2010 Mystery Torchlighter

Scott Shanle

St. Edward native Scott Shanle, who helped the New Orleans Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl Championship in February, was revealed tonight as the Mystery Torchlighter for the 2010 Cornhusker State Games.

Shanle touched off the caldron in the finale of the Games Opening Ceremonies which began at 8 p.m. at Seacrest Field in Lincoln.  The Ceremonies signaled the official beginning of the statewide amateur sports festival featuring competition in 64 sports for more than 11,000 Nebraska athletes.

Shanle joined Olympic Gold Medalist Curtis Tomasevicz and legendary gymnastics coach Francis Allen as the main CSG honorees for 2010.  Tomasevicz administered the Oath of Athletes and Allen served as honorary marshal for the parade of athletes.

Shanle was a three-sport standout at St. Edward High School, but earned all-state honors in eight-man football as a running back and linebacker.  He walked on to play football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and, after a red-shirt season, made 182 tackles, ranking him in the top 30 all-time for the Huskers.

He was drafted in the 7th round by the Los Angeles Rams and after one season, was waived and picked up by the Dallas Cowboys where he played for two years eventually earning a starting position.

In 2006, Shanle was traded to New Orleans and began a four-year run as the team’s leading tackler with 243 stops.  As Shanle progressed, so did the Saints, completing a remarkable 2009 season with a stunning 31-17 Super Bowl victory over the favored Indianapolis Colts.

“Scott Shanle is an ideal representative for the athletes of the Cornhusker State Games.  Going from walk-on to Super Bowl Champion is a remarkable achievement that should inspire all Nebraska athletes,” said Dave Mlnarik, Executive Director of the Games.

Past Mystery Torchlighters

1985--Jim Hartung
1986--Julie Vollertsen
1987--Diane Beideck & Tom Haase
1988--Scott Johnson
1989--Bob Boozer & Kelly Vejraska
1990--Tom Rathman
1991--Todd Eisner & Rich King
1992--Kim Odin
1993--Karen Jennings
1994--Dennis Harrison
1995--Allison Weston
1996--Angie Henry & Terri Steer
1997--Jeremy Sonnenfeld
1998--Erick Strickland
1999--Jay Novacek
2000--Heather Brink
2001--Kim Behrands & Angie Oxley
2002--Jeff Leise
2003--Rulon Gardner
2004--Russ Hochstein
2005--Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Dorn, Andy Gerch
2006--Curt Tomasevicz
2007--Jordan Larson and Sarah Pavan
2008--Eric Piatkowski
2009--Cory Schlesinger