[Vision2020] Super Bowl ring for a Vandal (and Lewiston native)

[Carl Westberg]

>From Vandal Venue:  For many University of Idaho alumni and fans, the 
Indianapolis Colts impressive 29-17 Super Bowl victory over the Chicago 
Bears today was cause for celebration. In particular, we salute starting 
right guard JAKE SCOTT, a Lewiston (ID) native and 4-year starter on the 
Vandal offensive line who was drafted by the Colts in 2004 and has been a 
starter at right guard since his rookie season.


Idaho's starting left tackle for 4 years.
Since the day he walked at Idaho as a Lewiston High School graduate in 1999 
(was also born in Lewiston, Idaho), he has been a deceptively effective 
lineman at every level he has played. Not particularly large by Division 1A 
standards, Scott made his first start for the Vandals in the season opener 
as a redshirt freshman left tackle at Idaho in 2000 (started 11 of Idaho's 
12 games that year on an offense that averaged 453.2 yards per game) and 
never looked back. He went on to start 45 games for the Vandals - he did not 
miss a start as a sophomore, junior or senior - and earned All-Conference 
honors his senior year.

Scott was drafted in the 5th round (141st pick overall) of the 2004 draft by 
the Indianapolis Colts. By the fourth game of the season he moved into the 
starting lineup at right guard and ended up starting 9 of 12 games for the 
Colts that year, plus both of the Colt's playoff games. He helped pave the 
way for a prolific offense which produced a 4000+ yard passer in Peyton 
Manning and 1000+ yard rusher in Edgerrin James. The line that year 
surrendered just 14 sacks...a league low. His efforts earned him a selection 
to the Football Digest NFL All-Rookie Team.


First half action in today's Super Bowl between the Colts and Bears.
In 2005 Scott started all 16 regular season games, including 14 at right 
guard and two at right tackle. The offense produced over 5000 yards of 
offense again, and gave up a league low 20 sacks. Since Scott became a 
starter on the talented and veteran (among starters) Colt O-line, Indy has 
led or tied for the lead in fewest sacks allowed each of the last two 
seasons. In the playoffs that year, he started at right guard for the Colts 
when they took on the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburg Steelers.

At 6-5, 295-pounds, Scott has started every regular season game this year 
and all three post-season games for the Colts. During their playoff run, the 
offensive line was impressive both in pass protection and in paving the way 
for the Colt rushing attack. They thumped Kansas City 23-8, beat favorite 
Baltimore on the road 15-6, and finally beat New England in the playoffs...a 
38-34 victory at home.

And tonight Jake Scott and the Colts took home the ultimate prize for anyone 
playing football, at any level. They beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl 
XLI, in a constant and at time heavy downpour, as Peyton Manning - referred 
to by many as the "best quarterback of his generation" - finally notched 
that previously elusive Championship victory.

Seeing Scott - an Idaho native and UI alum - play so well, against a defense 
as impressive as the Bears, on a stage as big as this, made the victory that 
much more satisfying to witness.

_________________________________________________________________
Valentine’s Day -- Shop for gifts that spell L-O-V-E at MSN Shopping 
http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctId=8323,ptnrid=37,ptnrdata=24095&tcode=wlmtagline