University of Tennessee Athletics
Grant, Burton Continue Tennessee's Super Bowl Tradition
January 29, 2004 | Football
Jan. 29, 2004
TENNESSEE'S ALL-TIME SUPER BOWL ROSTER
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| Deon Grant |
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| Shane Burton |
| Photos: panthers.com |
Former Tennessee Volunteers Deon Grant and Shane Burton of the Carolina Panthers will continue the Vols' tradition of Super Bowl appearances Sunday against the New England Patriots in Houston.
Counting this year's duo, 40 former Vols have made 51 different Super Bowl appearances dating back to Super Bowl I in 1967. In fact, at least one former Tennessee player has played in the last 13 Super Bowls.
Grant, who played for the Vols from 1997-99, earned first-team All-America honors and was a finalist for the Jim Thorope Award for Tennessee in 1999 after leading the nation with nine interceptions as a junior. He was a second-round draft choice by the Panthers in the 2000 NFL Draft. Following a season-ending hip injury in his first NFL training camp, Grant has rebounded to start at free safety the past three seasons.
Burton, who hails from Catawba, N.C., was a three-year lettermen for the Vols (1993-95) and his in his eighth professional season and second with the Panthers. Following stops in Miami, Chicago and with the New York Jets, Burton signed as a free agent with his native-state Panthers prior to the 2002 season. He is listed as a reserve at right defensive tackle heading into Sunday's title game.
Green Bay Packers tight end Bill Anderson, better known as a player at UT from 1955-57 and color announcer on the Vol Network from 1968-98, was the first former UT player to play in the Super Bowl, participating the inaugural contest in 1967.
Former Vols Cosey Coleman (Tampa Bay) and Charlie Garner (Oakland) played in last year's Super Bowl won by the Bucaneers 48-21 in San Diego.
Sunday's Super Bowl will be the first for Grant and Burton.
| VOLS IN SUPER BOWLS SINCE 1992 |
| Super Bowl XXXVIII - 2004 Shane Burton, DT (Carolina) Deon Grant, DB (Carolina) |
| Super Bowl XXXVII - 2003 Cosey Coleman, OG (Tampa Bay) Travis Stephens, RB (Tampa Bay) injured Charlie Garner, RB (Oakland) |
| Super Bowl XXXVI - 2002 Leonard Little, LB (St. Louis) |
| Super Bowl XXXV - 2001 Jamal Lewis, RB (Baltimore) Marcus Nash, WR (Baltimore) Dave Thomas, DB (New York Giants) |
| Super Bowl XXXIV - 2000 Joey Kent, WR (Tennessee) Jason Layman, OT (Tennessee) Leonard Little, LB (St. Louis) |
| Super Bowl XXXIII - 1999 Chuck Smith, LB (Atlanta) Ben Talley, LB (Atlanta) Marcus Nash, WR (Denver) Trey Teague, C (Denver) |
| Super Bowl XXXII - 1998 Reggie White, DT (Green Bay) Bruce Wilkerson, OT (Green Bay) Aaron Hayden, RB (Green Bay) |
| Super Bowl XXXI - 1997 Reggie White, DT (Green Bay) Bruce Wilkerson, OT (Green Bay) |
| Super Bowl XXX - 1996 Bill Bates, DB (Dallas) Cory Fleming, WR (Dallas) |
| Super Bowl XXIX - 1995 Chris Mims, DE (San Diego) |
| Super Bowl XXVIII - 1994 Alvin Harper, WR (Dallas) Bill Bates, DB (Dallas) |
| Super Bowl XXVII - 1993 Alvin Harper, WR (Dallas) Bill Bates, DB (Dallas) |
| Super Bowl XXVI - 1992 Raleigh McKenzie, OG (Washington) |
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