Inside Page

    Arguably the biggest sporting event in the world, the Super Bowl is as good as it gets. There is nothing better than gathering around a 50-inch, high-definition, plasma screen television with your closest friends and family members enjoying the best Super Bowl Sunday has to offer. Unless of course you happen to have a ticket to the big game and become part of one of the biggest sporting spectacles of the year.
     I was fortunate enough to have a ticket to Super Bowl XXXIX (39), in Jacksonville, Florida to watch the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles battle it out for NFL supremacy and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, given to the winner of the game.
    To be able to go to the Super Bowl game itself is one thing, but to have a family member playing in the game is a dream come true. My first cousin, Russ Hochstein, is an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots and had the chance to play in Super Bowl XXXIX, as well as Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) the previous year.
   After driving halfway across the United States with my family to Florida, experiencing a flat tire along the way, Super Bowl Sunday had finally arrived.
   The day was February 6, 2005. It was a beautiful Sunday morning, deep in the heart of Florida. My dad and I woke up early, boarded a charter bus designated for the player’s families and were on our way to the Patriots pre-game brunch. We were treated to a five-course meal and I was able to meet a few players and get some autographs. After brunch we again boarded the charter buses and were on our way to Alltell Stadium, site of Super Bowl XXXIX. On the way to the game, he kept reminding me, “This is a once in a lifetime experience, don’t ever forget it”. I did not, and would not have allowed myself to forget this moment
   While kickoff was scheduled for 6:30 pm, we arrived at the stadium around 3 pm, an hour before the general public was allowed in. This gave the player’s families the opportunity to see the stadium and field before anybody else, a perk of having a family member playing in the game.

   I had a chance to take a few pictures prior to kickoff with my Dad, cousins, and aunts and uncles also in attendance. We had a chance to walk around the beautiful stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. My dad and I had great seats for the game and I was fortunate to sit next to my cousin Tracy, Russ’s sister, and her husband Matt.
   The festivities leading up to the game were magnificent. Gretchen Wilson, a female country singer, and Earth, Wind, and Fire performed prior to kickoff which was very entertaining.
   It was time for kickoff. All of the hype leading up to the game was over. The New England Patriots were poised to win their second consecutive Super Bowl, and third title in four years. The opposition from the NFC (National Football Conference) was the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles main story coming in was the return of star wide receiver Terrell Owens to the starting lineup after missing all of the playoffs due to a broken leg.
   The opening kickoff was amazing. Flashbulbs were going off all over the stadium. I was extremely excited to be a part of history in the making.
   The game itself was close throughout the first half with each team matching the other, touchdown for touchdown. The score was tied at halftime 7-7.
   The halftime show arrived. With Janet Jackson rocking the world with the so-called “wardrobe malfunction” during Super Bowl XXXVIII, the halftime committee toned it down some by selecting Paul McCartney to perform at Super Bowl XXXIX. The last song he sang was “Hey Jude”. I couldn’t believe it. I was at the Super Bowl, listening to Paul McCartney sing one of the most famous songs in music history. I had goose bumps all over my body.
   The second half resumed with the Patriots jumped on the Eagles for ten points early in the third quarter, to take the lead. The Eagles responded with a long scoring drive of their own to narrow the Patriots lead 17-14.
   As the temperature cooled down, the fourth quarter arrived. What player would step up and make the big play to lead his team to the championship? With Tom Brady leading the way, the Patriots drive down the field and finished off a long drive with a touchdown by Corey Dillon. My cousin Russ, who lined up as fullback on the play, made the lead block to open the hole for Dillon to score. The Patriots were leading 24-14 with a few minutes to play.
   The Eagles drove down the field and got a touchdown late, but it wasn’t enough. The New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 to win Super Bowl XXXIX. They had captured their second consecutive World Championship, and third title in four years.
   Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX with 11 catches for 133 yards. The eleven catches was a new Super Bowl record, breaking his previous record of ten in Super Bowl XXXVIII. His ability to make plays throughout the game, most notably on third and long situations made him the easy pick for MVP.
   After exiting the stadium, my Dad and I got back on the charter bus and headed back to the hotel. We reminisced about certain plays of the game, and what would have happened if so-and-so did this. We talked about how well Russ played and how proud we were of him. By the time we got back to the hotel we were flat out exhausted.
   Reality soon set in. We had to leave warm, sunny Florida, and head home to cold, snowy Nebraska.
   Super Bowl XXXIX was just another game in the history books, but for me it was an experience I will never forget. Not many people get a chance to go to an NFL playoff game, let alone a Super Bowl. As for me Super Bowl XL was a bit of a let down, as I sat at home on my couch watching the game on a 32-inch television, 672 miles away from Detroit, Michigan, home site of Super Bowl XL.