Column: Super Bowl is more than just ads

Lauren McQueen, Managing Editor

Professional football has never really been my biggest interest. Growing up in a house where my dad always rooted for the Miami Dolphins, I was not accustomed to the excitement of cheering for a winning football team.

Sorry dad.

But this year, I participated in my first Fantasy Football league, along with some of my coworkers from The Daily Eastern News. Being forced to pay attention every week so I could start the best players really piqued my interest in the teams and the players.

It’s actually kind of exciting to actually know what’s going on with different players. Also, I had found something else to talk to my dad about other than the routine conversations about how school is going.

After taking part in the fantasy league, which I ended up in 2nd place in, I seemed to care more about football and the NFL. I am actually excited about the Super Bowl on Sunday, and for more reasons than just because I enjoy the commercials.

I don’t have a favorite team, and I don’t have a preference for either the Panthers or the Broncos, but I’m still planning to attend a Super Bowl party, eat football-themed snacks, and enjoy the game.

I have always watched the Super Bowl for as long as I can remember, but I will admit until last year, I never actually watched the game part of the show. I will also admit the only reason I paid attention to the game last year was because I wasn’t going to miss a chance to see Jimmy Garoppolo’s beautiful face on the big screen.

Before last year, I was always more entertained by the commercials and the halftime show.

I am a little disappointed Coldplay is headlining the show this year, but let’s be honest, were they really going to get a performer better than Beyoncé?

Although I did hear Beyoncé, who reunited Destiny’s Child during her set in 2013, is supposed to make an appearance during this year’s show as well.

The only other reason I ever watched the Super Bowl was for the commercials. Whether I was laughing so hard I cried during the Doritos commercial, or watching the Budweiser commercial during which tears rolled down my face for a different reason, the entertainment that comes from watching Super Bowl commercials is endless.

I have already watched one of the new Doritos commercials several times. That’s mostly because it’s really kind of creepy, but that’s beside the point.

The actual game can be just as entertaining as the commercial breaks or the roughly 12-minute halftime show.

A lot of really great plays can happen during the Super Bowl or any football game for that matter. It’s exciting and people really should pay more attention.

Lauren McQueen is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].