"It's not like coming back home is anything novel for Austin Hooper, who still visits De La Salle's campus in the summer to train with his high school alma mater after 10 years in the NFL. And this isn't his first Super Bowl, either. But both? At the same time? That's what makes this one that much more special, the New England Patriots tight end told the Bay Area News Group this week."
"A decade after his first Super Bowl ended in heartbreak, as a rookie on the Falcons team that infamously let a 28-3 lead slip away, the San Mateo native, now 31, said this time he is definitely smelling the roses more. I don't know how many years I've got left. Come Sunday, Hooper will be the only player on either side of New England's Super Bowl 60 matchup against the Seahawks to take the field at Levi's Stadium in front of his hometown fans."
Austin Hooper continues to visit De La Salle's campus each summer to train with his high school team after 10 NFL seasons and to mentor current players. Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium marks his second Super Bowl appearance and a rare hometown return, following a rookie-year playoff loss as a Falcon. Fifteen family members will attend the game while longtime coach Bob Ladouceur will watch from home and feels proud of Hooper's development. Hooper grew from about 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds in high school to 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds and still joins offseason conditioning with the Spartans.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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