SB Nation’s 5 favorite Super Bowl memories

The Tremendous Bowl has grow to be a worldwide occasion. Annually tens of millions all over the world tune in to observe not simply the sport, however the whole lot that comes with it: The commercials, the halftime present, the pregame festivities, and even the Pet Bowl.

Because it has grow to be such a phenomenon, it’s the excellent occasion for making reminiscences.

Listed below are a few of our favourite Tremendous Bowl reminiscences.

Tremendous Bowl XXXVI

“Hey everybody. The Patriots received.”

It was the beginning of 2002, and I used to be in my third 12 months of legislation college. The world seemed quite a bit totally different than it did when that educational 12 months started, with much more uncertainty in regards to the future.

However one thing that my group of pals and I had been capable of bond over was the NFL playoffs. My housemate was a Baltimore Ravens fan, and we watched collectively on Wild Card Weekend because the defending Tremendous Bowl Champions obtained previous the Miami Dolphins to arrange a Divisional Spherical recreation in opposition to their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the next Sunday.

Then got here the Saturday evening of Divisional Spherical Week.

All of us piled across the tv in our neighbors’ townhouse. It was a chilly evening in Williamsburg, Virginia, which I keep in mind as a result of when issues obtained tense in the course of the New England Patriots recreation in opposition to the Oakland Raiders, I might discover myself pacing outdoors on the patio, with the tv in full view via the sliding glass doorways.

That’s the place I used to be when the Tuck Rule occurred.

Ultimately, Adam Vinatieri break up the uprights — and the falling snow — in additional time, sending the Patriots to the AFC Championship Recreation. And as Saturday evening pushed into Sunday morning, I stored saying these 5 phrases again and again to anybody who would hear.

“Hey everybody. The Patriots received.”

All of us gathered round that very same tv two weeks later, for Tremendous Bowl XXXVI. I had stepped away from the tv for a second, and heard the screaming down the corridor as Ty Legislation returned an interception to provide New England a 7-3 lead within the second quarter. However I used to be glued to the TV the remainder of the way in which.

And sure, I used to be again on that patio because the legend of Tom Brady was born within the closing seconds.

When Vinatieri transformed the game-winning discipline purpose, I bolted upstairs and logged onto my girlfriend’s pc, with the purpose of shopping for as many Patriots Tremendous Bowl Champions hats I may discover. Fortunately, she got here upstairs a couple of minutes later to help, as I had by some means piled 15 St. Louis Rams hats into my cart. We’ll simply name that person error. We’ve been married for 18 years now, and as you may think, she takes care of a lot of the on-line purchasing nowadays too…

Tremendous Bowl swag secured, I made my manner again downstairs with those self same 5 phrases on my lips.

“Hey everybody. The Patriots received.”

I kinda miss that patio.

-Mark Schofield

Tremendous Bowl LII

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports activities

I’m a Falcons fan who’s spent the previous six years attempting to get out from beneath the crushing humiliation of 28-3. Heading into Tremendous Bowl LII, that includes the Eagles dealing with the juggernaut Patriots with backup quarterback Nick Foles beneath middle, I used to be absolutely anticipating one more Patriots Tremendous Bowl win. New England took a 33-32 lead with over 9 minutes to play within the fourth quarter with a 4-yard landing go from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski, and based mostly on earlier expertise, I assumed it was a wrap for Philly. However Foles and the Eagles disagreed, and put one other landing and a discipline purpose on the board to take residence the Lombardi with an unbelievable 41-33 win. It didn’t precisely erase the ache of 28-3, however I’m petty sufficient for it to be my favourite Tremendous Bowl reminiscence of all time.

-Jeanna Kelley

Tremendous Bowl XLVII

For essentially the most half my Tremendous Bowl reminiscences aren’t glad. I may write a prolonged soliloquy in regards to the beautiful ache of seeing the ever-reliable Jon Kasay kick the ball out of bounds and price my Panthers a win in Tremendous Bowl XXXVI, or watch Cam Newton crumble on soccer’s brightest stage in Tremendous Bowl 50 — however as a substitute I wish to share what it’s like working in the course of the Tremendous Bowl as a author.

February 3, 2013 was the evening I spotted I had to write down about sports activities as a profession. We had an unbelievable crew of individuals at SB Nation.com, a lot of whom have moved on to different retailers or careers — however the spirit and power of us huddling collectively in a Campfire room (this was pre-Slack), unexpectedly consuming a sandwich at my desk throughout legitimately among the finest video games I’ve ever seen between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Then the ability went out.

When a second like that occurs, it’s anarchy. No one knew what was taking place. When it turned clear this wasn’t one thing horrible, and as a substitute an sudden energy outage all of us jumped in looking for out something and the whole lot we may. There have been coworkers within the stadium feeding us data. We had been again in our workplaces and residential workplaces writing tales. For 34 minutes we contemplated if the sport was truly going to have the ability to end.

It was anarchy, and it was a lot enjoyable. I knew from that second on that I had to make a profession out of writing about sports activities — and the unbelievable ending to the sport with the 49ers mounting a comeback, then the Ravens answering and successful, it was all unbelievable.

-James Dator

Tremendous Bowl LI

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities

Sorry, Jeanna, needed to convey it up! I used to be 16 years previous watching the Falcons completely crumble beneath the large weight of expectations and a 25-point lead, and man it was HILARIOUS. The Falcons got here in with the excessive powered offense, and the Patriots got here in with…Tom Brady. That is like an Elden Ring struggle the place the boss appears overpowered, however you went and did all the opposite quests and now you’re highly effective sufficient to take down Margit The Fell Omen Dan Quinn’s merry band of Falcons.

Additionally, an underrated a part of this complete recreation: Julio Jones had the very best catch I’ve ever seen.

That is nonetheless the very best catch I’ve ever seen. Within the Tremendous Bowl, largest second of the sport on the time, nearly falls out of bounds…AND STILL GETS BOTH FEET IN.

Too dangerous it didn’t matter ultimately.

—J.P. Acosta

Tremendous Bowl XLIV

Full disclaimer, I used to be rooting for the Patriots in Tremendous Bowl XLIV in opposition to the Giants. They ended up dropping, and but this recreation may nonetheless be my favourite reminiscence of the large recreation.

Why? Let me clarify.

I used to be watching the sport with a bunch of pals in a small city in Austria, and we had the whole lot you’d want for an everyday Tremendous Bowl celebration in america. One factor that was missing, although, was a common understanding of the game: there have been solely two of us who actually knew the foundations, leaving a dozen or so in want of explanations.

And clarify we did. We spent just about the entire recreation ensuring everyone understood what was taking place in addition to we may. In fact, we had been doing it with a slight Patriots bias, which finally led to your entire group — besides one (you recognize who you might be!) — rooting for New England.

Inside a few hours on this early Monday morning in February 2012, individuals who beforehand had no actual clue in regards to the recreation was hard-core Patriots followers. Despite the fact that we had been all left fairly dissatisfied by the tip consequence, the camaraderie and connection all of us felt was particular. A testomony to sports activities and friendship.

So, that’s why that is my favourite Tremendous Bowl mem … Oh, man. Nah. I can’t do this. It simply doesn’t really feel proper to choose a loss.

So, let’s scrap that one and as a substitute go together with:

Tremendous Bowl XLIX

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities

Similar city. Similar folks. Completely different 12 months. Completely different consequence. Malcolm Butler choosing off Russell Wilson on the 1-yard line. Shock. Horror. Disbelief. Jubilation. All inside a couple of minutes. It was superior.

— Bernd Buchmasser