Indianapolis crowned as Super Bowl XLI champs

Manning gets his ring; Dungy first black champion coach

By: Ian Van Anden
Sports Editor

The National Football League’s regular season lasts 17 grueling weeks. It is then followed by three weeks of playoffs and then a bye week before the NFL’s ultimate event: the Super Bowl. In this past season, 2006-2007, the two teams that ascended to the top of the proverbial mountain were the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts.

This year’s Super Bowl, XLI, or 41 for those of you who do not “do” Roman numerals, had many storylines. First and probably the dominate story, was that not one but two black head coaches were participating, Lovie Smith for the Bears and Tony Dungy for the Colts.

This was not only historic because it was the first time having just one black coach but because a black coach was going to win a Super Bowl for the first time ever. Both Dungy and Smith dealt with a barrage of questions about how it felt to be at the center of race issues in sports, or at least football. Each coach showed class and humility throughout the weeks preceding the game.

These coaches also have a long standing friendship, dating back to their days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was in Tampa where Dungy hired Smith for his first coaching job. Would the teacher beat his protégé, or would the teacher become the student?

Another storyline, involved Peyton Manning, arguably the best quarterback in the league, against the Bears defense, arguably the best defense in the league. Who would come out on top? Each had their own faults: Manning struggled in the playoffs as well as in any big game and the Bears’ injuries as well as their off the field distractions.

As always, the topic of the quarterback is always important in the Super Bowl. For the aforementioned Manning, it was whether he could handle the Bears’ attacking and athletic defense. As for the Bears’ quarterback, Rex Grossman, there was a whirlwind of questions. Most important of these questions was: “which Rex would show up?”

The game on Sunday, Feb. 4 answered all of these questions and more. On the first play of the game the Colts booted the ball to the Bears’ dangerous kick returner Devin Hester. Hester received the kick and burst downfield through the Colts’ special teams and into the end zone. The 92-yard scamper swung the momentum surely to Chicago.

On Indianapolis’ next possession, Peyton Manning threw an ill-advised jump ball down the right sideline that landed securely in the arms of Bears’ safety Chris Harris. Harris returned the pick six-yards to the Bears’ 35-yardline.

With momentum on their side, Chicago’s offense stepped onto the gridiron with Grossman at the helm. The Bears’ quarterback was unable to get the offense on track and they went three and out.

After the Brad Maynard punt went into the end zone for a touchback, Manning led the Colts back onto the field poised to score. The Colts went on a nine play 80-yard drive for a touchdown. The drive was capped by a wide-open 53-yard catch for a touchdown by Reggie Wayne. However, the Colts failed on the extra point attempt.

The rest of the half was all about turnovers. To be exact there were six turnovers in the first half, three by each team. The Colts’ second turnover, a Peyton Manning fumble, resulted in a four-yard pass play to Mushin Muhammad for a touchdown. The big play of the drive was a 52-yard scamper by Thomas Jones.

Down 14-6, the Colts scored twice in a row to take the lead, 15-14. First, Adam Vinatieri connected on a 29-yard field goal. That score was then followed by a one-yard Dominic Rhodes touchdown run. At the end of the half, Vinatieri missed a 32-yard field goal as time expired much to the elation of Brian Urlacher, the Bears and their fans.

The Colts came out of the halftime break firing on all cylinders. Vinatieri made two consecutive field goals stretching the lead to 22-14. As for the Bears, their offensive struggles continued.

Finally with 1:18 remaining the third quarter Chicago broke through with a field goal. Robbie Gould drilled a 44-yard attempt making the score 22-17 and giving Bears’ fans hope.

The answer to which Grossman would show up was decisively made in the fourth quarter. Grossman fumbled twice in the quarter, one of which was recovered by the Colts. Then in the big play of the game, “Sexy Rexy” threw a jump ball searching for Muhammad and it was picked off and returned to pay dirt for a Colts’ touchdown. Grossman and the Bears were the victims and Kelvin Hyden was the culprit.

The pick six was a dagger into any hopes of a Chicago comeback as the score stood at 29-17 with just over 11 minutes remaining. Bears fans’ hopes were dashed again on the next Chicago possession when Grossman under threw Bernard Berrian and Bob Sanders picked off the attempted deep ball.

The game ended with the score 29-17 and Peyton Manning named the Most Valuable Player. Manning ended the game 25-38 for 247 yards and a touchdown. Some argued that the combination of Joseph Addai and Rhodes were deserving of the award. Rhodes had 21 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown. Addai, a rookie, had 19 carries for 77 yards and 10 catches for 66 yards.

On the Colts’ defense, Bob Sanders also deserved MVP honors. Sanders was the key element that helped the Colts’ defense turn around in the playoffs. Sanders had not only an interception but also forced a fumble. Sanders added three tackles to boot.