While there has been plenty of excitement locally about Fenwick football alum Robert Spillane reaching Super Bowl LX with the New England Patriots, his ability to play in the game is very much up in the air due to an ankle injury suffered during the Patriots’ 10-7 victory over Denver in the American Football Conference title game.
Spillane suffered the injury early on against the Broncos and left after playing just 13 snaps. In an on-field interview with a Boston television station afterwards, he felt optimistic that he’d be able to make the Super Bowl.
However, Spillane was not able to practice at all last week, and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was blunt about his status when asked by reporters, saying he didn’t know what would happen over the next week.
Despite his questionable status, however, Spillane still enjoys the support of his former Fenwick teammates and former Fenwick head coach Gene Nudo. In interviews with Wednesday Journal, they expressed their pride.
“I’m hoping he’s healthy. We’d love to see him play in that game,” Nudo said. “He’s added so much to New England’s defense and everywhere he’s been, he’s added to the quality of the team with his leadership and hard-nosed attitude about playing ball.”
Nudo appreciated the football smarts, toughness and willingness to help the team Spillane provided with the Friars. He said Spillane easily could have played more linebacker, but he felt he was needed most at running back.
“We used him as a running back because we felt he was so athletic and he had size. He was a real student of the game,” Nudo said. “If he didn’t think we were doing something right, he would question it. Robert was a great running back and he would’ve been a great linebacker had I used him more there, but quite frankly we didn’t need to because we had Pat Hart, so Robert carried the load for us on offense.”
In the 2013 season, Spillane’s senior year, he ran for 1,562 yards and 17 touchdowns on 208 carries and also had 23 receptions for 223 yards and five touchdowns as Fenwick won the Chicago Catholic League White Division for the second consecutive year. He was named to the Illinois Football Coaches Association Class 7A All-State team as the Friars finished 10-3.
Fenwick’s Aaron Garland (Class of 2015), who played two seasons with Spillane, said he and his teammates had great respect for his game.
“He brought intensity to the field,” he said. “That’s what you want from a guy that’s right next to you. I’m extremely happy for Robert to be able to make it to the Super Bowl.”
Spillane is a grandson of the late Johnny Lattner. Lattner, a 1950 Fenwick graduate, won the Heisman Trophy in 1953 while at the University of Notre Dame.
Another of Spillane’s teammates with the Friars was his cousin, Ryan Smith. Smith, who graduated along with Spillane in 2014, played collegiately at Miami of Ohio and spent the 2018 NFL preseason with the Green Bay Packers.
Smith is not surprised with Spillane’s professional success.
“It wasn’t a matter of if, but when,” Smith said from Paris, France, where he now lives. “Of course it was something I could see coming. I know Robert is a Super Bowl-caliber player and he’s with an awesome team and support system.”
At Fenwick, Smith said that Spillane was the type of leader who let his actions speak louder than words, something the team appreciated.
“He showed people what he was about, he wouldn’t even bother talking about it. He was confident on the field and commanding of both the offense and defense,” Smith said. “And he was such a team player; he would’ve done whatever for the team.”
Smith adds he’s exchanged a few texts with Spillane over the past week and says he’ll do everything he can to get ready for the game. And while Smith wishes he could be at the game, logistics won’t allow for it. But he plans to watch the game and won’t be alone.
“I have a big community here in Paris, and they have joined me in supporting the Patriots,” Smith said. “We’ve been following them all season, getting together at a central Paris pub that shows the NFL games. Just your classic Sunday Funday. It’s been one of my favorite things about living here.”
