BRUNSWICK — This time of year, you see news clips and read stories about someone that knows someone that played with someone that is at, and maybe if they’re lucky, in the Super Bowl.

With the New England Patriots playing in their ninth big game in 18 years, folks around here know all too well of some of the headlines as a result of their perennial visits that started in February 2002 in New Orleans against the St. Louis Rams.

This year’s version of the Rams is comparable to that of “The Greatest Show on Turf,” and these high-flying NFC champs are locked and loaded with many weapons.

One of those weapons has some roots to Maine. No, not the player, but both his mother and father hailed from the “Great State” growing up and attending schools locally.

Tight end Tyler Higbee, playing in his third season for the Rams, is the son of Mike Higbee and Lori Richardson. Mike graduated from Brunswick High School and Lori from Mt. Ararat.

“We used to say how lucky we were growing up in an area like Brunswick,” Mike said. “We had the Navy base and Bowdoin College right there in our hometown. I still go back to Maine quite a bit.”

His father, Andy, Sr., retired from the Navy and after a brief stint in teaching, he became a district manager in circulation for the Portland Press Herald and Maine State Telegram.

Mike, a 1977 graduate, was an athlete himself, playing basketball in high school before attending the University of Maine in Orono and playing hoops his freshman year. Another testament of what type of an athlete Higbee was, is he didn’t play baseball at BHS, but played Babe Ruth and American Legion ball before being recognized by then UMO baseball coach John Winkin.

The Black Bears coach noticed him during summer ball and suggested he play in the Twilight League against stiffer competition. But as it turned out, all of those innings Higbee threw over his young baseball career was catching up to him.

“Our parents coached, we threw all of the time and didn’t have any pitch counts, I threw my elbow out,” Mike explained.

Higbee himself did not play football in high school, his brother Andy, Jr. did, and like most families in the area, they were “all-Boston” sports fans.

“I’ve been a Boston fan my whole life. We rooted for everything Boston. We loved the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins,” Mike said. “I remember that first Super Bowl against the Bears with Tony Eason at quarterback. I rooted for players like Steve Grogan and Drew Bledsoe in football, and of course Larry Bird for the Celtics.

“Ainge, Parrish, and memories of Scott Wedman and Chris Ford battling in the playoffs for the C’s come to mind. It was a great time. Yaz was also a hero of mine.”

Mike continued his love for New England sports once he left Maine and moved down south. The elder Higbee said he and his son were always rooting for the Patriots while Tyler was growing up in Florida and attending East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs.

“Tyler grew up rooting for the same teams we did,” Mike said. “He likes his Boston teams too.”

Mike will attend the Super Bowl in Atlanta, coincidentally where Tyler was born on New Year’s Day in 1993. It’s Mike’s first NFL championship game, even though he’s had the opportunity to go.

“NFL players get a couple of tickets to the game each year. The players that put in a request for them have to go to the host city to pick them up,” Mike said. “Tyler called me last year and asked if I wanted to go, it was in Texas and fairly close. I told him ‘no, that I wanted to wait until he made it.’”

He didn’t have to wait too long.

It won’t be the first time he sees his son play the Pats. The fourth-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky came to Foxborough, Massachusetts, his rookie season in 2016.

“I remember going to Gillette during Tyler’s rookie season. Of course the away team’s tickets were way up in the nosebleeds and Patriots fans everywhere,” Mike recalled. “I just remember how soured I was as the Patriots fans were so obnoxious. They were horrible, swearing in front of little kids. It eventually ended up in a brawl and fans were swinging at each other. The cops came and broke it up, kicking the unruly fans out.”

Sunday’s game will have a few more fans cheering for the Rams.

“I last talked to Tyler last Tuesday (Jan. 22). He was asking me how many tickets I needed,” Mike said. “He also said that this (ticket arrangements) was the worst part of it all.”

Just short of any predictions, Mike did not give a score, but it was clear who he was rooting for.

“We would be rooting for the Patriots if we weren’t here,” Mike said. “But of course I’m rooting for my son and the Rams.”