Pennsylvania Western University’s exercise science and health promotion program will be well-represented in Sunday’s Big Game as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles face off in the National Football League’s annual championship game.

Dr. Barry McGlumphy, exercise science professor and program director, has been at PennWest California since his inception of the program’s inception in 2002.

PennWest’s exercise science program has several students and alumni also working Sunday as part of the Big Game. In addition to McGlumphy, Tyler Judkins ’14 serves as the Chief’s strength and conditioning coach, while Joe O’Pella ’10 is an associate athletic trainer with the Eagles. Ben Wagner '15 also works for the Eagles as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Current exercise science student Kelly Weller is also a full-year intern athletic trainer with the Chiefs.

McGlumphy has deep roots with both the Chiefs and Eagles through his relationship with Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, who McGlumphy began working with in 2006 while Reid was head coach of the Eagles.

“I started working training camps in the summer with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005. My roommate from graduate school, Rick Burkholder, was the head athletic trainer and wanted me involved,” McGlumphy said. “I have worked training camps and countless games with the Eagles for seven years and the Chiefs for the last ten years.”

The matchup is “extra special” for McGlumphy due to his familiarity with both teams.

While his schedule may not allow him to be in Phoenix Sunday, McGlumphy did work on the sidelines during the AFC Championship and saw Kansas City and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.