Chase-ing a life long dream
Adam Ferrise
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Sports
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Blackburn and the Giants play the New England Patriots Super Bowl on Sunday. The former University of Akron Zip feels like the Giants postseason inexperience has helped them through their run to the championship game.
"We all haven't realized exactly where we're at," Blackburn said in a phone interview from Arizona. "So we're just taking it like another game."
There was a time that Blackburn thought he would never play another football game again, let alone on the sport's biggest stage.
Coming out of Marysville High School in central Ohio, Blackburn wasn't highly recruited, even though his teams only lost two games his entire high school career. In his senior season, as a linebacker, tight end and long snapper, he led Marysville to a 13-1 record and to the state semi-finals.
"The reason we had so much success was because the kids followed him, he was positive and he worked hard," Blackburn's former high school coach Rich Weiskircher said. "It wasn't always what he said but also what he did."
"I think that's why he's successful now- because of that attitude and work ethic that he had."
That work ethic followed him to UA. Blackburn, a three-year starter, led the Zips in tackles in his final two seasons and was a captain both years.
After his college career was over, Blackburn wasn't touted as an NFL prospect. He worked out with personal trainers, strength and speed coaches everyday.
The work paid off.
He was invited to the Giants training camp and made the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent.
"I already had my mind made up that I was going to make it," he said.
Blackburn led the Giants in special teams tackles in his rookie season and got his first start at middle linebacker after Antonio Pierce, the regular starter, suffered a season ending ankle injury with three games remaining in the season.
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