By Anna Krejci
News-Chronicle
Green Bay's favorite football player not affiliated with the Packers, Nathan Poole, found himself in the midst of a tight huddle on Saturday as reporters and fans crowded around him. They asked for autographs and pictures with the famed 6-foot, 2-inch wide receiver deemed responsible for the Packers' chance to compete in today's playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Fans were armed with memorabilia to commemorate the Cardinals receiver's end-of-the-game catch and touchdown that defeated the Minnesota Vikings and handed the Packers the NFC North championship.
Packers' fan Carmen Sandoval asked Poole, wearing an Arizona Cardinals cap, to sign pictures they brought of him making the famous catch.
"When he made that catch it was one of the most amazing sports moments I've seen," said Sandoval, adding that a "higher power" seems to have been guiding the Packers.
"I think it's great that the city and mayor are willing to recognize his (Poole's) achievement," she said.
Other fans waited to have Poole sign miniature Cardinals helmets and postcards.
Bruce Edwards, a Packers fan from Naples, Fla., waited for Poole's Northwest Airlines flight arriving from Detroit at 12:38 p.m. He hoped Poole would autograph a Lambeau Field postcard he was holding. When asked what he would say to Poole, he said, "You're the man Nathan. We love ya."
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt presented Poole with a Cardinals-red box containing a key to the city, and identified Poole as "someone who will always be a friend of the city."
The mayor said his invitation to Poole was meant to create an opportunity for fans to thank him.
"The Packers deserve to be in the playoffs. But they couldn't have done it without the help of the Arizona Cardinals, particularly the miraculous catch of Nathan Poole," said the mayor.
"I was asked as mayor what would I do for him, and I said I can't name a bridge or a boulevard after him, but I do have four tickets to the game." Poole and his wife, Neville, were surprised by the crowd of approximately 50 who were there to greet them.
"I cannot believe all these people are here," Neville Poole said. "I'm really proud right now," Nathan Poole said after receiving the key to the city. "I heard these fans were great, but this is unbelievable," Poole said later. "I can't put what's happening to me into words."
As the mayor's guests, the couple plans to attend today's Packers game after appearing at a tailgate party and radio show at Brett Favre's Steakhouse, 1004 Brett Favre Pass.
The Pooles, Schmitt and his wife, Dona, have seats at midfield, although a friend of the mayor has offered to bring them into a luxury box at halftime if it snows. Poole, however, says he's "looking forward to soaking up some of this cold weather. The fans e-mailed me and showed me a lot of love. So, I'm looking forward to coming out and helping cheer their team on."
Nathan and Neville Poole will tour the city and City Hall on Monday morning before speaking to the state championship football team from Notre Dame Academy. They plan to visit the Packers Hall of Fame on Monday afternoon.
On Saturday they visited Titletown Brewing Co., attended Mass with the mayor, ate a prime rib dinner prepared and served at the Schmitt home and attended a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball game.
While the weekend is a big deal for Poole, it's a bigger deal for the Green Bay economy. Schmitt said the Packers playoff game will provide a $3.5 million economic impact.
"Our city would have been kind of quiet this weekend. But now hotels are filling up, restaurants are packed and bars are buzzing," Schmitt said.
Poole, 26, played football, basketball and ran track at Marshall University in West Virginia. A collegiate teammate of the Vikings' Randy Moss, Poole lettered in football and basketball at George Washington High School in Danville, Va.
Door
County news 
