The Super Bowl is an American tradition. Millions of people all over the country sit on their couches to watch two of the highest ranked NFL teams duke it out in one of the most-watched sporting events on television. Whether students at the University of Tampa decide to partake in the celebration of this event or not, it would be diffi cult not to catch at least a glimpse of the game next Sunday.
“I’m going to watch every single second of the game because it should be a tradition no matter where you live,” freshman Frank Calo said. “If you don’t watch the Super Bowl, you’re not American.”
Some students are hoping to liven up the competition by making bets with their friends on whose team will take the championship.
“My roommates and I are doing football squares for the game,” Calo said. “If I lose, I might throw my bed across the room because I will have lost my last 10 dollars.”
Despite some student’s excitement and passion for the upcoming game, others will do their best to avoid the festivities all together.
“I hate football, so I will most defi nitely not be watching any of the Super Bowl,” junior Adam Albelin said. “I just think it’s boring and slow, and I really don’t care for any of it. I would rather be doing anything else than watching it on Sunday.”
Whether you enjoy the game or not, the Bowl serves as a sort of holiday for some, just to be surrounded by friends and family.
“I enjoy the idea of everybody getting together and watching the game,” freshman Jessie Beckett said. “I’m not a huge football fan, but I’ll probably end up going to a party anyway, just to hang out with friends and pretend that I care.”
One thing that has everyone talking, even those who do not care for the game itself, is this year’s halftime line up: Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With Mars recently named Billboard’s 2013 Artist of the Year and the Red Hot Chili Peppers recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the entertainment is sure to not disappoint.
“I’m only watching the Bowl for the halftime show,” freshman Kelly Davies said. “All I want to do is stand in front of the TV and sing along with Bruno and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I want it to feel like it’s only me and them in the room.”
While many students are planning to just watch the game in their dorm with roommates and others, some don’t have that luxury.
“I have worked the past seven Super Bowls,” senior Annie Donaldson said. “I usually only catch the last 10 minutes of the game, so that is most likely what is going to happen again. Seeing the big celebration at the end is the best part anyway, so I don’t mind, especially since I am not rooting for a specifi c team this year.”
With only one more week until the big game, UT students are preparing the best way they can for a school without a football team.
“The only thing I am looking forward to this Super Bowl Sunday is watching all of the die-hard football fans losing their heads during each play,” Beckett said.
Tess Sheets can be reached at tessa.sheets@spartans.ut.edu.