You’ve seen all the pageantry and plays that go into the Super Bowl. Ever wonder what it’s like in the thick of the spectacle? NFL players share their one-of-a-kind experiences:
What it’s like…to hear speeches before the game
Zak DeOssie, Giants long snapper: “The speeches, I’ll never forget. Coach [Tom] Coughlin recalled his experiences when he won a Super Bowl in ’90 with the Giants and actually mentioned my dad, of all people. He’s up there as passionate as he’ll be, whether it’s a preseason game or a regular-season game, he was really passionate before a game. When it came to the Super Bowl, half the guys in there were all in tears, so were the coaches, because we made it to this point and this is what it all comes down to. Saturday night is just like the night before Christmas when you’re 7 years old.
“Before our first Super Bowl [in 2008], he happened to mention my father, talking about two free agents. He was mentioning how after winning he came in and he saw Steve DeOssie and some other free agent the Giants had picked up that year and they were both hugging and crying and holding each other and saying ‘Nobody wanted us and now we’re world champions.’ As a rookie, your head’s spinning the whole time. I will never forget that pregame speech … it was my dad.”
What it’s like…during pregame introductions
Damien Woody, former Patriots offensive lineman: “The thing that stands out to me is when we had player introductions for the Super Bowl in [the 2001 season] when we played the St. Louis Rams, that whole year we started the whole coming out together as a team. Because that was 9/11 and us being the Patriots we just felt a vibe coming out that was different.
“The Rams came out with all their stars and all their individuals — the Kurt Warners, the Marshall Faulks, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, big-name players. Here we are the Patriots, we are coming out together as one team. That’s something that will always stick out in my mind.”
What it’s like…to hear the national anthem
Kevin Boothe, Giants offensive lineman: “I felt normal the entire time … until the national anthem, then it kind of, it hits you at that point, you start to get a little butterflies.
“Standing next to Chris Snee, right before the national anthem, there was a plays of the year-type thing where it kind of built up towards the Super Bowl, started Week 1 and went all the way through and I think the last thing was the kick at Candlestick [in the NFC Championship] to send us there and it was like ‘Here we are.’ ”
What it’s like…to experience the opening kickoff
Justin Tuck, Giants defensive end: “The opening kickoff, right when the foot touched the ball you see 80,000 flashes go off, that’s when I realized this is kind of a big deal. The first [Super Bowl in 2008], I remember being on the sideline and I don’t think I even watched the opening kickoff because I was standing up and saw the flashes go off and I don’t remember anything after that until like the next play. I don’t even remember if we kicked off or they kicked off, all I remember was all those lights going off and I was kind of in awe for about 10 seconds. If I would have had to go in the game right then, it would have been 10 men on the field. I was dazed.
“You’ve seen it on TV but until you are there and hear the roar of the crowd. You try your best all week to downplay it, it’s just another game, and then that happens and you realize.”
What it’s like…to watch Super Bowl Sunday after falling one game short
Nick Mangold, Jets center: “It’s much more difficult [than being eliminated earlier] because you’re right there. Of the two times we were knocked out one time I didn’t watch it, the other time I did. My son was just born so we sat there and watched our first Super Bowl together. It’s much more difficult the closer you get.
“[After losing to the Colts in the 2009 playoffs] I felt like I couldn’t watch it the first year, knowing we came so close. [The next year] my son was born that morning. We watched it in the hospital. I don’t remember much.”
What it’s like…to get a sack
Tuck: “It’s pretty decent, honestly. I got a few of those. It’s pretty neat. I remember all four. The first one was what we call a stud package, and I was in a three-technique and they told me to ‘Go!’ so I went. I was able to make a move, I actually lost my footing for a little while and was able to regain it and propel myself into the quarterback. It was third down. You know it’s a big deal, but you don’t go to your friend and are like ‘Oh my God, the whole world just saw me make a play.’ You don’t think in that regard. You only think that it’s only 80,000 people saw you make a play.
“I think the second one was my favorite. It was a strip, caused a fumble and it was a big one because I realized after watching the film that Randy Moss was running up the sideline, wide open. So that was a huge change in the game for us, it took seven points off the board for them and got us the ball.
“I should have five [sacks] — they should count safeties in the end zone as a sack and then I would have the record. Me and Charles Haley, he played [in] five of them.”
What it’s like…to throw a touchdown pass
Eli Manning, Giants quarterback: “It’s exciting and obviously I had some in different scenarios, throwing one early in the game which is obviously exciting, get on the board and get a lead, but also thrown one with 30 seconds left to win a game is obviously a different excitement. A lot of emotions and it feels pretty special.
“I have three. I guess a game-winner, you consider that pretty special for your first Super Bowl. I guess that would probably be up there as a special one compared to the others.”
What it’s like…to be on the field after you’ve won
Antrel Rolle, Giants safety: “Just the actual confetti coming down. I was on the other half before [with the Cardinals] when that confetti came down and it wasn’t falling because we won. That feeling in itself and the fact I was so drained, just from that whole season, the mental aspect of everything, I didn’t have another game left, I gave it all I got. And I knew that. I had nothing left. After the game everyone went to celebrate and I just went in my room and laid down and just exhaled. Just the mental preparation we had to put into that and just our game plan itself was like two pages long. We put a lot into that, for us, what we had to do down the stretch, overcome, it was a lot, man. More than I ever had to deal with in my life.
“I remember I was nowhere near the trophy. I never touched it. I was just exhausted. I laid on the ground, my head on the ground and just thanked God that we did it. I had no energy. The first time I even got near the trophy was the day of the parade, the first time I ever got within 10 feet of the trophy. First time I ever touched it.”
What it’s like…to be in the postgame celebration
Boothe: “That was a special moment to go up on the podium, I actually had my son, my wife was pregnant with my daughter at the time so she’s down at the bottom. I was able to take my son, who at the time was 15-16 months old, he was terrified up there. To be able to hold that trophy up is a special feeling, a special feeling, it’s something you can’t really describe. I guess other than saying it’s why you play the game.
“When they do the walking through [with the trophy], the legend, this time it was the Colts receiver [Raymond Berry] from way back when. After the game. We were all in line and I remember I got to give it a kiss, in a long line of guys waiting to touch the trophy. I was probably 10th in line to touch it. I think I touched it before coach and Eli [Manning].”