We can only imagine how frenzied Super Bowl preparations are for NFL players.
It has to be stressful finalizing family travel plans, making sure the countless ticket requests are covered, all the while getting ready to play the biggest game of the year.
That's why we love to hear these stories about players not forgetting their high school roots leading up to game day.
New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who played at
Independence (Charlotte, N.C.), invited former coach Tom Knotts to Indianapolis.
The two took a picture together after the Giants beat the New England Patriots 21-17.
Giants safety Deon Grant took some time to talk to
The Augusta Chronicle about his playing days at
Josey (Augusta, Ga.). He became the third player from the school to play for a Super Bowl Champion, joining Jimmie Johnson (Washington Redskins, 1991) and Arnold Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers, 2006).
Grant is active at the school in the offseason, attending school basketball games, helping at clinics and providing laptops to National Honor Society students, according to the Chronicle.
"If I win that ring, it'll be huge for that Eagle pride," Grant told the newspaper before the game.
Along a similar line, albeit with college ties,
Gulf Shores (Ala.) coach
Ben Blackmon was excited about the game because he was teammates with Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes and defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora at Troy University.
On the Patriots side,
rookie offensive tackle Nate Solder also had his former high school coach in town for the game as his guest. The
Buena Vista (Colo.) standout had coach Bob Marken in attendance.