Between the newborn twins, the Sports Illustrated cover, talk show appearances and the immortality of the catch, David Tyree’s life has changed. That’s easy to see.

The former Syracuse wide receiver turned Super Bowl legend made his first trip back to campus since his miraculous over-the-head catch in Super Bowl XLII more than two months ago that made Tyree and the New York Giants champions.

‘It’s always good to be back,’ Tyree said. ‘I really don’t get a chance to come back, so each and every time it’s precious. It’s different.’

But it’s a lot more different this time, right?

‘Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,’ Tyree said. ‘I never…yeah. I’ll just be simple and say, yeah.’

There’s no official name for the catch, immortalized almost everywhere in the sports world, yet. Although, Tyree hinted one he likes (without divulging it) is on its way. His 32-yard reception over the head of New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, while falling down, kept the New York drive alive with 59 seconds left. The Giants won, 17-14.

Tyree sat in Director of Athletics Daryl Gross’ suite and watched the Spring Game with his wife and four children. Before the spring scrimmage started, SU head coach Greg Robinson and the entire team saluted Tyree from the field.

Relegated to crutches after surgery for what Tyree called ‘offseason repairs’ to his right knee (‘I’ll definitely be good to go for the season.’), he briefly stood from the luxury box when showed on the JumboTron and shook hands with fans who reached up from the bleachers.

‘It’s been great,’ Tyree said. ‘It’s been a nice roller coaster ride for me. I’m just enjoying it.

‘I’ve done enough, sitting down with you guys, the media, talking about this catch,’ he laughed. ‘It’s been a great moment in my life.’

Tyree tries to come back to Syracuse every offseason to train with his old conditioning coach, Will Hicks. But with the injury, this was a time for Tyree to meet and great Syracuse officials, fans, and also to speak with the team.

Tyree said a book about his life, titled ‘More Than Just a Catch,’ is due out in September. He will co-write the book with his ‘spiritual mother,’ Kimberly Daniels.

‘It’s really going to get into the meat and bones of what my life has been,’ Tyree said. ‘Not to say it’s been the biggest struggle, but just the journey and how God has dramatically impacted my life.’

Since the catch, Tyree has opened up about his life, especially his time at Syracuse, which was riddled with marijuana use and excessive drinking until he often blacked out, he told The New York Times in February.

Still, Tyree smiled when he remembered Syracuse’s 50-42 triple-overtime win over No. 8 Virginia Tech during his senior year in 2002. That was his finest memory here, he said. Tyree caught nine balls for 229 yards, blocked a punt, and made two tackles.

Tyree said he ‘wasn’t 100 percent content’ with the way his career at Syracuse ended, but he was happy he could bring recognition to his old school. And he planned to impart some of that wisdom on the current Syracuse squad.

‘From underdogs to underdogs, they can accomplish more than they can imagine if they look at what we (the Giants) did this year,’ Tyree said. ‘They can come together, unite, and have a great season.’

magelb@syr.edu

Published on April 20, 2008 at 12:00 pm