Looking back at four Cal Poly greats with Super Bowl wins
–There won’t be any Cal Poly alumni on either roster when the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on February 2.
But the road to Super Bowl glory has run through San Luis Obispo several times in the past. It’s a big deal for a former NCAA Division II school to lay claims to the big game.
The Super Bowl is the single largest event in North American sports, as measured by viewership and betting activity. More than 100 million people will tune into the NFL’s championship game. It is estimated that the sports betting market will collect over $4 billion on a wide range of wagers including the point spread, totals, and moneylines.
Here’s a look at four former Cal Poly standouts who cemented the university’s football program legacy by winning Super Bowl rings.
John Madden
Volumes could be written about Madden’s contribution to football as a legendary coach, commentator, and video game namesake.
Before the NFL Hall-of-Famer made his indelible mark on the game, he played offense and defense for Cal Poly in 1957 and 1958 for coach LeRoy Hughes. Madden was named an all-conference offensive tackle for the Mustangs and also served a stint as the baseball team’s catcher. He graduated with a BS in Education in 1959 and later received an MS in Education from the university.
In 1977, Madden coached the Oakland Raiders to a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.
Mel Kaufman
The late, great Kaufman is the only Cal Poly player to win multiple Super Bowls. The six-foot, two-inch linebacker was raised in Santa Monica and joined the Mustangs in 1976.
Kaufman redshirted his first year under coach Joe Harper; however, it wasn’t long before he established himself as a menacing cog in Cal Poly’s impenetrable defense. Kaufman posted 67 tackles and two interceptions as a junior in 1979. As a senior in 1980, he led Cal Poly to the school’s lone NCAA Division II national championship.
Kaufman signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins in 1981. He won two Super Bowls with the Redskins in 1983 (Super Bowl XVII) and 1988 (Super Bowl XXII). He also appeared in Super Bowl XVIII in 1984, a contest Washington dropped to the Los Angeles Raiders.
Kaufman was inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and later served as the Mustangs’ linebacker coach. Sadly, Kaufman passed away in Santa Margarita on February 7, 2009.
Ramses Barden
A speedy six-foot, six-inch wide receiver from Altadena, Barden spent five seasons at Cal Poly, including a redshirt freshman year. He led the Mustangs with 40 receptions for 655 yards and 9 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2005. The breakout performance nabbed Barden a first-team All-Great West Conference selection.
Barden delivered for coach Rich Ellerson’s squad as one of the nation’s top receivers for the next three years. He finished out his Cal Poly career with 206 receptions, 4,203 yards, and 50 touchdowns. Barden earned Great West Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2007.
The New York Giants drafted Barden with the 21st pick in the third round (85th overall) in 2009. He earned a championship ring when the Giants won Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots in 2012.
Asa Jackson
An NFL journeyman, Jackson signed with eight NFL teams over seven seasons.
Before turning pro, the Sacramento native was a four-year starter at cornerback under Ellerson and Tim Walsh from 2008 to 2011. Jackson set school records for interception return yards (8 picks for 307 yards) and interception touchdowns (3, tied with David Fullerton).
In 2012, Jackson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in Round 5 (169th overall) and spent four seasons in Charm City playing for coach John Harbaugh. His big game win came in 2013 when the Ravens upended the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
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