By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - When Nick Sirianni was hired as the head coach of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2021 season, the name struck a chord with Mike Zauhar '06.
 
"I heard him mentioned a few times and he sounded really familiar to me, but I couldn't figure out why," said Zauhar, a standout cornerback on the Johnnies' football team from 2002-05. "I figured maybe we played against him at some point. 
 
"So I looked him up on Google and there it was."
 
Indeed, Sirianni (left) – who will lead his team into action against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, scheduled to kickoff at 5:30 pm. (CST) Sunday from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. – crossed paths with SJU several times when he was a standout wide receiver at Mount Union (Ohio) in the early 2000s.
 
The first time came in the 2000 Division III national championship game when Sirianni – who did not have a reception that day – and the Purple Raiders edged the Johnnies 10-7 on a last-second field goal by Rodney Chenos.
 
A serious injury during the 2001 season kept him out of action when his team topped SJU 35-14 in the national semifinals en route to a second consecutive title. But he was back as Mount Union rolled past Trinity (Texas) 48-7 to make it three in a row the following year (Trinity had edged the Johnnies in the 2002 national semifinals).
 
Then, during his final season in 2003, he led the Purple Raiders in receiving with 52 catches for 998 yards and 13 touchdowns as they brought a 55-game winning streak into a national championship game rematch against SJU.
 
But, this time, it was Zauhar and company who came out on top – winning 24-6 to cap a memorable season in which legendary head coach John Gagliardi passed former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson as college football's career wins leader.
 
Still, Sirianni made an impact – finishing with eight catches for 106 yards, including receptions of 17 and 13 yards on Mount Union's lone scoring drive.
 
Current SJU head coach Gary Fasching '81 was a defensive assistant in those days. He recalls Sirianni standing out as the coaching staff went about their pre-game planning.
 
"I remember (then-and-current defensive coordinator) Jerry Haugen and I going through their offensive starters and looking at their stats coming into the game," Fasching said. "Nick Sirianni certainly stood out as a receiver we had to stop if we were to have any chance of beating Mount Union. He was a tall receiver, good route runner and had excellent hands.  
 
"We'd watched in earlier games and felt he was their best wide receiver. I do know he caught a number of passes against us, but I also remember him dropping a pass early in the game that would have given Mount Union a first down deep in our territory."
 
Zauhar believes he had coverage responsibilities on Sirianni on at least a few occasions that day. But he doesn't remember many specifics all these years later.
 
"I just remember that Mount Union had such great wide receivers in general," he said. "They had another guy named Randell Knapp who was really good as well. All those guys were such great route runners. They had great speed. 
 
"Stopping them was a big challenge."
 
The Johnnies shut down Knapp, holding him to one catch for eight yards. He was the intended receiver on a pass Zauhar picked off and returned 100 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
 
SJU finished with four interceptions, one each for every member of the starting secondary – Zauhar, fellow cornerback Nick Thielman '04, and safeties Cole Deibele '04 and Jeremy Goltz '04.
 
"We had such a staunch defense that year," said Zauhar, who is now a chiropractor in his hometown of Brainerd. "It was because of the pressure our defensive line was getting up front, and how effectively our linebackers were blitzing, that the defensive backs had the success we did."
 
Sirianni, meanwhile, went on to coach at his alma mater for two seasons before beginning the slow climb that led him to his present position.
 
Now he has the Eagles back in the Super Bowl.
 
"I give him a lot of credit," Fasching said. "He started out as a Division III assistant, worked his way up and is now the head coach of the Eagles -- who are favored to win the Super Bowl."
 
Zauhar said he's hoping that happens, which would mean a happier ending for Sirianni than he and his teammates had back in 2003.
 
"I'm super happy for him," said Zauhar, who plans to watch the big game while on vacation in Mexico. "To be where he is now is amazing. I hate Philadelphia because of the way things have gone between the Eagles and Vikings over the years. But I'll definitely be cheering for them this week."