Feb. 4, 2008

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Lindenwood (Mo.) head football coach Patrick Ross can make a claim this week that only a handful of college coaches at any level can make. Ross has had a former player of his win a Super Bowl ring in each of the last two seasons.

In 2007, DeDe Dorsey won a ring as a special teams player for the Indianapolis Colts. Yesterday (Feb. 3), Derrick Ward earned a ring when the New York Giants upset New England in Super Bowl XLII.

Ward played one season for Ross at Ottawa (Kan.) during the 2003 season. Ward, along with Dorsey, led Ottawa to a conference championship and an appearance in the national tournament that season.

Ward played in eight games for the Giants this season, including five starts at the running back position. He rushed for 602 yards, including 4.8 yards per carry, and three touchdowns, and caught 26 passes for 179 receiving yards and another touchdown.

One of his top games came in week 13 of the season when he rushed for a career-high 154 yards and one touchdown in a 21-16 win over Chicago. Unfortunately, he also broke his leg in that contest and was placed on the injured reserved list for the rest of the season, including the team's amazing postseason run.

Ross' other NFL player, Dorsey, also had a successful season in 2007. Now with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dorsey played in 12 games, rushed for 115 and caught four passes for 19 yards.

Ross has completed six seasons as a collegiate head coach, including four at Lindenwood, and he has a career record of 47-21. He has won three conference championships and made three appearances in the national tournament. Two of those titles have come at Lindenwood where he has an overall record of 33-14. Ross is 31-9 in HAAC games, which ties for the best record of any conference school during that span.