Sunday may have been the Super Bowl, but for famed high school football coach Reginald Samples, the game was all about bragging rights.
One of Samples’ former players at Skyline High School, Michael Morgan, just finished up his second Super Bowl playing for the Seattle Seahawks.
“Oh, it just makes you proud!” Samples gushed from his Sunnyvale home on Sunday while watching the game.
Samples, who now coaches for Duncanville, started at Skyline in 2006 when Morgan was a senior.
At the time, Morgan played defensive end.
“We changed his position to linebacker. And he wasn’t really for that right away! But we felt like it fit him and he’d have a better chance at getting recruited,” Samples said.
Recruitment was no problem for Morgan.
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He shined at University of Southern California where he played under then coach Pete Carroll, and eventually followed Carroll when he was named head coach of the Seahawks.
During a game against the Dallas Cowboys this year, Samples was watching as Morgan was able to block a punt and run it for a touchdown.
“Oh it was great. That was something for me to brag on. I talked like I coached him to do that,” Samples laughed.
Samples said him and Morgan are still good friends and talk frequently, but no matter what he’ll always remain coach.
“He’s such a personable young man. I really try to watch the things he’s doing in the game so when he comes home and we talk about it, I can bring up something I’m sure he’ll remember and we’ll talk about that,” Samples said.
When asked if he still coaches his old player, Samples laughed and said, “Well I try! I try. You don’t ever stop doing that.”
The Seahawks fell to the New England Patriots, 28-24.
