When running back Mike Hart graduated from Michigan, most pundits and talk-radio chatterers figured that his football career was done. They thought he would never make it in the NFL. Well, maybe he won’t. But’s he’s managed to hang around long enough with the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2008, that now Hart is going to the Super Bowl. Nice work.

 It’s not to say that Hart has a future in the league, but he came back after ACL surgery in his rookie season in 2008. This season he was bounced on and off the roster, and on and off the practice squad, but played in nine games and was on the field in Sunday’s AFC Championship win over the Jets as a reserve running back and on special teams.

Hart is one of just one of two former Wolverines on the Colts’ roster. Defensive back Marlin Jackson has come up big at times, but is on injured reserve.

 The Saints also feature two former Wolverines — wide receiver Adrian Arrington and center Jonathan Goodwin. In fact, each of the two Super Bowl rosters feature 10 former Big Ten players.
 — PAULA PASCHE