Jan. 28, 2010
SAN DIEGO - Two former San Diego State football players and three former Aztec coaches are set to compete for the NFL championship in Super Bowl XLIV at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 7, in Miami, Fla.
Freddy Keiaho, a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, joined the Aztecs in 2001. After redshirting his first year, Keiaho played from 2002 to 2005. He produced 113 total tackles, one sack and 11.5 stops for losses while playing on Montezuma Mesa. Keiaho was drafted by the Colts in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. During his first season with the Colts, Keiaho appeared in 14 games before becoming a Super Bowl XLI champion.
In his fourth season in Indianapolis, Keiaho has produced 38 tackles (27 solo) and one quarterback sack in 16 games.
Lynell Hamilton, a running back for the New Orleans Saints, began his Aztec career in 2003. After redshirting his sophomore season, Hamilton returned to the field in 2005 and played through the 2007 season. He rushed for 2,052 yards and 14 touchdowns in 26 career games as an Aztec. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Saints in 2008.
This season, Hamilton has played in nine games, producing 125 yards, two touchdowns on 35 carries for the Saints.
Hamilton's head coach, Sean Payton, began his coaching career at SDSU in 1988. He returned to SDSU in 1992 as a running backs coach, working with Heisman Trophy runner-up Marshall Faulk. Then in 2006, he became head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans assistant coach Curtis Johnson also coached at San Diego State from 1988-93 as a receivers coach and Bret Ingalls served as an assistant coach at SDSU from 1989-93.
Additionally, San Diego State had four players (Hamilton, Keiaho, Heath Farwell - Minnesota, Kevin O'Connell - New York Jets), which was the most in the Mountain West Conference, play in the conference championship round. In fact, only nine other schools had more athletes play for the right to compete in the Super Bowl.
For more information on Keiaho, Hamilton, Payton and Johnson, and Super Bowl XLIV, visit www.nfl.com/superbowl44.