Sunday, the stage was set for football slaughter. Despite the hope-filled storylines of record-breaking wide receiver prodigy Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and the redemption of 37-year-old former grocery bagger-turned-NFL-quarterback Kurt Warner, the 12-8 Arizona Cardinals were the unquestionable underdogs facing the grizzled Pittsburgh Steelers whose No. 1-ranked defense had pummeled their AFC opponents to an imposing 15-4 record.
Although the favored Steelers emerged as champions following the 27-23 game, there was no lack of storylines that emerged over the course of the night. Second-year Steelers coach Mike Tomlin became the second black head coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy over his head, 26-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won his second Super Bowl and owner/president Art Rooney put a sixth championship ring on his hand.
But despite our traditional football fare, the events of Super Bowl XLIII can resonate to Mississippi State football fans too. Over the past two years Bulldog fans have witnessed two pivotal moments which were recaptured on the NFL stage on Sunday, Both the 100-yard interception return by Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison in the closing seconds of the first half and the end zone holding penalty by Steelers center Justin Hartwig which resulted in a safety for Arizona and tightening the game to within four points, should both seem eerily familiar to the observant State fan.
These two relatively rare football occurrences have taken place on Scott Field in the past two years, and have had drastic implications for our Bulldog football program in the past two years.
On Nov. 4, 2007, Mississippi State faced rival Alabama in front of a packed crowd at Davis Wade Stadium, and shortly before halftime, MSU defensive back Anthony Johnson intercepted a John Parker Wilson pass into the end zone, and returned it for an unexpected touchdown which would shift the momentum of the game and result in a win for the Bulldogs and bowl eligibility for the first time in years.
Similarly, Harrison’s Super Bowl interception for a touchdown marked a shift in momentum from the red-hot Cardinals who charged down the field and threatened to score seconds before halftime and bring the score to 17-14 Pittsburgh, possibly carrying the game momentum into the locker room. In both situations, the Bulldogs, and Pittsburgh’s defense managed to create points, which boosted and possibly generated their subsequent success.
Another Bulldog football moment, this time in the 2008 season, held far different implications as on Sept. 13, the Bulldogs battled the Auburn Tigers to a final score of 3-2. MSU’s offensive output in the defensive driven game was on an Auburn holding call in its own end zone, resulting in the Bulldogs final score of 2. The safety, while in that September night foreshadowed the frustrating season that lay before the Bulldogs, in the Super Bowl led to an unexpected and exciting fourth quarter, which pitted gifted receivers Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh against Fitzgerald.
And just as Holmes and his Steeler teammates overcame the safety and ultimately made the miraculous toe-dragging end zone catch which resulted in the final score, MSU will hopefully find victory in the face of adversity. From the lessons we’ve learned in the past football season, hopefully the Dawgs, led by a new coaching staff and a revitalized vigor, will set out to become champions.
Super Bowl XLIII won’t be remembered for the pitiful commercials or Bruce Springsteen’s aged body limping around the halftime stage, but instead as an unlikely and impressive struggle for success by two gifted but equal teams seeking another win.
Months from now, stadiums will fill again and the smell of cut grass and plastic stadium cups will return, but until then, all we have are the memories of the Super Bowl, and unlike some in years past, this one may be worth remembering.
Kyle Wrather is the managing editor of The Reflector. He can be reached at [email protected].