In celebration of the 50th Super Bowl, the National Football League recently recognized two Santa Rosa County high schools and their surrounding communities for producing football talent which have participated in what is easily considered one of the year’s most watched sporting events.
Both Milton and Gulf Breeze High Schools recently received two commemorative Wilson Golden footballs for a player or coach who graduated from their school and was on an active Super Bowl roster. Milton is expecting to receive a third golden football commemorating Cortland Finnegan, who played for the Carolina Panthers in Sunday’s Super Bowl 50.
MHS was recognized for Elijah Williams, who appeared in Super Bowl XXXIII as an defensive back with the Atlanta Falcons in 1999 and Lawrence Tynes who played a pivotal role in getting the New York Giants to Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011.
MHS Athletic Director Murry Rutledge recently spoke about the school’s recognition by reflecting on the talent which has come through Milton. During his tenure at the school, Rutledge said he coached Williams both on the football field (as a running backs coach) and on the basketball court.
"(Elijah Williams) was a running back for us,” Rutledge said. “He was my MVP his senior year in basketball.”
Rutledge said Williams signed with the University of Florida which allowed him to play running back. However, while playing the position was Williams passion, he made his NFL career as a defensive back.
“He wanted to go to Florida State (University), but he wanted to be a running back,” Rutledge said. “So he ended up at (University of) Florida because they let him play the position. In his senior year they switched him to defensive back and that is what he played in pros.”
Williams is currently a head football coach for a high school in Orlando, Rutledge said.
Coach Rutledge said Tynes’ talent was a surprise when he played for the MHS Panthers.
“We probably didn’t utilize him the way we should have, because he is obviously an NFL kicker,” Rutledge said. “Back then, the coach we had liked to go for two point (conversions) a lot.”
While no one would have guessed the success Tynes would have in the NFL, the very same could have been said for Cortland Finnegan who was considered to be at a disadvantage due to his size.
“When Cortland Finnegan came through here…I couldn’t honestly say ‘Oh yeah, he will play in the NFL some day’,” Rutledge said. “He was 5’ 8” and about 150 pounds.”
Finnegan was also considered to be overlooked after being selected in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft out of Samford University. The MHS graduate of 2002 went on to play for the Tennessee Titans, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and finally coming out of retirement to join the Panthers for their Super Bowl run.
During a recent scholarship signing, Rutledge shared the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll news with players of the MHS football team. Rutledge encouraged the players to work hard and imagine the possibilities of where their work ethic could take them.
“We are proud of that history, that tradition and we want to build on that and continue,” Rutledge said.
In the southern part of Santa Rosa County, Gulf Breeze High School was also given two golden footballs. Doug Baldwin continues to make a name for himself as a all-pro wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. During the 2013 Super Bowl, Baldwin led the team in receiving as they routed the Denver Broncos 43-8.
Fellow Gulf Breeze alumni Jason McKie appeared in 2007’s Super Bowl XLI as a full back for the Chicago Bears as they faced the Indianapolis Colts.
The state of Florida would be among the top five states to receive the most golden footballs with 141. According to a NFL communications press release, nearly 3,000 players and head coaches were honored and more than 2,000 high schools were recognized.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Two local high schools recognized by National Football League