Former Baldwin-Wallace All-American Linebacker Tony Oden to Help Saints Try to Win Super Bowl Title

Posted: Feb 01, 2010

BEREA, OHIO -- When Tony Oden played outside linebacker at Baldwin-Wallace College from 1992 through 1995, he was known as a hard-working, determined leader. Not much has changed in terms of his work ethic but a lot has changed in terms of his life, family and current position as an Assstant Defensive Backs Coach for the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints.

The current goal for Oden is a big one -- helping the Saints win a Super Bowl title on February 7 when they meet the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts in Miami, Florida.

"I am blessed to have a great family and job with the New Orleans Saints," said Oden, a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School in 1992 and Baldwin-Wallace in 1995. "I am very appreciative of the NFL, my job and opportunity with the Saints and all that it has afforded my family.

"We are certainly looking forward to playing the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl," continued Oden by telephone from his office at the Saints training complex. "We are watching film and looking for ways to win a Super Bowl."

As a football player at B-W, Oden made 160 tackles, was a two-time first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference player and a 1994 Division III All-American. His best game as a collegian came in 1994 when he led the Yellow Jackets to a 23-10 win at Mount Union College en route to a 9-1 overall record. In that game, Oden had four quarterback sacks and 12 total tackles, including three others for loss, broke up two passes and intercepted another that stopped a Purple Raider drive late in the game to seal the triumph. That effort subsequently earned Oden the OAC Defensive Player of the Week award.

"I really enjoyed my time at B-W and playing football for Bob Packard," said Oden, who also wrestled for two years at B-W. "I got a quality education, played in one of the best football programs in Division III and made many friends for life.

"The game at Mt. Union was definitely a high point for me and our team in 1994," continued Oden, who is one of the people responsible for devising a gameplan to stop current Colt receiver and Mt. Union product Pierre Garcon. "I am looking forward to renewing that B-W and Mt. Union rivalry in the Super Bowl. The Colts definitely provide our defense with a number of challenges, and Pierre (Garcon) is certainly one of them.

"I plan to have a little fun before the game," said Oden with a chuckle. "I'm going to go over and introduce myself to Pierre. Us OAC guys definitely need to stick together, whether we play on the same team or not. But, I want to tease him a bit about the game in '94. I'm hoping the luck we had in '94 against Mt. Union is still there and will help us against Pierre and the Colts. But, as we all know, the proof is in the preparation, so that's really what we are concentrating on right now. It should be a great game and challenge."

Following his graduation from B-W in '95, Oden spent six years at the collegiate level, one each at Millersville (Pa.), Boston College and Army and then three at East Carolina before landing his first NFL job with the Houston Texans in 2004. He then joined the Saints staff in 2006.

"I am blessed to work in a great organization that both values its coaches and players and family," said Oden. "I really enjoy working in the NFL. I also enjoyed working at the college level too, but right now, we [the Oden family] are all about the Saints and the NFL."

He's also hoping that commitment and dedication leads to his first Super Bowl ring.

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.