Ex-Spartan Fowler carves out piece of Super history

Santa Clara, Calif. — Former Michigan State wide receiver Bennie Fowler is now the owner of invaluable memorabilia from Super Bowl history, and he plans to give what might be the last completed pass of Peyton Manning’s career to his mother.

With 3 minutes, 8 seconds left in Sunday’s Super Bowl 50, Fowler caught a 2-point conversion from Manning to give the Denver Broncos a 24-10 lead, which proved to be the final score in their win over the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium.

Fowler, who went undrafted in 2014, plans to give the ball to his mother, Teresa Gueyser, because of “all she’s done for me in my life.” Of course, Fowler said he’ll have Manning sign the ball first.

“She got me back on the football field my junior year in high school, so I give her all of this,” Fowler said, though he noted he’ll find something to give to his father, too.

Fowler wanted to focus on basketball at Detroit Country Day, but his mother thought football would be a better way to take advantage of his speed.

Now Fowler can claim to be a Big Ten champion, Rose Bowl champion and Super Bowl champion.

In the Broncos’ postgame locker room, Fowler said he had about 400 messages from family and friends, including former Michigan State basketball star Draymond Green. Before the game Fowler spoke with Spartans football coach Mark Dantonio.

“He just told me to enjoy the moment,” Fowler said. “He said, ‘Enjoy the moment because in the playoff game against Alabama, everything got rushed and the team didn’t get a chance to settle in and see what was going on.’

“He said, ‘When you go out there, relax, take a look around, enjoy where you’re at and remember you’re there for a reason.’ ”

Now Fowler has what he called a “storybook ending” as he scored the final two points of Super Bowl 50.

“Amazing,” he said. “I still can’t believe it. It’s so surreal.”

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

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