2 Super Bowl Champion Eagles Attended Connecticut Universities

PHILADELPHIA, PA — As much of the state of Connecticut mourns the Super Bowl LII loss Sunday night by the New England Patriots, a pair of universities in the state can boast of having alumni among the members of the champion Philadelphia Eagles - one of them claiming a championship ring for the second time.

Reserve offensive tackle Will Beatty, a 9-year NFL veteran who played at UConn, and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, a former All-American at Southern Connecticut State University, were among the triumphant Eagles that knocked off the 5-time champion Patriots 41-33 in the second-highest scoring Super Bowl in history.

For Beatty, it was deja vu, as he was a member of the New York Giants team that defeated the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. He started the first 11 games that season before being placed on injured reserve in late November with a detached retina. He remained with the Giants through 2016, then signed as a free agent with Philadelphia on Nov. 14, 2017.

Stoutland, a member of the upcoming SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame's Class of 2018, was a 4-year letter winner and 3-year starter for the Owls' football squad. He also collected Little All-America and All-New England laurels. He played an integral role on squads that posted four straight winning seasons, including the 1982 squad that was ranked No. 9 in the nation. After graduation, Stoutland embarked on a highly successful coaching career, including two different stints as an assistant coach at SCSU. He also coached collegiately at the University of Alabama, the University of Miami, Michigan State University and Syracuse University, helping Alabama win two BCS national championships. He joined the Eagles coaching staff in 2013.

Photos courtesy of Southern Connecticut State University and University of Connecticut