Regardless of who wins the AFC and NFC championship games, a former Pitt Panther will get a Super Bowl ring this year. My hope is that it's Henry Hynoski of the New York Giants because I grew up close to Southern Columbia and my mom actually knew his father because they grew up in the same small town.

Here's a Cardiac Hill article on who the others are:

http://www.cardiachill.com/2012/1/22/271...#storyjump

You grow up in Mt. Carmel?

I like Hyno a lot. Seems like a great kid w/ a mean streak. Best of luck to him.

My parents are from Mt. Carmel. I grew up in Berwick.

Interestingly, all three school districts have been powerhouses in the PIAA in football.

My uncle used to participate in the punt pass and kick competitions and he says that Henry's dad (Henry) helped him out a bit with punting or something along those lines. His father also had a short stint of some type in the NFL. My grandfather had an interesting story about that (which I can't validate, of course). He said Henry Sr.'s mother wanted him to stay close to home and that he could have played for the Lions or some other team but he decided to try out with the Eagles instead. Although the Lions wanted him, the Eagles didn't.

The whole story could just be grandfather talk, if you know what I mean.