Scott Horner

scott.horner@indystar.com

Super Bowl LI: Falcons vs. Patriots, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox

It still can't be a Super Bowl without a Boilermaker.

Purdue alums Ricardo Allen, an Atlanta Falcons safety, and Rob Ninkovich, a New England Patriots linebacker, are scheduled to take the field in Sunday night's Super Bowl LI.

Allen is in his second season. Ninkovich is in his 11th year, so he has plenty of Super Bowl experience.

Both made important plays in their respective conference championship games.

Allen snared a first-half interception against Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, helping the Falcons win the NFC Championship game 44-21. Ninkovich jumped on a fumble in a 36-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC title game.

Allen, drafted in the fifth round in 2014, also had an interception in a playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Ninkovich and Allen extend Purdue's streak of Super Bowl participants to 18 years.

While such a streak would be expected from Alabama, Notre Dame, etc., the Boilers' string is somewhat unlikely.

It started in Super Bowl XXXIV (that's 34) with defensive lineman Jeff Zgonina playing for the St. Louis Rams and special teamer Steve Jackson for the Tennessee Titans.

Here are the most notable performances by Purdue alumni during the streak:

1. Drew Brees beats the Indianapolis Colts

While Colts fans more likely remember the missed connection between Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne that resulted in a New Orleans Saints interception return for a touchdown (by Indiana University alumnus Tracy Porter) or Hank Baskett's facemask, Saints fans will certainly recall Brees completing 32-of-39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that yielded Brees the MVP trophy and a lasting image of him celebrating with his family.

2. Cliff Avril scores on the game's first snap ... on defense

Two years ago, the Broncos-Seattle Seahawks matchup got out of hand in a hurry. Like, on the first play from scrimmage. Manning and the center weren't in sync on the snap count, the ball bounded into the end zone, and linebacker Cliff Avril was credited with a safety as the Broncos scrambled to cover the ball. Seattle dominated Denver 43-8.

3. Mike Alstott powers in for a score

Back in the day, when teams used fullbacks, Alstott was one of the best. He scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVII on a 2-yard run midway through the second quarter. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21. Alstott carried 10 times for 15 yards and had five receptions for 43 yards.

4. Matt Light anchors the line for Tom Brady five times

Light was the New England Patriots' left tackle for 11 years. He protected quarterback Tom Brady in SBs XXXVI (a 20-17 win over the Rams), XXXVIII (a 32-29 win over the Panthers), XXXIX (a 24-21 win over the Eagles), XLII (a 17-14 loss to the Giants) and XLVI (a 21-17 loss to the Giants).

5. Rod Woodson is on the back end of a dominating defense

The Baltimore Ravens struggled mightily on offense during their first Super Bowl run, but the defense made life miserable for opponents week-in and week-out. Woodson made six tackles from his free safety position as the Ravens smothered the Giants 34-7.

6. Rob Ninkovich gets in on the action in two appearances

Ninkovich hasn't been the first name fans think of when discussing the Patriots' defense, but he has been a starter for many years. In SB XLVI, he was in on three tackles, including a half-sack. In Super Bowl XLIX he was in on six tackles.

Purdue's Super Bowl streak

Players on the roster for participating teams

34 -- Jeff Zgonina, DL, Rams; Steve Jackson, ST, Titans. Rams won 23-16

35 -- Rod Woodson, S, Ravens, who beat the Giants 34-7

36 -- Matt Light, LT, David Nugent, DE, Patriots; Zgonina. Patriots won 20-17

37 -- Alstott.

38 -- Light, Rosevelt Colvin, LB, Brandon Gorin, RT, Gene Mruczkowski, G, Patriots, who beat the Panthers 32-29

39 -- Light, Colvin, Gorin, Mruczkowski; Ian Allen, T, Eagles, who lost to the Patriots 24-21

40 -- Chukky Okobi, OL, Steelers; Craig Terrill, DT, Niko Koutouvides, ST, Seahawks. Pittsburgh won 21-10

41 -- Gilbert Gardner, LB, John Standeford, WR, Colts; Kyle Orton, QB, Bears. Colts won 29-17

42 -- Light, Colvin. Giants beat the Patriots 17-14

43 -- Chike Okafor, LB, Cardinals, who lost to the Steelers 27-23

44 -- Brees.

45 -- Mike Neal, LB, Packers, who beat the Steelers 31-25

46 -- Light, Koutouvides, Rob Ninkovich, LB, Patriots, who lost to the Giants 21-17 in Lucas Oil Stadium

47 -- Bernard Pollard, S, Ravens, who beat the 49ers 34-31

48 --- Shaun Phillips, DE, Broncos; Cliff Avril, LB, Seahawks, who won 43-8

49 -- Ninkovich, Avril. Patriots beat the Seahawks 28-24

50 -- Kawann Short, DT, Panthers, who lost to the Broncos 24-10

Super Bowl LI: Falcons vs. Patriots, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox