Packers' Wells has Western Pennsylvania roots

Super Bowl XLV represents a convergence of Scott Wells' sporting life, as the Green Bay Packers center is playing in his home state against a team from his home state.

Confusing as that sounds, Wells is the son of a minister who moved every five years or so. He was born in West, Texas, but lived in Brookville, Jefferson County, between the ages of 10 and 16.

Wells was a football and wrestling star at Brookville before transferring before his junior season to Nashville's Brentwood Academy, where he became the nation's top-ranked heavyweight wrestler and earned a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee.

"I learned a lot up there," Wells, 30, said of Brookville. "That's when I started wrestling, and that's carried over into football. Really, my second passion was high school wrestling. You learn a lot being a center going against nose tackles, you learn a lot about leverage, one-on-one battling, being on an island because that all carries over from wrestling.

"Obviously being in Western Pennsylvania, you're right in the center of Steelers Country. I have a lot of friends that I talk to on the computer, and they're all pro-Steelers. I haven't said a lot to them this week."

Wells said the transition to living in Brookville was difficult, not just because of his Texas twang but also because he was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan in the heart of Steelers country. Now the 6-foot-2, 300-pounder will start for the Packers against the Steelers Sunday in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium.

"It's exciting for me, and I think that adds to the excitement and makes it a little more special because of playing here and growing up a fan of the Cowboys, living in Pennsylvania and hearing about the Steelers all the time," Wells said. "It's kind of like great opponent, great atmosphere, great place to play it. I love the Packers and what they've done for me, so I'm excited about pretty much the whole package."

packers TWEETS OF THE DAY

WR Greg Jennings

@GregJennings — "Time to rest. Another day closer to my dreams of playing in the Super Bowl. Feels like I'm in a dream. God is an awesome God."

LB Nick Barnett

@NickBarnett — "Only thing that sucks about being in the Super bowl is we won't be able to see all the great commercials. lol"

@NickBarnett — "Ok, so I listened to that lil wayne version like 10 times!!! #green&yellow"

packers' Takes

Coach Mike McCarthy, on the Packers never trailing by more than seven points in a game this season:

"Well, they don't give you any awards for that, but I think it does tell you that we're a consistent football team. We're a very competitive football team. It's our ability to stay on course."

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, on how he has spent his down time:

"I haven't been out carousing. I am a home body, so I've been spending a lot of time in my hotel room watching film."

Cornerback Charles Woodson, on the long Super Bowl halftime he experienced while playing for the Oakland Raiders:

"I think I took a short nap and watched some re-runs of the "Young and the Restless." It is a long halftime, and I don't really know how you prepare for that because it really is out of the norm from the regular season."

Receiver Jordy Nelson, on the competitiveness of the team's receivers:

"We compete in everything, from cards to any games to the way you dress on away games. If you don't dress very nice or they don't agree with your style, you'll hear about it. It's anything and everything."

Center Scott Wells, on the history of the Packers franchise:

"It's no surprise to see guys come back that have been in this game, that have won championships, and to come back and support this team. The Green Bay Packers are a big family -- young and old."

Running back John Kuhn, on how he stays grounded during Super Bowl week:

"I think you can separate the two if you realize the Super Bowl is an event as well as a game. You just look at the event for what it is: It's a worldwide event, there's a lot of attention, so you give it the attention it deserves. And when you step between the lines, you just treat that as another football game."

— Joe Rutter