Heights High Recognized On NFL Super Bowl High School Honor Roll
Heights will recognize alumni and former NFL players Mike "Scooter" McGruder and Barry Cofield at Saturday's boys basketball game.
Dec. 8, 2015 – Former NFL players and Cleveland Heights High football standouts Mike “Scooter” McGruder and Barry Cofield will return to Heights this weekend as part of the NFL’s Super Bowl High School Honor Roll recognition program.
The NFL’s platform links this year’s championship game, Super Bowl 50, with the high schools and communities that have positively impacted the game of football. High schools across the country, and around the world, are receiving a commemorative Golden Football, produced by Wilson, for every player or head coach who graduated from the high school and was on an active Super Bowl roster. Players and coaches have the opportunity to personally deliver the footballs to their alma mater.
McGruder (CHHS ’80) was a cornerback with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. Cofield (CHHS ’02) won Super Bowl XLII as a defensive lineman with the New York Giants.
McGruder and Cofield will present Heights with the golden footballs and be honored during a halftime ceremony at the boys basketball game on Saturday. The Tigers are set to host St. Ignatius on Saturday evening at Lutheran East (3565 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights). The varsity game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the JV game at 6:00 p.m.
All tickets for the basketball game will be $5 and can be purchased at the ticket box at Lutheran East on Saturday beginning at 5:00 p.m. Due to a small seating capacity in the gymnasium, there will be a limited number of tickets available for purchase.
Heights is expecting a sell-out for this game, so fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early. A no re-entry policy will be in effect on Saturday, meaning if patrons leave the building they will not be granted re-entrance once their ticket is punched.
The two Heights alumni will also be featured during a hallway parade on Friday through the halls of Heights High.
A 1980 Heights graduate, Mike “Scooter” McGruder played in Super Bowl 31 as a cornerback with the New England Patriots. He played a total of 12 years of professional football, including nine years in the NFL and three in the CFL.
Mike was among the league leaders in interceptions with five in 1993 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. In 1997, he was a finalist for the Bart Starr Award which is given annually to an NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.
While attending Cleveland Heights High, he was a track and football standout. Mike went on to be a four-year starter at Kent State University where he served as a team captain as a senior and was a 2 year captain of the track team.
A 2002 Heights graduate, Barry Cofield won Super Bowl 42 as a defensive lineman with the New York Giants. Barry is a nine-year NFL veteran who has played for the Giants and Washington Redskins. Barry has 19.5 sacks in 135 career games since being drafted in 2006.
While attending Cleveland Heights High, Barry was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In football, Barry earned All-State, All-Region, All-District and All-Lake Erie honors. In basketball, he was an All-League and an All-District selection.
Barry went on to play college football at Northwestern University where he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 2005.
Cleveland Heights High School is also receiving an NFL Character Education Curriculum and is eligible to apply for grants from the NFL Foundation to help support and grow the school’s football program.