This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl. In celebration, the NFL and Wilson Sporting Goods partnered to provide an official game-size golden football signed by the Commissioner, Roger Goodell to commemorate every player or head coach who has won a Super Bowl and has positively impacted the game. The players or coaches then have the opportunity to donate the football to their high school, in order to honor the schools and communities that have contributed to that Super Bowl history.

On January 15, 2016, the Caravan community celebrated the amazing accomplishments of Simeon Rice (’92), as he presented the gold football to his alma mater. The football commemorated the ’02-’03 season during which Rice led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, the first and only Super Bowl in franchise history.

Prior to presenting the golden football to Fr. Tony Mazurkiewicz and Head Coach Frank Lenti, Rice spoke in front of the entire student body and faculty, reflecting on his positive memories of MC. “This is where it all started. It is home and will always be home to me. I love the family, the unity, the tradition, and the success of its students… it’s just a way of life.”

After finishing the ’02-’03 regular season with a franchise best 12 – 4 record, led by the league’s number one defense, Rice’s Buccaneers not only beat the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, they obliterated them by a final score of 48 – 21. The game was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California – the present home of the Chargers. It was witnessed by a sold-out crowd of  71,000 people along with approximately 132 million viewers watching from home. At the time, Super Bowl XXXVII became the fourth most watched American television program ever.

Rice was a key part of the 2002 Super Bowl champions.  As a 6’5″, 268 lbs. defensive end, he anchored one of the most impressive defensive lines in NFL history. From high school to college to professional football, Rice was destined for greatness. Recruited from MC, Rice played his collegiate career at the University of Illinois from 1992 to 1995. While there, Rice developed each year at defensive end, eventually earning All – American honors as well as becoming the Big Ten’s all time sack leader (43), 10th all time in FBS history. His record still stands today.

In the 1996 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Rice with the third overall pick. On his first professional snap, Rice tackled legendary St. Louis Rams’ running back, Marshall Faulk. Having made his mark in his very first play that play, Rice never looked back.

During his rookie season, Rice finished with 12.5 sacks, ultimately earning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In his fourth year with Arizona, Rice made his first Pro Bowl appearance after a season in which he recorded 16.5 sacks. In the following off – season, he signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay under promising Head Coach John Gruden.

Overall, in his 12 year NFL career  Rice accumulated 122 sacks (17th all time), 25 forced fumbles (eight recovered), five interceptions, 251 tackles, and three Pro Bowl selections. When he retired in 2007, Rice left as the NFL’s all-time active sack leader. He also was the second fastest player to accumulate 100 career sacks, behind only legendary Eagle’s and Packer’s defensive end Reggie White.