WOODSIDE, Calif. — Even back when Julian Edelman weighed less than 100 pounds as a freshman at
Woodside (Calif.), he talked about it.
Even when he was sacked 17 times in a game, or the time he tried to return an interception back from his own end zone only to have the ball stripped and recovered for a game-winning touchdown by an opponent, Edelman never lost his focus.
Even when his junior prep season was cut short by two games because of a rift between players and coaching staff, he always dreamed big.
Even though he was so small.
"He always had the goal that he would play in the NFL," said his freshman coach and now Woodside Athletic Director Chuck Velschow.
Said his varsity head coach Steve Nicolopulos: "It sounded far-fetched, but if you knew Julian, it was a possibility."
But star in the NFL? In the Super Bowl? Score the game-winning touchdown in the most watched broadcast in the history over American television?
"With that kid, anything is possible," Nicolopulos said. "I know how hard he worked."
That's why Nicolopulos, a retired coach but full-time teacher on campus, and Velschow were somewhat contained Monday by the performance of their prized student-athlete in New England's 28-24 Super Bowl XLIX win over Seattle before 70,288 fans at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.
Both watched the game from their respective homes, rooted passionately from their recliners and flailed fists vigorously when their boy hauled in a 3-yard score from fellow Peninsula product Tom Brady with 4 minutes, 50 seconds left for the go-ahead score to finish with nine catches for 109 yards.
The title of "game-winning" catch was secured only when free agent rookie Malcolm Butler saved the Patriots' day with a goal-line interception that will be remembered forever in Super Bowl and NFL history.
"What a game," Nicolopulos said. "So many ups and downs. If you were a Patriots fan with Peninsula ties, it was just great to see Jules play the way he did and Tom the way he did. … To see a free-agent rookie save the day. A lot of free agents and young guys stepped up to make names for themselves."
Edelman, an undersized quarterback at Woodside (5-foot-8 according to his coach), College of San Mateo and Kent State, had already established his reputation as Brady's favorite receiver before Sunday's game.
The Super Bowl win simply cemented his improbable dream, Velschow said.
"I never want to be a dream killer," he said. "But I want the kids to be realistic and make sure they have a backup plan. I just remember being so nervous for him because he was so small.
"He's just a great story of determination. All those (colleges) overlooked him, but he simply wasn't going to let anything get in the way of his dream."
Though Sunday he called Brady the greatest quarterback in history, Edelman's dream was actually to be Jeff Garcia, another Central Coast Section product (Gilroy) who overcame a lack of size to reach the NFL. Edelman played like Garcia his senior season at Woodside, accounting for more 3,200 yards and 42 touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to an improbable 13-0 season and CCS title.
It came the year after the team's season ended early and Nicolopulos took over.
That team started from scratch with Edelman as its hungry leader.
"He was the perfect leader," Nicolopulos said. "He wanted to be the quarterback and truth is he could have played anywhere. He had an amazing football IQ. He could read things. And what a competitor."
Nicolopulos said the stars seemed to be all aligned on Sunday.
"It sounds sort of corny, but we won that CCS title 10 years ago, the same year Tom Brady won his last title with the Patriots," he said. "Ten years later, those two kids from just down the road end up connecting for the game-winning play in the Super Bowl. The magic just continues."
Nine of Edelman's teammates and friends from that team attended Sunday's Super Bowl. Nicolopulos said he watched Sunday with a great deal of pride and joy.
"Not just for Julian but his very supportive family and friends — everyone involved in his life, all those celebrating along with him," Nicolopulos said. "It's awesome to see someone set out what they want to do in life and accomplish it. …I know it's not going to stop for him. He's going to keep going."
