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February 5, 2006The big game comes after the big stormThree players were impacted by KatrinaDETROIT - The thrill of the Super Bowl may only be the second-biggest emotional day of the year for three participants in today's big game.Pittsburgh offensive guard Alan Faneca and cornerback Ike Taylor and Seattle cornerback Jimmy Williams live in the New Orleans area and had to deal with the punishing fury of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath last year, as well as worry about numerous relatives and friends who lived in the storm's path. Williams in particular had it tough. The backup corner had been cut by the New Orleans Saints and was out of a job when the massive storm bore down on the home of Mardi Gras last fall as NFL training camps were winding down. Williams' home in Prairieville, La., just south of Baton Rouge, sustained on some wind damage, but housed up to 18 people at one time as he took in relatives who fled New Orleans. But those people didn't all get there right away. "We persevered and we made it on through," Williams said. "We didn't know where relatives were, how to get in touch with them. At the same time we all rallied through and helped each other out. We were housing as many people as we could, just lending a helping hand. That's how we made it." "My family made it out all right. My uncle was the last to be found about two weeks after." With 18 people in one house and much of the area crippled, Williams received military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) from relief groups to help feed the full household. "That was the only way we could feed those people because all the stores were down," Williams said. "We were just scrapping together, making it happen." It was while his home bustled with people that his road to the Super Bowl started. The Seahawks called and wanted to take a look at him after they lost cornerback Alex Bannister in a Week 2 win over Atlanta, leaving them thin at corner and special teams. They signed him two days later. Faneca, the Steelers' All-Pro guard, was born in New Orleans and played in college at Louisiana State University. Faneca's father still lived right in New Orleans when the storm hit and was so slowed because of backed-up traffic that he went back home and waited out the storm. "I had friends and family who lost their homes," Faneca said. "My home was OK. I live just outside the city." He had some minor damage to his house in Thibodaux, La., and his father eventually made it out of the city. Taylor's family evacuated early and were among the earliest people to flee the storm's path, but it was still difficult for the former Louisiana-Lafayette standout. Taylor's home on New Orleans' west side suffered relatively minor damage, though many possessions were lost. Many of his 40-plus relatives in the region weren't as lucky. "I watched TV for two days, and then after that I just couldn't watch any more," Taylor said. He didn't lose any loved ones, but many of them relocated, at least temporarily, to Texas, Georgia and Florida. Steelers players responded to the tragedy by holding an autograph party at Heinz Field soon after the disaster, on a day the players normally had off. Each player was asked to attend the fund-raiser for one hour, but Faneca stayed for the entire four-hour session, which raised $113,000.
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