Big 33 Super Bowl streak continues

Big 33 Classic
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As a Pennsylvania native, the Big 33 Super Bowl streak is one of those stories I look forward to writing each-and-every year at this time.

For those of you not familiar with the Big 33 game and its streak, here’s a history lesson.

The Big 33 Classic is considered by many, including myself, to be America’s best all-star high school football game that is played annually in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Over the years, Pennsylvania all-stars have squared-off against all-star teams from Maryland, Ohio and Texas. On other occasions, Pennsylvania has faced an all-USA team. Currently Pennsylvania is in a five-year deal playing Maryland all-stars. The current series began in 2013, ending a 19-year series between PA and Ohio.

As far as the streak, it’s simple.  There’s never been a Super Bowl played without an alum from the Big 33 game on one of the rosters.

It all started when Pro Football Hall of Famer Herb Adderley played for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I.  Adderley was a Big 33’er from Northeast High School in Philadelphia.  Adderley was a great three-sport athlete in high school, having been named All-City in football, baseball and basketball.

The streak continues for Super Bowl 50, because the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, who will play in the NFC Championship Game, each have one player on their respective rosters, who played in the Big 33.  That fact guarantees that a past competitor from the Big 33 will play in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 7th.

Below are the names of Big 33 alums on teams still alive in this postseason, including the state they played for and the year of the game.

Denver Broncos

Brandon McManus,  2009, Pennsylvania

Arizona Cardinals

A.Q. Shipley, 2004, Pennsylvania

Carolina Panthers

Ted Ginn, Jr., 2004, Ohio

Click here to see the names of Big alums who have played in the previous 49 Super Bowls.

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.