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Super Bowl brings ESPN’s Seahawks reporter – and former NASCAR scribe – Terry Blount “back to the future”

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Seahawks reporter Terry Blount (left), seen here with 49ers reporter Bill Williamson (right), has transitioned back to NFL reporting after years on ESPN’s NASCAR coverage. (ESPN)

Usually at this time of year, Terry Blount would be getting ready for the Daytona 500 and the start of the NASCAR season. Even before joining ESPN.com in 2006, Blount covered the sport for daily newspapers in his native Texas for many years.

But this year things are different for Blount, who spent this season as the Seattle Seahawks reporter for ESPN.com’s NFL Nation after changing assignments last July. Now, instead of heading to Florida, Blount will be in New York covering the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. The veteran sportswriter has covered many big events in his 30-year career, including eight Super Bowls, but this will be his first since 1995.

“It’s been incredibly exhilarating and exciting, and for me it’s a little bit like back to the future,” said Blount, who has lived in the Seattle area since 2007. “I covered the NFL for several years at the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle, and enjoyed those moments, but had been pretty much doing racing for the last 15 years, even before I came to ESPN.

“To go back to that now, and latch onto a Super Bowl team, I mean what are the odds?” he said. “It’s been incredibly busy and hectic, and there’s not much time to do anything but work every day all day, but it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you have to be thankful for because they may never come along again.”

Blount said that he felt a great appreciation for what has happened during his career while sitting in the press box awaiting the start of the NFC Championship Game between the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 19.

“I’m kind of reflecting on over 30 years of doing this, and all the incredible events I’ve covered over that time,” he said. “And I just sat there and thought this is another one of those rare special moments in my career that don’t come along every day, and I just appreciate them so much.

“You never know where your career is going to take you,” he said. “I’m very fortunate that ESPN allowed me to make this transition and go from NASCAR over to the NFL again, and I feel lucky and blessed about it. It’s been quite a ride.”

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