Most of us football fans understand competition. If you played the game, or any sport you know how competition drives sport. If you have siblings and have competed against them you know that’s about as personal as it gets. While it may never be ugly or harmful, it is one battle that no brother or sister is ok losing. At the same time, the emotions that eventually take over are that of joy and satisfaction to see a family member succeed.

Why You Watch

Last year I wrote about why “football” was the reason to watch The Super Bowl. It’s not the commercials, parties, or that you are just around others that are watching. Knowing that it is the ultimate contact sport being played at the highest level is more than enough reason to watch the Super Bowl. This year my tone has not changed one bit. However, I want to point out why this Super Bowl (on February 3rd in case you’ve been under a rock) could be the most competitive and emotional yet.

A Family Face Off

No two brothers have ever coached in the NFL. While much has been made about the Manning brothers both being NFL quarterbacks and each winning a Super Bowl, they have never faced each other on the Super Bowl stage. The fact that the Harbaugh brothers are the first to coach in the NFL and get to this level at the same time is incredible. Now they will meet on Super Bowl Sunday in what is set to be the most emotional day of their lives.

The chatter leading up will be exhausting. We will grow tired of it, but once we see the footage of them talking before the game at mid field and shots of the parents, it will sink in that this is beyond cool. If you have a sibling you know that the level of distraction would be astronomical, yet also forcing you to work and compete at a level most likely you had never attained.

I am not big on story lines or “alternate” reasons to watch football…the game gets it done for me, but this one will be fun to watch for some other reasons. Mainly, me asking myself how I would handle myself in that situation… if my brother were on the opposite sideline! Sprinkle in Ray Lewis’ last career game and a QB with less than 10 career starts and you have plenty of “reasons” to watch. Not that I need them.

Catch the Game

Looking for somewhere local to catch the game? Check out our directory of local nightlife spots. Do you have a favorite spot to watch the game? Let us know in the comments section!

 

About the Author

Cole Cubelic is a former center for the Auburn Tigers. He lettered on the Plains.  Cole was named to the SEC Good Works Team which highlights a student-athlete from each school in each sport who gives back to their community in superior service efforts. In 2000 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. In 2003, he began a stint as color commentator for the Auburn Tigers and their pay-per-view television broadcasts. He continued in the booth through the 2008 season. In 2009, he took a similar role for the Sun Belt Network and broadcasts as the color commentator for their game of the week. Cole started his transition into terrestrial radio in October 2010 when he became host of The Cole Cubelic Show, a one-hour daily show airing on 97.7FM WZZN The Zone in Huntsville, Alabama. That show moved to the morning drive time slot, 6am-10am, on January 17, the Monday after Auburn won the BCS National Championship.