Matt Spaeth’s St. Michael-Albertville Roots Support a Super Bowl Success

 St. Michael-Albertville native Matt Spaeth, No. 89 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be the first to tell you he’s been blessed.

The former high school standout in both football and basketball was lucky enough to be recruited by – and play for – the state’s most popular collegiate team, the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

After a huge career there as a tight end, setting school records for receptions, receiving yards by a tight end and touchdowns by a tight end, he sat through a tumultuous draft day, finally ending up with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The franchise had just won a Super Bowl in 2006. They were returning much of its roster. Spaeth was going to a perennial winner.

He’s now on his way to his second Super Bowl, winning a ring when the Steelers topped the Arizona Cardinals in one of the best Super Bowls ever in 2009.

“You can’t say enough about this organization,” Spaeth told WCCO’s Eric Olson in Dallas this week. “You never know where you’re going to get drafted, and I was just so excited when the Steelers chose me.”

His success started early, says friend (and sometimes roommate) Dan Zachman of St. Michael’s Zachman Insurance.

Zachman and Spaeth were friends “before kindergarten even started … as long as I can remember,” he said. “The thing you notice about Matt though is that he’s genuine. None of the success has changed him at all. He comes back to St. Michael and he’s the same guy. He doesn’t let it go to his head.”

The athlete in Spaeth was apparent early, Zachman said, going back to basketball games and football practices as kids.

“He was always big,” he said. “Matt towered over most people. But he had the athleticism that some big guys don’t have. I think by freshman year, when we were out on the field, you could see it starting to happen. He was just better than anyone else.”

It translated on the basketball court, too. Spaeth was a force inside for STMA, and ended his career as the team’s leader, historically, in both points and rebounds. Both still stand.

“He had some looks,” said head coach Tim Anfenson, who coached Spaeth in both football and hoops. “I think Wisconsin-Green Bay would have let him play both sports there. But he new his future was in football. And look at him now.”

In high school, Spaeth and Zachman got to play at the Metrodome,but the Knights never got to hoist the state title trophy. Three times they came up short in the postseason.

The dome would become Spaeth’s home for years to come as a member of the Gophs.

 After playing under Glen Mason, he’s played for Mike Tomlin in the pros, and the two are both looking for their second world title.

This one will come against the Green Bay Packers, a hated rival here in Spaeth’s home state of Minnesota.

“I actually never hated them that much,” Spaeth said of the green and gold in his interview with Olson. “I grew up with the Vikings fans. I think the most heated it ever got was I had a couple college buddies that were Packer fans and we’d rub it in when the Vikings beat them, but I didn’t have the hate, no.” 

Zachman said Spaeth will, win or lose, come back to Minnesota soon after the Super Bowl, and the two will probably hang out a bit. They’ll team up again this summer for the Matt Spaeth Charity Golf Tournament, which is in its third year.

“It’s a fun way to give back,” Zachman said.

Look for more information on the tourney this summer here on St. Michael Patch.

The Super Bowl, of course, is this Sunday in Dallas. Television coverage starts Sunday afternoon, with the kickoff set for about 5:20 p.m. on Fox 9.

The official Spaeth Super Bowl Party, with family members participating, will be at Neighbors Saloon in Albertville.

*Note: This article has been corrected to reflect Spaeth's high school career. St. Michael Patch attempts to be accurate and fair in its reporting. If you see a correction that needs to be made, contact local editor Mike Schoemer immediately at mike.schoemer@patch.com