Super Sunday is still more than two weeks away, but National Football League fans at Eastern can be sure of one thing: Our beloved school will be well represented.

When the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings face off Sunday with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line, it will be a battle between two teams that rolled through their Divisional Round opponents.

But another thing it will be a battle between is something rather unique to any university, let alone our small, humble campus. The Saints and Vikings are coached by Sean Payton and Brad Childress, respectively, both of whom just so happen to be alums of Eastern.

Likewise, John Teerlinck, the defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts, received his Master’s Degree from Eastern after graduating from Western Illinois. The Colts, like the Saints and Vikings, play Sunday with a chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Yes sir, it appears Eastern has hit the jackpot when it comes to national exposure in the football world. CBS’s Jim Nantz even mentioned during Sunday’s game between the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers that Eastern Illinois would be represented in the Super Bowl regardless of who comes out on top when the Saints and Vikings tangle (Sunday, 5:40 p.m., Fox).

So how can Eastern benefit from this type of exposure?

If nothing else, it’s something the university can become known for on a social level. If we become a school that, when mentioned in conversation makes people say “Hey, that’s the school with all those successful coaches in the NFL,” that’s something.

Likewise, it gets Eastern exposure in NFL circles. If an Eastern alum is looking to break through in the coaching world, regardless of the level, prospective employers will know their background is at a place with a history of coaching success.

From an athletic level it helps as well. While Tony Romo’s success helps the football program from a recruiting basis, the coaches can as well. It can’t hurt for a recruit to hear about Eastern and say “Hey, that’s the school with all those successful coaches in the NFL.”

Now I’m not saying it’s going to have a lot of immediate benefits, and it might not make a huge difference in recruiting, but one thing is for sure:

Exposure in a positive way is never a bad thing, and when Payton and Childress take the field with their dominant teams Sunday, current students and alums alike can be proud to know the two coaches have shed their alma mater in a positive light.

It might not be much, but it’s something.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected].