Former Southeast Missouri State football player Connolly is front and center at Super Bowl

~ The former Southeast lineman will play in his first Super Bowl as a member of the Patriots

Dan Connolly watched from the sideline in street clothes when New England made the Super Bowl in 2008.

The Southeast Missouri State product will be much more involved this time.

Connolly is the starting center for the Patriots, who play the New York Giants in Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

"It's a great feeling, really exciting," Connolly said during a telephone interview from Indianapolis earlier this week.

The 6-foot-4, 313-pound Connolly has come a long way. He originally made the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2005, later joining the Patriots as a member of the practice squad in 2007.

The Patriots went undefeated during the 2007 regular season and were dealt their first loss by the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl.

Connolly has been with the Patriots ever since. He saw limited action in 2008, made four starts in 2009 and started the majority of the past two seasons at multiple positions on the offensive line.

"I loved every bit of it then, being a part of that team," Connolly said about his first Super Bowl experience that limited him to being a spectator. "But this is much better, to be an active member of the team."

Connolly, a 29-year-old St. Louis native, was a four-year all-Ohio Valley Conference offensive tackle at Southeast from 2001 to 2004, finishing his career with 46 consecutive starts. He never made the all-OVC first team, always being relegated to the second unit.

He made the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2005, spending his entire rookie season on the active roster and seeing limited action as a backup. He suffered an injury before the 2006 season and spent the entire campaign on injured reserve. The injury set him back and he was among the Jaguars' final cuts before the 2007 season.

Jacksonville's loss turned out to be New England's gain.

Connolly hooked up with the Patriots and spent the year on their practice squad, meaning he practiced alongside regular roster players during the week but did not suit up on game days.

Connolly's ascent has been boosted by his versatility. He has been a valuable member of the Patriots' offensive line, filling in at a variety of positions when injuries occurred along the unit.

While Connolly is the Patriots' center, he never played the position at Southeast.

"I just kind of learned to play center once I got to Jacksonville," Connolly said. "That's what's been great with this team. They allowed me to stay on the team because I can play multiple positions and get the job done wherever I step in."

Connolly credits perseverance for getting him to his current level.

"Just the hard work, just wanting something more and not being satisfied with what I had," he said. "Just hoping it would eventually pay off. It's been a hard road, but it's been very satisfying."

Connolly said he never thought about playing professional football until late during his college career.

"It was never a goal of mine," he said. "Going back to high school, I liked the game but I didn't even know if I would play college football. Then after I got to SEMO I just wanted to get an education, get a good job.

"Once [the NFL] became an attainable goal, I just put everything into it."

Connolly probably is best known around the league for his 71-yard kickoff return during a nationally televised Sunday night game against Green Bay last season.

Connolly fielded a short kickoff, then broke several tackles while displaying speed and athleticism. He eventually was tackled at the Packers' 4-yard line.

Connolly's return was the longest by an offensive lineman in NFL history and drew national attention. It was a hot topic on ESPN in the following days.

He was named the AFC special teams player of the week for the return, becoming just the second offensive lineman to win the award.

"It was my 15 minutes of fame," said a laughing Connolly, who added that he occasionally is asked about the play. "Every once in a while. I even had a couple of people this week bring it up."

Not only has Connolly found success in the NFL, he also found time to graduate from Southeast six years after leaving the university to pursue professional football.

Connolly received a Bachelor of Science degree in general studies in May of 2010, completing the 18 hours he needed to graduate through online courses.

"It was really important for me to finish," he said. "I left SEMO a semester early to pursue the NFL, but I wanted to make sure I got my degree. That's the reason I went to SEMO in the first place."

Connolly, who is married with two young daughters, said he enjoys living in the Boston area.

"I love it," he said. "We have a great time with the whole New England lifestyle. It's been a really good experience."

A Super Bowl ring undoubtably would enhance that experience.

"It would be incredible," he said.

Another tie

There is another Southeast tie to the Super Bowl.

Former Southeast player and assistant coach Jon Robinson is in his third season as the Patriots' director of college scouting. He already has two Super Bowl rings.

Robinson is in his 10th season in New England's personnel department, also serving as assistant director of college scouting, regional scout and area scout.

Robinson began his college coaching career at Southeast in 1998, then coached three seasons at Nicholls (La.) State before joining the Patriots.

Robinson, a native of Union City, Tenn., played for one season at the U.S. Air Force Academy before transferring to Southeast, where he played three seasons on the defensive line from 1995 to 1997.