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Hometown eager to celebrate Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - The day before the Super Bowl that would change Malcolm Butler's life, he posted a picture of the Vicksburg city seal on his Facebook page, thanking family and friends for supporting him during his journey to football's biggest stage.

It was clear Butler loves his hometown.

Now Vicksburg - a town of about 25,000 people perched above the Mississippi River - gets a chance to love him back.

"His story is phenomenal," said Mayor George Flaggs Jr. "Just like the play he made in the Super Bowl."

The reason for Butler's instant fame is now well known: In the final seconds, the undrafted rookie defensive back intercepted Russell Wilson's pass at the goal line to seal the Super Bowl victory for the New England Patriots over the Seattle Seahawks.

Since then he's appeared on the "Today Show" and "Tonight Show" and even "intercepted" an envelope at the Grammy Awards.

Now, he'll be honored in a setting that's a little more familiar.

Vicksburg has declared this "Malcolm Butler Week" and will have a parade in his honor on Saturday. It'll be another hard-to-fathom moment for the 24-year-old, who said his life has gone from "zero to 100" in the past three weeks.

"It took me a couple days to realize what I did," Butler said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "I'm enjoying it and embracing it. I know (the fame is) not going to last forever, but that play will be remembered forever."

Butler said he was back in Vicksburg for a few days earlier this week, spending time with family and close friends. He said he's trying to keep a low profile because public appearances cause a commotion.

That won't be possible on Saturday.

Butler's high school football coach Alonzo Stevens said part of the player's popularity comes from his unlikely rise to fame. The people in the town can relate to him and his imperfect past.

Stevens said Butler showed promise during his freshman season at Vicksburg High, but he missed the next two because of academic problems.

"What I loved him about him more than anything is when he messed up on the football field or in life, he owned up to it," Stevens said. "He never passed the buck. He's a hard worker and a fairy-tale story."

The coach admits Butler was off his radar by his senior season until a surprise turnaround.

"He told me he had his grades right and he wanted to play football again," Stevens said. "I figured, 'Well, he could hold the practice dummies or play special teams.'"

It wasn't the last time Butler would be underestimated.

He quickly became one of the stars for Vicksburg, but his success came so late that colleges barely knew he existed. He ended up at Hinds Community College, just outside of Jackson, where he played as a freshman before he said he was kicked off the team following a scuffle with a campus security guard.

Then it was back to Vicksburg, where Butler worked part time at the fast-food restaurant Popeyes to earn some extra money while he took classes at nearby Alcorn State University. Eventually, he earned his way back onto the Hinds football team and then played two seasons at West Alabama, a NCAA Division II school.

"As I look back now, I kind of enjoyed the getting back on track," Butler said. "I had a lot of doubters."

Not anymore. Vicksburg's principal Deowarski McDonald, who was a teacher and assistant principal when Butler attended, said the story can inspire. On Wednesday afternoon, a handful of students were working on building a giant football that would be part of a float during the parade.

"What you see is what you get with Malcolm," McDonald said. "He's very humble, very respectful, mild-mannered and considerate. That's why I think people are so interested in knowing more about him."

McDonald said Butler had an interest in his hometown school long before he became a Super Bowl hero. During the Patriots' bye week, Butler returned to talk to the football team and offer a few words of encouragement.

Flaggs said it's one of the many reasons Butler will be presented with a key to the city.

"How many people can say I want to be an NFL player while wearing a Popeyes uniform, and then actually become the Super Bowl hero?" Flaggs said. "That's phenomenal. That won't happen again in our lifetime."

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

Students walk past a poster honoring Vicksburg High alumnus and New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler in Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city has dedicated a week honoring the Super Bowl star and former local high school player. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette during the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Ariz. Vicksburg, Miss., has declared this “Malcolm Butler Week” and will have a parade in his honor on Saturday, Feb. 21. It’ll be another hard-to-fathom moment for Butler, who said his life has gone from “zero to 100” in the past three weeks. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) The Associated Press
Retired Vicksburg High football coach Alonzo Stevens holds a banner made honoring his seniors during their final season at the school, including, bottom right, Vicksburg High alumnus and current New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, in Vicksburg, Miss. The city has dedicated a week honoring the Super Bowl hero and former local high school player. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
Darius Williams, 18, a Vicksburg High power lifter and football player places paper into the frame of a 3-D football that will adorn a float for Vicksburg High alumnus and current New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler's parade in Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city has dedicated a week honoring the Super Bowl star. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
Lisa Grant, a Vicksburg High art teacher in charge of decorating the float for Vicksburg High alumnus and current New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler's parade in Vicksburg, Miss., ponders the design of a decorated 3-D football that will adorn the float, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city has dedicated a week honoring the Super Bowl hero and former local high school player. Darius Williams, 18, Vicksburg High power lifter and football player, places paper into the frame of the football. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler's name is still on his former locker at the old Vicksburg High field house from his senior year, in Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The school began using a new field house the following season; the old field house is being renovated for junior high athletes. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
Former Vicksburg High football coach Alonzo Stevens walks along the football field as he recalls New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler's work ethic during his senior year, in Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Stevens says Butler's work ethic and drive to compete and succeed are elements that he hopes will rub off on students at his former high school. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler's name is still on his former locker at the old Vicksburg High field house from his senior year, in Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The school began using a new field house the following season; the old field house is being renovated for junior high athletes. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
Former Vicksburg High football coach Alonzo Stevens recalls New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler's work ethic during his senior year, in Vicksburg, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Stevens says Butler's work ethic and drive to compete and succeed are elements that he hopes will rub off on students at his former high school. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
Sitting in his Vicksburg, Miss., office, Mayor George Flaggs Jr., speaks about the humbleness of Super Bowl star and New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city is celebrating a week honoring the hometown player and will hold a parade in his honor Saturday, Feb 21. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
The sign for the city of Vicksburg, Miss., visitor's center shares space with a newer sign touting Super Bowl hero and New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler as a hometown hero, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city is holding a parade in Butler's honor on Saturday, Feb. 21. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
Sitting in his Vicksburg, Miss., office, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. shows off the city logo on his business card that he says Super Bowl hero and New England Patriot defensive back Malcolm Butler sports on his Facebook page, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city is celebrating a week honoring the hometown player and is holding a parade in his honor on Saturday, Feb 21. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press
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