CHANDLER, Ariz. — Penn State's representation for the 38th time in 42 Super Bowls already was clinched earlier when veteran tight end Kyle Brady helped the New England Patriots to their AFC Championship Game victory over the San Diego Chargers.

But former Nittany Lions defensive tackle Jay Alford — a rookie third-round pick — was on the spot for another reason later on Jan. 20.

With four seconds remaining and the score tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game, Alford took his place as the snapper while Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes lined up for a 36-yard field goal attempt.

All at once, Alford realized what was at stake.

"I just put too much pressure on myself," Alford said. "It was like I was thinking this was going to be the season."

Alford's snap sailed high and, combined with the weather conditions in Green Bay, contributed to Tynes' missing the attempt wide left and the game going to overtime.

"People came up to me and talked to me and said not to worry about it," Alford said. "There was nothing negative. But I felt like crap.

"If we didn't make it here, I was going to put it all on myself."

Fortunately for Alford and the Giants, redemption came quickly. Just 2:35 into overtime, Alford made a perfect snap to holder Jeff Feagles, and Tynes made the 47-yard field goal that gave the Giants the 23-20 victory and their tickets to the Super Bowl.

"When I got back to my locker, I had about 60 text messages — 25 or 30 saying, 'Don't worry about it,' because they sent them right after the (bad) snap, and then another 30 or so (sent later) from the same people saying, Hey, you did it,"' Alford said.

Although seventh-season veteran Kareem McKenzie, New York's starting right tackle, had departed Penn State for the NFL ahead of Alford's arrival in State College, he was one of the first people to greet Alford at a post-draft minicamp.

"He's a little older and on the other side of the line, but he showed me the ropes," said Alford, who had eight tackles in a backup role this season.

Somewhat surprisingly, word of the tradition of ex-Penn State players in the Super Bowl was news to this year's trio of Nittany Lions representatives.

"I never thought of it," Alford said. "But now that I do, yes, there's always somebody here."

"I hadn't really thought about it until one of my former professors, who's now at Wright State University in Ohio, sent me an e-mail that mentioned it," McKenzie said.

Up the road at the Patriots' hotel in Scottsdale, Brady, a product of Cedar Cliff High, said he was aware of the other Pennsylvania tradition he's helped keep alive: that of at least one Big 33 alumnus playing in every Super Bowl.

"But I hadn't thought about that (Penn State tradition)," Brady said. "People are proud of the regions of the country people come from, and I know Pennsylvania is proud of its football, so it's great."

Brady, who for four seasons as a New York Jet struggled to live up to being the No. 9 overall pick of the 1995 draft, had a career-best 64 catches in 2000 during an eight-season tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had nine catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns this season after joining the Patriots as a free agent.

But for all his ties to Pennsylvania and Penn State, his work schedule has prevented him from doing something others consider routine.

"I've stayed in touch, but I haven't been back to Penn State for a game since I played," Brady said. "The (NFL) schedule hasn't allowed it. But that's something that, when I'm done playing, I want to do. I'd like to renew those ties."