Newman High School Fans Proudly Supporting Peyton Manning In The Big Game

Here in Louisiana we have experienced the feeling of having one of our own local sports heroes excel on pro football's biggest stage many times. Whether it was Jake Delhomme or Kevin Faulk or several other great local athletes we know what it's like to cheer vicariously for a home grown prospect.

You can imagine how the people who support Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans feel about the Manning boys, Peyton and Eli. Tonight there will be a lot of Newman fans disguised as Denver Broncos fans across the state and across the country. The reason is Peyton Manning a Newman graduate will be playing in his fourth Super Bowl.

Nelson Stewart, coach at Newman High played with Peyton from 1991-1993. He says this years run to the big game for his former teammate is quite exceptional.

I think it makes it even more special because he had to battle so much adversity to get there. It's almost like when everyone counted him out he rose up to the biggest challenge.

Steward told the Louisiana Radio Network that knowing Manning the thought of this could be his last NFL game is not even a part of his mindset. He is too busy focusing on what it will take to help his team defeat the Carolina Panthers.

I guess it remains to be seen, but I really think he's going to look at it after the Super Bowl and that he hasn't decided yet.

The entire student body at Newman High held a giant pep rally on Friday in honor of the Newman alumnus. You can bet that many of those kids and parents alike will be watching this evening when their home grown hero takes to the field for maybe the last time as an NFL quarterback.