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Flathead Students, Staff Send Best Wishes to Brock

By Beacon Staff

Only five years after striding through the hallways of Flathead High School, Brock Osweiler has found himself at the Super Bowl, the preeminent sporting event and pinnacle of professional football.

The 23-year-old from Kalispell and Denver Broncos’ second-year backup quarterback will be ready and waiting on the sideline Sunday as Hall of Famer Peyton Manning tries to lead the Broncos past the Seattle Seahawks in New Jersey.

Though Osweiler’s role in the Super Bowl will likely be minimal, he’ll still have plenty of fans back home in Montana cheering him on.

School officials at Flathead created a giant banner with images of the famous former Brave that reads, “Capturing the Flathead Spirit! Good Luck in Super Bowl XLVIII.” A few hundred students and staff members signed the banner, offering words of encouragement and congratulations on his journey from Montana to the NFL.

“I didn’t know you personally, but I’m a big fan,” one student wrote.

Another said, “Proud of you! Remember to always let little kids have you as a role model.”

A picture was taken of the banner covered in signatures and students surrounding it and sent to Osweiler, who responded online.

“Much love to FHS and Kalispell, MT for all the support this week… thank you!!” Osweiler stated on Twitter.

Osweiler is among a small group of players from Montana who have made it to the Super Bowl. The list shrinks even more when it comes to Flathead graduates. Sam McCullum, a 1970 FHS graduate, played 10 years in the NFL as a wide receiver. His first two seasons were with the Minnesota Vikings, which played in the Super Bowl back-to-back years, 1974 and 1975.

School pride has taken a noticeable jump now that one of Flathead’s own is enjoying an enviable ride with the Broncos.

Brock Osweiler and other Denver Broncos players, coaches and staff embark on their trip to New York City for the XLVIII Super Bowl on Jan. 26. Eric Lars Bakke photo | Courtesy Denver

“We’re awfully proud of our students as they go on in life,” said Sue Brown, a longtime English teacher at Flathead.

“What a neat opportunity it is to be able to celebrate (Osweiler). He is a really nice young man who is a good role model for our kids in many, many respects. It’s fun to be able to showcase that and to be able to truly send him our well wishes. We are really proud of him and really hopeful that his career continues to blossom as it is, and that he comes home and shows us his Super Bowl ring.”

RELATED: The Land of Oz: Flathead Valley’s Brock Osweiler continues his growth as a professional quarterback in Denver