Brady, Law Lead Patriots to Super Bowl Championship
2/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Former University of Michigan football players Tom Brady (1996-99) and Ty Law (1992-94) led the New England Patriots to their first National Football League championship with a 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI Sunday night (Feb. 3) in the New Orleans Superdome.
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Brady finished the game with 145 yards on 16-of-27 passing, including an eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver David Patten to give New England a 14-3 halftime lead.
Law gave New England a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter by intercepting a Kurt Warner pass and returning it 47 yards for a touchdown. Law collected a team-leading eight tackles and one of the Patriots' two interceptions in the game.
Both Brady and Law will play in next weekend's Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii (Saturday, Feb. 9). The championship duo will be joined by former Wolverines Charles Woodson (Oakland Raiders) and Ian Gold (Denver Broncos) on the American Football Conference squad.
Additional Notes
At age 24 (born 8/3/77), Brady became the youngest starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl and the third youngest player to start in the championship game.
Brady became the second former Michigan player to earn Super Bowl MVP honors. Desmond Howard, then a member of the Green Bay Packers, earned Super Bowl XXXI MVP after a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as well as a Super Bowl-record six punts for 90 yards.
Law's interception for a touchdown was the first by a Michigan player defensively in a Super Bowl.
U-M QUOTES
Head Coach Lloyd Carr
On the performances of Tom Brady and Ty Law in the Super Bowl ... "I'm excited for Tom Brady and Ty Law because they deserved to be there and by their performance they helped their team win and I think that's what I am proud of. Both of them delivered when their team needed it. You can't ask for anything more and you can't be more proud those two guys than we are of Tom Brady and Ty Law.
"To have two Michigan guys play such a prominent role as they did was exciting, I can tell you that."
On Brady's winning drive ... "It was a vintage Tom Brady performance coming up in the final minutes and finding a way to win. It is typical of the fierce competitor that Tommy is that he was able to stay focused and win another tight one."
On the game in general ... "I couldn't be more excited for two guys in a tremendous football game, one of the great football games I've ever seen. I'm sure that's a game that is going to be remembered for years and years to come in that league."
On Brady's winning the MVP award ... "That is a pretty nice car he's got. Maybe he'll come back to Ann Arbor and give us a ride."
Senior Tight End Shawn Thompson
On watching Tom Brady in the Super Bowl ... "I was watching the game with my roommates. It was awesome seeing Tom perform like he did. What's happened couldn't have happened to a better guy. It is great to see Tom achieve what he has in the NFL."
On the debate over Brady or Drew Bledsoe as the starter in the Super Bowl ... "What do I think My opinion really doesn't matter but personally I think the way that Tommy led them during the season after the 0-2 start and how he brought them from behind, he should have been the starter. I shrieked when Tom went down against the Pittsburgh Steelers but I knew he would get healthy and find a way to play. He was definitely the man for the job and I'm just glad he was in there."
On Brady and Thompson hooking up for the game-winning touchdown in the 2000 Orange Bowl ... "That was probably my most memorable moment at Michigan, scoring the game-winner in the 2000 Orange Bowl against Alabama. To have it come from Tom Brady makes it even better. Every time I see Tom out there on Sundays it's a little bit weird but I couldn't be more happy for an individual."
On the legend of quarterbacks at Michigan ... "Since I've been here, I have played with so many great quarterbacks. Brian Griese, Tom Brady, Drew Henson and Scott Dreisbach were all terrific quarterbacks and to see three of them play and excel in the NFL is great. All of those guys are great people and hard workers. It great to see that hard work pays off."
On Tom Brady ... "Tom is a character guy and to see him have the success he had during the regular season and playoffs is terrific. Watching him win the Super Bowl and get named the game's MVP was a great ending to a storybook season. It couldn't happen to a better person than Tom Brady. I don't think you can appreciate fully what he's been able to accomplish without having played with him. Tom was a hard worker and always gave his best every time out. He is a dedicated person who epitomizes what a team player is all about. He is going to be very successful in the NFL."
On Brady's ability to step up or rise to the occasion with the game on the line ... "Tom is not a big rah-rah guy. He had a presence in the huddle and always took command of things. Tom was the type of guy that others would follow."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
