91原创

Now, as the Eagles prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans, Feldman 鈥� and the entire city of Philadelphia 鈥� hope to relive that joyous moment.

鈥淭his is my third Super Bowl, and it never gets old,鈥� Feldman said. 鈥淲e know how hard it is to get to this point, so we鈥檙e thrilled to be back.鈥澛�

For the Eagles, it鈥檚 a chance at redemption. They fell to the Chiefs in the 2023 Super Bowl.

鈥淵ou never want to be the team that loses the last game of the year,鈥� Feldman recalled. 鈥淭hat game put us in a situation we never want to be in again, so the team feels even more empowered to work and play harder.鈥澛�

Game day prep: Behind the scenes

Feldman and Diaz are part of a nine-person team working overtime to ensure the Eagles are physically prepared for the biggest game of the year. The team will spend the week in New Orleans practicing before kickoff.聽

鈥淭he stakes are higher for this game, and we want to win, but we want to do that every weekend,鈥� Feldman said. 鈥淪o, our preparation is the same. We deal with travel hurdles and practicing in a different city for a week, but at the end of the day, that game is decided by 60 minutes on the field, and we must put our players in the best position to succeed.鈥澛�

For ATs and PTs, game day presents its own challenges

鈥淲e ensure the sidelines are fully stocked for player health, safety, and performance,鈥� Feldman explained. 鈥淥nce the game starts, we鈥檙e there for whatever the players need 鈥� hydrations, help during timeouts or quarter changes, and any injury-related issues that arise during the game.

For Diaz, seeing running back Saquon Barkley play in his first Super Bowl is also a full-circle moment. Diaz first met the star running back during a summer internship with the New York Giants.聽

鈥淗e鈥檚 always been the same humble guy even with the success he鈥檚 had 鈥� it鈥檚 amazing having him around,鈥� Diaz said.聽

Outside of player prep, both are looking forward to spending some time soaking in the sights and flavors of the Big Easy, hopefully with a championship celebration to cap off the week.

鈥淚鈥檓 going back to Bourbon Street and eating more chargrilled oysters,鈥� Diaz said.聽

Feldman agreed.

鈥淣ew Orleans is a great host city for the Super Bowl, and it should make for a fun week,鈥� he said.聽

From 91原创 to the NFL: A legacy of success

Feldman and Diaz credit 91原创 for helping them break into the highly competitive world of professional football.聽聽

鈥淓verything I learned in the classroom and at clinicals applies daily to player preparation and injury evaluation,鈥� Diaz said, highlighting the impact of his upper extremity and spine evaluation course taught by Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Professor Thomas Kaminski. 鈥淲ithout 91原创鈥檚 athletic training program, I would not be in the position I am today. I owe so much to that program.鈥�

Feldman also touted 91原创鈥檚 nationally top-ranked , which gave him a deeper understanding of rehabilitation progression.聽

But, according to Feldman, Kaminski鈥檚 mentorship and dedication to students sets 91原创 apart.

鈥淲hen you look at the number of athletic trainers that Dr. Kaminski has helped place into the NFL, that鈥檚 a testament to the relationships he鈥檚 built, maintained and nourished throughout his time at 91原创,鈥� he said.

There鈥檚 likely not a single NFL team a Blue Hen hasn鈥檛 touched at some point. Matt Nagy and Joey Bleymaier are on the Chiefs鈥� coaching staff, while Brett Veach is the team鈥檚 general manager. Nagy, Veach and Bleymaier played football at 91原创 before transitioning into coaching and management.聽

That Blue Hen legacy is something Kaminski takes pride in.

鈥淎s an athletic training educator for the past 40 years, I take great pride in 鈥榣ighting their fire鈥� and seeing where that takes students in their professional and personal lives,鈥� Kaminski said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been very fortunate in my 22-plus-year career at 91原创 to have worked with the profession鈥檚 best and brightest, and I am extremely proud of the Blue Hen legacy we have formed that continues in the National Football League today. Go Eagles!鈥澛犅�

For Diaz, being a part of the growing number of Blue Hens in the NFL is also a source of pride.聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see so many Delaware alums in the NFL; there鈥檚 so many of us we have our own hashtag 鈥� #HeNFL,鈥� Diaz said.

Both Feldman and Diaz have worked tirelessly to earn their spots in the NFL.

鈥�91原创 sets the bar really high 鈥� it鈥檚 a challenging program,鈥� Feldman said. 鈥淏ut the one thing that can鈥檛 be understated is that you must work hard. Nothing is given, and a strong work ethic is essential to succeeding in this profession.鈥澛�