Super Bowl LI: Tevin Coleman represents the Indiana Hoosiers on the biggest stage

The Indiana Football program was well represented on Sunday. Former star running back Tevin Coleman made his first Super Bowl appearance last night with Atlanta Falcons. His appearance was cut short by an ankle injury late.

It was projected that Super Bowl LI would be seen by over 100 million people across the world on television. Unless you are an Indiana or Atlanta Falcons fan, you probably have not seen much of Tevin Coleman. Millions of people had the opportunity to see him play for the first time this season. The versatile back has helped the Atlanta Falcons reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1999. He has been accompanied by another offensive weapon in Devonta Freeman. Both running backs have been essential to the Falcons success this season.

The Falcons were having success through the air in the first half. When Atlanta decided to run the ball, Devonta Freeman saw most of the action. Freeman finished the game with 11 carries, 75 yards, and a rushing touchdown. Tevin Coleman only carried the ball seven times for 29 yards but capped off a 28-3 lead in the third quarter with a 6-yard touchdown reception.

Tevin Coleman and the Falcons were rolling through three-quarters. In the fourth quarter, Coleman went down with an apparent ankle injury. The Falcons medical staff attended to him on the field and he was helped walking off. He went to the locker room for x-rays and did not return. Coleman has dealt with a series of injuries since being drafted. He missed time with a hamstring injury this season and only played in 12 games his rookie year because of cracked ribs and a concussion.

His potential is obvious, rushing for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final year with Indiana. We are hoping that the injury he suffered in last night’s game is only a minor one. When healthy, he is one of the Falcons most adaptable offensive weapons.

Coleman’s injury could be seen as the turning point in Super Bowl LI. There was 8:48 left on the clock in the fourth quarter when he exited. The Patriots converted a pair of touchdowns in the last 6 minutes of the game. The Falcons couldn’t get anything going on offense on their final drives. Missing one of Atlanta’s two backs late in the game, Atlanta’s offense unraveled.

Other Hoosier Super Bowl Moments…

Tracy Porter – Super Bowl XLIV (2009)

The last Indiana Hoosier to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl was Tracy Porter. He provided the New Orleans Saints with a fourth-quarter 74-yard interception return for a touchdown to take a 31-17 lead. This play pretty much sealed the Super Bowl win for the Saints.

Antwaan Randle El – Super Bowl XL (2006)

Before Antwaan Randle El was an NFL wide receiver, he was playing quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers. The Pittsburgh Steelers drew up one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl History. A pitch to Jerome Bettis and a reverse back to Antwaan Randle El set up a 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward. Randle El played four years for Indiana (1998-2001), tallying 7,469 passing yards, 3,895 rushing yards, and 81 career touchdowns (44 passing, 37 rushing).

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Tevin Coleman’s 6-yard touchdown will join these memorable plays in recent Hoosier history. We hope to have more information on Tevin Coleman’s injury soon. For more updates on status, find it here. What was your favorite moment of Super Bowl LI? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.