BY KEVIN FRIEDENBERG

In print | Published January 24, 2008

As most of you out there probably don’t want to admit, we are indeed back at school for the semester, but more importantly the Patriots have made the Super Bowl. Many of you may be thinking, “Well I could have seen that coming.” What with their 18-0 record and fistful of Pro-Bowlers, the Patriots were even selected by experts to win the big dance before the season started. Regardless of the “Spygate” scandal, of which plenty of you have informed me, believe me, the Patriots have banded together through unrelenting focus to get where they are today. However, I urge everyone not to be quick to judge the underdog New York Giants since they have surged from a Wild-Card playoff team to a Super Bowl finalist.

Perhaps the biggest testament to Bill Belichick as a coach is his uncanny ability to set aside distractions and to keep the mentality of the players as a single focus. Nowhere on the Patriots’ roster are there players who create drama by guaranteeing wins, or complaining about the play of teammates or coaches. Though there isn’t much to complain about as a team that boasts the most potent offense in NFL history as well as record setting individuals, the Patriots have not once sunk to the level of criticizing one another or their opponents. It’s easy to pick on the top dog.

Just this weekend one of my buddies came up to me and said, “Classy team you have where your receivers beat women.” The comment was made in reference to the current scandal concerning Randy Moss. Though the intentions of the individual confronting Moss seem to clearly indicate a gold-digging shakedown on her part, I still believe that Bill Belichick will be able to focus the team on other issues, the most important game of the season perhaps. They are so close to perfection, four short quarters away from establishing their names in the history books.

Winning every game of an NFL season is unquestioningly a Herculean task, requiring a whole lot of talent and a whole lot of luck, too. In my opinion, the sheer amount of weapons, both offensive and defensive, on the Patriots roster is certainly going to give the Giants a fit on Feb. 3.

I refuse to write off the chances of the Giants winning, however, for more than a few reasons. First, I personally like the Giants with their host of badass players and Boston College alums (both coaches and players). They are certainly a capable team with a solid running game, which seems to be the experts’ way to beat the Patriots. Besides, on any given day any team can win; I think that nothing illustrates that more than little Division I-AA Appalachian State beating perennial powerhouse Michigan at the Big House this fall.

Things can happen to anyone, every fighter has a puncher’s chance of winning. Lots of critics seem to give Eli Manning a raw deal. In my eyes he is an extremely talented quarterback just waiting to break into the limelight. What bigger game to do that than the Super Bowl? If Eli can stretch the field with his receivers, and if Brandon Jacobs and the running game can stay tough between the tackles, then I see this game being a lot closer than predicted.

That being said, I still think this game will go to the Patriots in a barnburner. I think that the sheer experience of the veterans on the Pats will keep the team composed on such a big stage, especially considering their field general Tom Brady is a two-time Super Bowl MVP. I’m looking forward to a big game, and even though my team isn’t an underdog, with all the Patriot resentment and flak I receive they will certainly feel like one. Besides, everyone should watch the game – Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday complete with hilarious commercials. Commercials like CareerBuilder.com’s old spots with an office full of Chimpanzees. Monkeys at the office, that’s priceless.

Kevin is a sophomore. You can reach him at kfriede1@swarthmore.edu.

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