tackle behind Bob Lilly and Mean Joe Greene on USA Today's all-time Super Bowl team in 2007 he recorded 28 tackles, including three sacks in two victories and one defeat.
LB: Kurt Gouveia, BYU • Gouveia was a starter in two of Washington's Super Bowl victories. He returned an interception 23 yards to the Buffalo 2-yard line on the first play of the second half of Super Bowl XXVI, helping the Redskins win 37-24.
LB: Rob Morris, BYU • Morris made four tackles in Indianapolis' victory over Chicago in Super Bowl XLI, playing against his close friend and former BYU teammate, John Tait. Morris' move into the starting lineup had helped turn the season around for the Colts' defense.
LB: Bobby Wagner, Utah State • Wagner made 10 tackles in a 43-8 defeat of Denver in Super Bowl XLVII — one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history, considering the quality of the opponent's offense. Seattle held the Broncos to 27 rushing yards.
DB: Tom Holmoe, BYU • Sidelined by an injury for his last of three Super Bowl trips with San Francisco, Holmoe played for two winning teams as an extra defensive back. The current BYU athletic director also coached the 49ers' secondary in a title season.
DB: Andre Dyson, Clearfield High/Utah • A starter for Seattle in a loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XL, Dyson became part of the 17th set of brothers to play in Super Bowls, following Kevin's appearances with Tennessee and Carolina.
DB: Jarrett Bush, Utah State • As an injury replacement at cornerback, Bush intercepted a pass that led to a touchdown drive for Green Bay in a win over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV. Between defense and special teams, Bush made three tackles.
DB: Cornell Green, Utah State • The former Aggie basketball player started for Dallas in a loss and a win in Super Bowls V and VI.
Special teams
K: Jim Turner, Utah State • Kicking three field goals and an extra point, Turner accounted for 10 of the New York Jets' 16 points in their historic upset of Baltimore in Super Bowl III. One of them was a 9-yard attempt, in an era when goalposts were placed on the goal line. Turner also kicked a 47-yarder for Denver against Dallas in Super Bowl XII.
P: Lee Johnson, BYU • Johnson's 63-yard punt for Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII remained the longest in the game's history until last year, when New England's Ryan Allen delivered a 64-yarder.
RS: Golden Richards, Granite High • Richard played primarily as a punt returner in Super Bowl X. Having caught a touchdown pass for Dallas in Super Bowl XII, Richards and Roy's Jim McMahon are the only Utah high school products to have scored in a Super Bowl.
Coaching staff
Head coach: George Seifert, Utah • The former Westminster College coach is among eight coaches with two or more wins and no losses in Super Bowls, having gone 2-0 with San Francisco. He was an assistant coach for the 49ers' three other victories.
Offensive staff • Tom Lovat (Bingham High/Utah), Green Bay, line; Mike McCoy (Utah), Carolina, receivers; Andy Reid (BYU), Green Bay, quarterbacks; Lynn Stiles (Utah), Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Louis, tight ends; Wade Harman (Utah State), Baltimore, running backs.
Defensive staff • Mike Waufle (Utah State), Oakland/New York Giants, line; George Seifert (Utah), San Francisco, linebackers; Tom Holmoe (BYU), San Francisco, secondary.
Special teams • Steve Kazor (Westminster), Chicago.