Come Back to Texas

Jerry was still smiling when a group of us from ACU, including President Schubert (far right), attended the Bears-Cowboys game at his place on Sept. 19. We were there to see former ACU stars Danieal Manning and Johnny Knox.

At the time, the Cowboys owner - and a lot of NFL prognosticators - thought hosting the Super Bowl Feb. 6 meant he'd have at least one extra home game this season. Instead, his team finished under both the .500 mark and a new head coach while the other guys are now a game away from a return date to Jerry World.

Chicago hosts its NFC North arch rival Green Bay this weekend at Soldier Field. A Bears victory would send Manning to his second Super Bowl in his first five years in the NFL and Knox to his first in this just his second season in the league.

In Sunday's 35-24 divisional playoff victory over Seattle, Knox had four catches (two for first downs) for 48 yards and, even more important, recovered two on-side kick attempts in the 4th quarter to preserve Chicago's win. Manning had two tackles, one of which - punishing but perfectly clean - sent Seahawks' tight end John Carlson to the hospital with a concussion, plus an 18-yard kickoff return.

There have been two previous Super Bowls played in Texas, VIII and XXXVIII, both of which were in Houston. If the Bears beat the Packers, the road to Super Bowl XLV in Arlington will have started on Interstate XLV for the pair of former Wildcats. Manning is from Corsicana and Knox is from Houston.