By: JOHN McCARTHY/V.I. Free Press Staff
FREDERIKSTED — If you’re walking around Frederiksted Town today, you’re probably seeing as many jerseys as you are palm trees. But while the Patriots and Seahawks battle for the Lombardi Trophy tomorrow, there’s a local angle to this Super Bowl that hits close to home—specifically, our “second home” in Atlanta.
Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald might be leading the birds from the Pacific Northwest, but he is a Georgia boy through and through.
The ATL Connection 🍑 We all know the joke: there’s no direct flight from St. Croix to heaven, but there is one to Atlanta. With so many Virgin Islanders living in the A-T-L, Macdonald’s roots give us a reason to pay extra attention. He didn’t just pass through; he played ball at Centennial High in Roswell and cut his coaching teeth as a student assistant for the Georgia Bulldogs.
A Wolverine in the Mix 〽️ For those of us who bleed Maize and Blue (you know who you are!), Macdonald’s résumé has another sparkling gem. Before taking over Seattle, he spent a pivotal year as the Defensive Coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines, helping turn that defense into a brick wall. From Athens to Ann Arbor to Baltimore and now the Super Bowl—the man has a pedigree that demands respect.
M “GO BLUE! xion to the SEAHAWKS 〽️ Macdonald’s one-year stint as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021 was huge for setting the stage for what came next. He stepped in after a rough 2020 season, revamped the defense into a top-10 unit nationally (they jumped from 95th in scoring defense the year before to 8th), helped lock down the Big Ten title, and got the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff for the first time in the modern era. That 12-2 record and the momentum he built carried over big time—Jesse Minter (who succeeded him) rode that foundation all the way to the 2023 national championship.
No more Michigan’s Tom Brady as QB for the Pats 〽️ Even though Macdonald bounced back to the Ravens as DC right after (2022-23), that Michigan chapter clearly sharpened his scheme and proved he could turn things around fast. It’s no surprise he’s got the Seahawks humming in just his second year as HC, leading them to Super Bowl LX against the Patriots.
The Matchup 🏟️ Tomorrow, Macdonald’s “new school” defense faces off against the New England Patriots in what promises to be a chess match for the ages. Whether you’re cheering for the Pats dynasty or the Seahawks’ new era, it’s going to be a Sunday to remember.
The USVI Xion xplained 🍑🦅🇺🇸 For those of you in the national audience, there is a vibrant U.S. Virgin Islands diaspora in Atlanta, with active groups like the Virgin Islands Association of Georgia (VIAG) keeping the culture alive, hosting events, and building community ties.
🍑🦅🇺🇸 And metro Atlanta has a vibrant Caribbean scene overall (tens of thousands from our sister islands), and the USVI community stands out as one of the more established ones—folks often point to economic opportunities, family networks, and that classic Southern hospitality drawing people from the islands to the ATL area.
🍑🦅🇺🇸 And the V.I. Free Press knows that Virgin Islanders often find a “next home” in Georgia. So the fact that Macdonald’s own roots are straight-up Georgia (Roswell high school, UGA student assistant) with his military family background from his dad …
🍑🦅🇺🇸 We see a cool cultural bridge between Macdonald and the USVI – which should be celebrated during Super Bowl LX (60) tomorrow!
Grab your wings, chill the drinks, and enjoy the show! 📺🍻🥊🍑🦅🇺🇸
