What a way to end the season.

The Super Bowl was just that as I actually played “fan” and enjoyed the game. Volumes have already been written on the accomplishments by the Giants and Eli Manning.

It was just plain and simply a study in a total team effort and the Giants just wanted that game more than the other guys. But to me, the Patriots looked like they were just going through the motions without a lot of fire or emotion. That plus the fact New York’s D-Line wore Tom Brady’s you-know-what out.

We had one of ours working the game and that is always good to go along with the Most Valuable Player of the game being a former SEC quarterback.

But then it is no surprise since you know where the best football in the world is? Side Judge Larry Rose has been in the NFL for ten years and was in the first SEC game I ever worked in stripes.

The game seemed to be worked very well and they really let them play for the most part. The ones they did call were the ones they had to get.

The best play of the game was on the last drive of the Giants when Eli was just too close to being sacked but looking like the old Viking quarterback, slippery Fran Tarkenton, avoiding the rush and miraculously getting a pass to tight end David Tyree.

The thirty-two yard pass to Tyree who was well covered was high but it had to be for him to have chance to bring it in. He went over the defender and managed to hold on to the ball on top of his helmet as he was coming down backwards with the defender all over him. Twice the play really came oh so close to being dead in it’s tracks. First was when Eli was evading the Patriot rush. They almost had him stopped in the backfield giving Referee Mike Carey reason to, by rule, end the play with an In The Grasp call. This rule has been in the NFL for years to help keep quarterbacks from getting injured. It allows the Referee to blow his whistle and stop the play when the defense has the quarterback stopped and apparently cannot escape.

But Eli kept moving just enough and the officials were experienced enough to not ruin a superb play. Then when Tyree was coming down hard on his back with the ball in his hands on top of his helmet, the call could have been incomplete pass if the ball had slipped through and hit the ground meaning the pass was not “in control” by the receiver.

But it all worked out and well, the outcome is history. What a game.

And with that, I will bid you all farewell until next August as we get ready for the 2008 season.

Have a great spring and summer and before you know it, it’ll be football season again. Thank you all and I’ll see you then. Be safe and God bless, William.