Some Musings on the Day of Super Bowl XLVIII

It’s never happened before. It may never happen again. For the first time in my life my pick for the AFC and NFC Championships made it to the Super Bowl. Wow! It’s been an exciting two weeks as I’ve followed the preparations for the big game. Whatever happens today, I will win and I will lose. Go Denver Seahawks! Go Seattle Broncos! Yes, it’s been a long week celebrating the winning stories and statements made on both sides!

Today is the first time the Super Bowl coincides with Groundhog Day. It reminds me that in the history of the Super Bowl only seven teams have won the big game back to back. The Pittsburgh Steelers did it twice! A win today is only the beginning for the team that triumphs!

Football is a part of American history, but it’s not necessarily covered in schools unless it happens to be the passion of the teacher. The National Archives has posted an article “10 Football Facts Featuring U.S. Presidents” in case your teacher forgot to tell you :-)

In the land of genealogy and family history there is no official NFL team. And even though, according to Bing, we are identified as a Bronco supporting state there are Seahawks among us. Personally, our house is divided making it all the more fun! Not only do we have Skittles, we have M&M’s in honor of Bronco touchdowns. May it be a high-scoring game!

So, what impact has football had on your family? What teams have you cheered? What memories do you share? Did you play or were you a spectator?

I recently discovered a journal that I kept when I was in elementary school. Not only did I record the Miami Dolphins winning their second Super Bowl, I even recorded some of their birthdays! [A true historian :-) ] Later in the year I recorded, “[T]he Miami Dolphin game is tomorrow. I hope my dad gets tickets. I want to see them very much. All together it would cost $4.25.” The next entry indicates that my dad invested in some memories. “I met some Miami Dolphins, Bengals and Colts and got their autographs.” Since it was before digital photos and social media, there are no pictures to share but I recorded it. Children grow up; stories are forever!

May your memories of today be the kind you want to last! Wishing all of you a very Happy Super Bowl!