Worilds excited about heading to the Super Bowl

   JasonWorilds’ winters sure are exciting.

He’sbeen to South Florida twice to play in two Orange Bowls, and now he’s headingto Arlington, Texas, for the Super Bowl.

Worilds,a former Tech defensive end in his rookie season with the NFL’s PittsburghSteelers, got that honor when the Steelers knocked off the New York Jets in theAFC title game this past Sunday.

“Itdoesn’t even seem real,†Worilds said in a phone conversation Tuesday night. “Ithought I was just lucky to get drafted and lucky to be in the NFL. But I’vebeen blessed. This is like a dream come true.â€

TheSteelers selected Worilds, who gave up his final year of college eligibility toenter last year’s NFL Draft, in the second round, and the coaches there madehim into an outside linebacker. He spent most of the season adjusting to thatrole while playing behind two Pro Bowlers in James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

Hehas played in 14 games and recorded 17 tackles and two sacks. He saw extensiveaction on special teams, playing on Pittsburgh’s kickoff, punt, punt return anddefensive field goal block teams.

“Everyonewants to play more,†he said. “But I didn’t have any expectations coming in.I’m behind two Pro Bowlers. My expectation was to come in and learn, and that’swhat I’ve been doing.

“Athletically,it hasn’t been a bad transition. Coach [Dick] LeBeau [Pittsburgh’s defensivecoordinator] has a great system, and they’ve got me standing up and using myathletic abilities. The hardest part is the playbook. That’s been my biggesthurdle, just learning everything.â€

Worildsdoesn’t regret his decision to leave Tech early, though he admitted he wantedto get out there and play when he was on the sidelines for Tech’s game againstBoise State to open the season. He loves Pittsburgh – both the organization andthe city.

“Thefans here remind me of Hokie fans,†Worilds said. “They’re zealous about theSteelers. We [the players] get mail from throughout the world. I got a letterfrom someone in Japan, and that’s when I knew how big this was. I really doenjoy it here.â€

TheSteelers will take on the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6.Worilds spent the first couple of days of this week handling ticket requests –“They’re coming from everywhere,†he said. – and then it’s on to preparing forthe Packers.

“We’vejust got to be consistent and do what we’ve been doing,†he said. “We need toget ready and go win a Super Bowl.â€