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Two DIII conferences have Super Bowl ties

Joe Onderko.

Two Division III conferences have ties to this weekend’s Super Bowl XLV featuring the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Packers have held camp annually at Midwest Conference member Saint Norbert College in DePere, Wisc., since 1958. The Steelers have called Presidents’ Athletic Conference member Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., home for training camp since 1966, making the Catholic, liberal arts colleges the two oldest continuously operating training camps in the National Football League.

That has led to good-natured ribbing between Chris Graham, commissioner of the MWC based in Ripon, Wisc., and Joe Onderko, executive director of the PAC based in the north hills of Pittsburgh.

Chris Graham.

"I have a tremendous amount of professional respect for Joe and Steeler fans, but his underestimation of the Green Bay Packers demonstrates his lack of sound judgment," Graham said.

Said Onderko: "While Steeler fans certainly appreciate and respect the great history of the Packer franchise, there is little doubt in the minds of Pittsburghers who will prevail this Sunday.”

The MWC is composed of 10 schools in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. The PAC consists of 10 schools in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky.