TAMPA, Fla. - A former University of Toledo football player is on a Super Bowl roster for the third time in as many years.
Clarence Love, a former Rockets cornerback now with the Baltimore Ravens, will join wide receiver Tyrone Brown (Atlanta, 1999) and offensive lineman Andy McCollum (St. Louis, 2000) in tasting the Super Bowl experience.
Unlike his two predecessors, it is doubtful Love will see any action Sunday against the New York Giants.
Although he has been on Baltimore's 53-man roster all season, he has been placed on the inactive list for 18 of the team's 19 games, to date.
“We've had hardly any injuries, so the opportunity hasn't been there for me,” said Love, who wears No.25 and lockers next to middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the NFL's defensive player of the year. “But I'm happy for all the guys and for the fact that I'm at least a part of this. It's a great experience.”
Love played in one game at Jacksonville and had two tackles and forced a fumble on a special teams play.
“I had a chance to get in and I was able to produce,” he said.
Love started for three years at Toledo, recording 209 tackles and six interceptions. He was then selected in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL entry draft by Philadelphia.
He played in six games for the Eagles the next fall, then was a starter at cornerback the following summer for the World Bowl champion Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe.
After returning from Germany, Love was released by both Philadelphia and Jacksonville before joining the Baltimore practice squad last season.
He was elevated to the 53-man roster at the start of this season.
“If I have to leave the game tomorrow, I can say I've been blessed with so much,” Love said. “I've traveled most of the world, made great friends and made a lot of money.
“What is really special to me about this week is that I won a championship in Toledo (MAC title, 1995), a World Bowl championship and now have a shot at being part of a Super Bowl championship team. I can't express what it would mean to me.”
First Published January 25, 2001, 12:50 p.m.
