Whether you watch it for the football or for the commercials, it’s virtually undisputed that the Super Bowl has become not only one of the biggest games of the year, but also one of the most popular events in America.
Sophomore Chase Day said he views the event as a positive way to unite the entire country.
“I always watch the Super Bowl. I think the Super Bowl should be a big deal because football originated in the United States,” Day said. “It’s a good thing for our country because it kind of connects everybody.”
Day said he’s a fan of more than just the Super Bowl.
“I usually try to watch as much football as I can,” he said.
While he prefers watching college football, Day said he is a fan of some professional teams as well, including the Kansas City Chiefs. He said he is not as wild about the Indianapolis Colts or the Chicago Bears – the two teams that will play in this year’s Super Bowl – but he said he will never miss a Super Bowl game.
“I’m not too excited because I’m not a big fan of the Colts or the Bears,” he said, “but I hope Peyton Manning gets the ring he deserves because he is a really great quarterback.”
Junior Carlee Krebs has a different view of the Super Bowl.
“Commercials are bigger than the game,” Krebs said. “Generally, the commercials are what I watch the Super Bowl for.”
Freshman Tiffany Cornett said she thinks many women are looking more forward to the commercials than the actual Super Bowl game, a statement Day agreed with.
“I know a lot of people just watch the Super Bowl for the commercials,” Day said. “It seems to be more women than men. I don’t personally, but I know sometimes people have bets over which commercial will come first. I personally like to just sit back and watch the game.”
Though he mostly watches for the football, Day said he does enjoy a number of clever commercials that air during the big game.
“I’m more into the commercials than the halftime show entertainment,” Day said. “Budweiser and some other vendors come up with some pretty good ones.”
Krebs said that not only is the Super Bowl a time for great commercials, but also a time of socializing. She makes a two-and-a-half-hour drive home to watch the game and spend time with friends.
“I usually go home,” she said. “It’s kind of a tradition my high school friends get together and have a party and hang out.”
Cornett said the Super Bowl is a bigger deal than it should be.
“I don’t really watch pro-football,” she said. “I think it’s overrated.”
Even if people are not big NFL football fans, many people will watch the Super Bowl anyway because it is hyped as such a big event, Cornett said.
“I probably will get stuck watching it with my friends, but not by choice really,” Cornett said.
Super Bowl XLI kick off is at 5:25 p.m. Sunday in South Florida. It can be viewed on CBS.