Editor’s note: The following column from the Beat of West collection was originally published on Feb. 1, 2006.



Although he’s a bit fuzzy on Lincoln High School’s Super Bowl legacy, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jordan Babineaux is aware there’s a tradition to uphold against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in Detroit. Not that he needs any extra incentive to try and play the game of his life on the biggest sports stage of all.

Let’s see, there’s a chance to claim one of those coveted Super Bowl rings only a tiny percentage of all NFL players ever get to wear. There’s the difference in a winner’s share ($73,000) vs. a loser’s share ($38,000). There’s a chance to further solidify himself as an up-and-comer with the Seahawks.

Who knows, there might even be an opportunity to make a game-changing defensive play that will earn him a lasting place in Super Bowl lore. He made that kind of play earlier in the season against the Dallas Cowboys, setting up a Seahawks’ victory with an interception the final minute.

Last, but certainly not least, Babineaux would like to join the Lincoln championship fraternity of Aaron Brown, Bobby Leopold, Joe Washington and Tim McKyer. Between them that quartet played on six Super Bowl champions, with McKyer accounting for half the victories.

Brown, who played collegiately at Minnesota, was a reserve for the Kansas City Chiefs when they lost Super Bowl 1 to Green Bay, then was a starting defensive end when they stunned the Vikings, 23-7, in SB IV.

Leopold, out of Notre Dame, was a starting linebacker for the 49ers when they came from behind to beat Cincinnati, 26-21, in XVI. In Detroit.

Washington, was a starting running back for the Redskins team that defeated Miami, 27-17, in XVII, although he missed the big game with a knee injury. The two-time All-America from Oklahoma started the following year when the Redskins were blown out by the Raiders, 38-9, in XVIII.

McKyer, was a starting cornerback for the 49ers when they rallied behind Joe Montana to defeat Cincinnati, 20-16, in XXIII and when they crushed Denver, 55-10, in XXIV. Eight years later, the Texas-Arlington ex was a member of the Broncos team that outscored Green Bay, 31-24 in XXXII.

Babineaux, who was born in 1982, is too young to remember any of the games but the Denver victory in 1997.

“What I do recall is going to Super Bowl parties when I was growing up,” he said. “It was something you dreamed about as a kid, playing in one of those games. I thought about that in the locker room after the NFC championship game. My dream has become reality. I am so fortunate to be in this position.”

Babineaux, whose brother Jonathan plays for the Atlanta Falcons, said his feeling of good fortune was reinforced after talking to Seattle fullback Mack Strong.

“He talked to me about playing in the league for 13 years and at long last being on a team that reached the Super Bowl. I think I realized then how many guys never get to play in the Super Bow. That’s when it really became clear what a privilege this is.”

As always, there are many big stories at the Super Bowl. The Steelers Jerome Bettis playing the final game of a Hall of Fame career in his hometown. The Seahawks Shawn Alexander, the NFL’s MVP. The quarterbacks — Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Seatte’s Matt Hasslebeck.

It’s a lengthy list that includes the opposing coaches — Bill Cowher and Mike Holmgren.

None of the stories, however, is more inspirational or improbable than Babineaux. He was not recruited out of high school, played collegiately at Southern Arkansas in tiny Magnolia, Ark., signed with Seattle as a free agent and made the final roster only after spending much of his rookie season on the practice squad.

Mostly through hard work, he earned the respect and trust of the coaching staff. He went from special teams player, to dime back, to nickel back, to starting cornerback late in the 2005 season, after injuries depleted the secondary.

Along the way, he made an inordinate number of big plays, none bigger than the interception and return against Dallas setting up the game-winning field goal. By season’s end, he was second on the team in tackles (74), solo tackles (61) and interceptions (3).

It may not be Glory Road, but it’s certainly been glorius for a kid nobody wanted.

“From time to time, I think about the road I took to get here,” he said. “I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I’m not satisfied. My primary goal is to be a starter and be a consistent player in this league.”

Babineaux’s character is such that he wants his story to be an inspiration to kids. He’s already active as a speaker in some of the Seattle area schools and he hopes to do the same thing when he comes back to Southeast Texas in the off-season.

“I’m looking to be an inspiration to young people who have self doubts about where they may be headed,” he said. “I would hope they can look at where I came from to make it in the NFL and be inspired to chase their dream.”

In the meantime, the 6-0, 200 pounder, who is often kidded that he’s too big to be a cornerback, is dreaming about chasing down a Bus. That Bus, of course, would be the Steelers beefy Bettis.

“Oh, yeah, I’ve been thinking about that,” he said. “They like to play smashmouth with him. It’s going to be a challenge. But we’ve done a pretty good job of overcoming challenges. This the final one. You don’t want to get this close and lose.”

Not with that Lincoln legacy on the line. Not with the chance to give Port Arthur bragging rights to being home to a player from the Super Bowl champions and Texas’ national collegiate champions (Jamaal Charles) in the same season.

What a parlay that would be!

Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net