CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill will be holed up at home this evening, watching the Super Bowl and quietly rooting for the Seattle Seahawks.

Kill has something of a connection to Seattle, he was Chance Wistrom's high school coach at Webb City, Mo. Chance Wistrom is the older brother of Seahawks defensive end, Grant Wistrom.

The younger Wistrom was a freshman in Kill's final season at Webb City. Kill has a framed, signed, Grant Wistrom jersey hanging on his office wall.

"They were really a neat family," Kill said. "I coached his (Grant's) brother. We stay in touch here and there."

Wistrom is going for his second Super Bowl ring. In addition, his Nebraska teams won two national championships. Webb City also won a couple Missouri state championships while the younger Wistrom was on the team.

Kill won a state championship at Webb City and the team won two more after he left.

"He's just been a winner," Kill said. "That just sums him up."

Wistrom's older brother, Chance, went on to play at Central Missouri State.

"He was darned good," Kill said. "At that time, if they had known more about us (Webb City), he probably would have been a Division I player as well."

Although, he knows Wistrom well, Kill isn't outspoken in his support for the Seahawks.

"Phillip Doyle (a linebacker on last year's Salukis football team) is a die-hard Steelers fan, and coach (Matt) Limegrover is from Pittsburgh," Kill said. "I have to stay neutral, but when it comes down to nut cutting time, I'd like to see ol' Grant get another Super Bowl ring."

The Steelers and Seahawks kick off at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com

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