BY BRAXTON STRICKER

In anticipation of the Super Bowl, students prepare to devour chicken wings and watch yet another has-been perform on America’s greatest stage.

For some, the greatest part of the evening will be the commercials; for the majority, however, it will be watching the best two teams fight their guts out to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

“Normally I watch it at home with my family; this year, however, I get to watch it with friends,” says sophomore Payton Coates.

Part of what makes the Super Bowl special is having the chance to get together with friends on a Sunday night, a rare occurrence for high-school students.

This year, the Super Bowl is a rematch of the 2008 championship game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. Football’s highest rated Super Bowl in the last decade provided fans with David Tyree’s unforgettable catch, a game winning drive and shattered aspirations of a perfect season.

With Vegas setting the spread at 2.5 points in favor of New England, football fans can expect this game to be decided late in the fourth quarter.

“I think it’s interesting that the Giants are repeating the same routine they had the week before the 2008 Super Bowl,” says sophomore Hayden Davis. “Whether this gives them good luck or not we will have to wait and see.”

Perhaps the greatest story has been the injury to New England tight-end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC championship game and has not participated in practice. Gronkowski, a second year player out of Arizona, set single season records for touchdowns and receiving yards as a tight end; if he fails to suit up, they could be in trouble.

Payton Coates, a die-hard Patriots fan, doesn’t think the injury is a concern. “The Patriots have a team-first mentality; they will fill that hole with someone, maybe Aaron Hernadez,” she said.

Hernandez has been a pleasant surprise this year reeling in 7 touchdowns and 910 receiving yards. “I know it will be tough but the Patriots will pull through in the end,” continues Coates.

“If Brady can avoid the pass rush of the Giants’ front-four they have a chance,” says Davis, “But I think the Giants will win 24-21 on a last second field goal.”

For the results, NBC will broadcast coverage at 6:30 p.m. Sunday night.