So I get on the media hotel elevator on Wednesday night at the Super Bowl. There are seven people already in the cab: Mike Holmgren and six people who don't recognize him.

They asked him whether he was connected to an NFL team. He said yes. They asked to see his ring. He cheerfully extended his hand.

They asked what team he won it with. ``Packers," he said.

When? ``It was 1996," he said. ``Twenty years ago."

I covered Holmgren frequently when I was on the Vikings beat. He said hello, but probably didn't remember me. He was just being friendly.

The elevator was nearing the ground floor. The doors opened, Holmgren held them open for everyone to exit, and he received one more question from a man drinking a large beer.

``Player or coach?"

Holmgren smiled. ``Coach," he said, and gave me a wink.