Fans get geared up for Super Bowl LI

By Katelyn Needham/editor-in-chief

Millions of jersey-clad fans will gather around TVs Feb. 5 to watch the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots fight to win Super Bowl LI. Among them will be NE student Oscar Alford.

“I think this will be a great Super Bowl,” Alford said. “I’m a New Orleans Saints fan, so it’s a little tough to root for the Falcons considering we are both in the NFL South. I look forward to the game, and I feel it’s amazing that Tom Brady is playing at such a high level at his age. Atlanta’s defense is tough, but I think the Patriots will prevail.”

Fifty-four percent of fans are predicting that the Patriots will beat the Falcons, according to an ESPN poll.

“I’m expecting New England to take it all, but the Falcons are actually looking pretty good this year,” South student Yontairica Wright said. “They have always been the underdog team. I have faith in Brady. He’s like the GOAT. GOAT meaning ‘Greatest of All Time.’”

The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in America, but NW student Quinten Crus is not one who feels it’s that important.

“I guess I care a little bit,” Crus said. “I’m more concerned with my job and school. To be honest with you, I only watched, like, half of the last game that was on and just heard who won after it. I just have more important things going on than watching TV.”

SE student Michael Reynoso said he liked the match but is surprised by it.

“I wasn’t expecting the Falcons to be in the Super Bowl,” he said. “I was expecting the Cowboys to be playing.”

The Dallas Cowboys fell victim to Green Bay in the divisional playoff, killing both their dreams and those of the fans.

“It was heartbreaking to watch the last game as a fan, but it was also a relief to know that we are good enough to go that far and maybe next year we can learn from the mistakes,” South Campus student Saul Montoya said. “Maybe next year, they’ll make it to the Super Bowl.”

Kathryn Kelman, Hannah Lathen, Bethany Narvaez and Raegan Scharfetter also contributed to this story.