On Monday, January 30, 2017, a lightning bolt of energy filled Minute Maid Park as the media, fans, coaches, and players gathered for the annual Opening Night to kick-off the festivities for Super Bowl LI. Everyone was eager to speak with the AFC and NFC Championship teams to gain a better insight on the players as individuals and as a team, while they all prepare to fight till the end to win the coveted Lombardi trophy.
The Atlanta Falcons entered the Stadium first with numerous cheers and appreciation from fans. As they walked across the stage to take in this momentous occasion, you could feel the intense excitement exhilarating from the players as they held up their cell phones and cameras to bask in the celebration. The podiums were set up nicely and fueled by Gatorade as we all waited patiently for Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and others to answer the many questions that would be thrown at them.
I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Marquand Manuel who is a Secondary/Senior Defensive Assistant for the Atlanta Falcons. One player in particular who I was elated to speak with as well is familiar with the City of Houston. Former QB of the Houston Texans, Matt Schaub, was standing on the main floor quite calm and nonchalant. As a Houston Texans fan, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his Super Bowl experience.
After the time elapsed for the Atlanta Falcons to complete their interviews, a brief intermission ensued as the band X-Ambassadors took the stage to perform. Some fortunate fans also had the opportunity to watch the performance up close and personal among the media. Also, Chris Berman was honored with a brief celebratory goodbye as he moves on to another platform within the football sector.
Then it was time for the New England Patriots to enter the stadium. The lights were dim and the crowd began erupting with cheers once again. While observing the crowd outside of Minute Maid Park, I noticed a lot of New England fans proudly wearing their team’s jersey. The podiums for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Julian Edelman, and others were ready as their bodies became engulfed with media eager to hear some amazing responses.
I must admit that I am intrigued by Bill Belichick for some strange reason. His no-nonsense demeanor is striking to me. In my opinion, I rarely see him joking around or laughing. The one time I recently saw a smile on his face was when he kissed his wife after they won the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Otherwise, Bill appears to be straight and to the point of it all. I love watching his media responses after a New England game too. Sometimes Bill likes to give a “What the hell do you think?” response and it is absolutely hilarious to me. Tonight he appears to be cool, calm and poised.
Although the force field around Bill’s podium was mighty thick, I decided to move on to hear Tom Brady. His podium was packed as well, which is what you should expect from one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in this league. Tom Brady’s skills are ridiculously good. It’s amazing how he finds receivers out of nowhere and ends up with a 30 yard gain out of the play. It is truly ridiculous. Due to the crowd, I eventually made my way around to behold a precious gift just standing on the stadium floor. To my surprise, I was shocked that this gentleman wasn’t on the podium himself. Who am I referring to? The one and only Malcolm Butler, Cornerback for the New England Patriots.
I had to talk to him and ask, “Do you ever feel underrated at times?” It appears to me that he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves on the field. He emphatically agreed and feels that he is one of the best corners in the league and that motivates him to go harder for himself and the team.
Overall the night was a huge success. It was truly an honor to be up close and personal with the organizations that will grace the NRG field on February 5, 2017, for Super Bowl LI. I sincerely wished them all the best as they continue to strive for greatness in the sport of football. I am thankful to have this phenomenal experience and amazing opportunity.
View clips from the Opening Night in Houston below and Enjoy!
