Courtesy: ArkansasState
Release: 01/29/2009

Mike Tomlin

JONESBORO (1/29/09) – Each year unique storylines surrounding the NFL’s biggest game make their way to the surface, but Super Bowl XLIII presents an especially intriguing match-up for Arkansas State fans with four coaches, including Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, participating in Sunday’s game that have ties to ASU’s football history.

The road to Super Bowl XLIII for Tomlin and two others on the Steelers’ coaching staff, linebackers coach Keith Butler and wide receivers coach Randy Fichtner, went through Jonesboro in the mid-to-late 1990’s as assistant coaches on the Arkansas State staff. While Tomlin, Fichtner and Butler all spent varying amounts of time at ASU, all three were on the same coaching staff in 1998 under then-head coach Joe Hollis.

Working on the opposite sideline will be Arizona assistant coach Maurice Carthon, who played running back at Arkansas State from 1979-82 before going on to play eight seasons in the NFL, including seven years as a member of the New York Giants. Inducted into the Arkansas State Athletic Hall of Honor in 1991, Carthon is now in his second season as the Cardinals running backs coach.

http://www.astateredwolves.com/ViewArtic...ID=3657140[/b]