Palma football coach knows what SB 50 players should expect

Having a former professional athlete live in your community could be a fun thing to brag about, but having a former professional athlete coach your kids? That’s what’s happening at a high school in Salinas.

KION got a chance to head to Palma High School where we spoke to their dean of students…but it just so happens that their Dean of Students happens to be Chris Dalman, former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman and Super Bowl 29 champion back in 1994.

Dalman is also the offensive line coach for the private Catholic high school’s football team. He was recently given a golden football to give to Palma, his alma mater, to honor where he played football. Dalman knows how nerve-wracking it was to be a young NFL player going into the biggest game in the world, and says he would tell those playing in Super Bowl 50 the same thing he would tell the high school kids he coaches.

“You have to enjoy this moment because there’s no promises you’ll ever get back. And so with the nerves, and the worries, and the distractions that can take you away, you have to stop yourself and and realize that the moment you’re in, a lot of players don’t ever get there…and I was lucky enough just to go once. And you have to remember that and take a snapshot in your mind because it’s a pretty special moment,” said Dalman.

Dalman said he was able to stay focused during his trip to Super Bowl 29, but he could see how easily it could have been to get distracted by the hype. Today’s players have it even worse with cameras and social media all over the place.

He also said that for many players, it doesn’t fully hit them that they’re playing in the super bowl until the playing of the National Anthem, so make sure to tune in for that this Sunday to see the true, raw emotion of these world class athletes.