Football is definitely in my blood. I love everything about the sport; from the spine chilling, breath taking singing of the Star Spangled Banner to the glory of the win. America’s real national pastime began in 1920 with the 14 league American Professional Football Association.
In 1922 the APFA became the NFL and had no serious competition until 1960 when the fourth American Football League became a major power. Battling years of bitter rivalry, the leagues were forced to broker a merger deal to curtail financial disaster. The merger was gradual; the 1967 season, they shared a draft and a championship bowl. By 1970 the merge was complete and consisted of a single super football league of 26 teams.
The “Super Bowl” name was derived from the bowl game, a term used to describe post-season college football games. The original “bowl game” was the Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California, which was first played in 1902 as the “Tournament East-West football game”, as part of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and moved to the new Rose Bowl Stadium in 1923. The stadium got its name from the fact that the game played there was part of the Tournament of Roses and that it was shaped like a bowl.
Super Bowl I, which capped off the 1966 season, took place on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Nearly 62,000 fans were seated in the stadium to witness Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers teach the Kansas City Chiefs a painstaking lesson regarding who was the best, to the score of 35-10. Millions were glued to the TV at home, and hence a new football tradition was born.
The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, opposed to the year in which it is played; however this year, is an exception, as the NFL is suspending the Roman numerals, and Super Bowl 50 will play the field. The location of the Super Bowl is chosen by the NFL well in advance, usually 3-5 years before the game.
Large cities place bids to host the event, and are evaluated in terms of stadium renovation and their ability to host. This year’s Super Bowl 50 will be held on Sunday February 7, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. The Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos vie for the win and take possession of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Coldplay will headline the entertainment, joined by Beyonce and will take stage to perform at halftime. Lady Gaga will bellow out the Star Spangled Banner to an estimated 111 million people. I have no doubt that she will warm the “cockles of your heart”.
Come on guys, you need to start cooking! Here are some super good recipes to headline your super day and evening.
Please keep in mind, this event brings a lot of parties, whether at home or at a venue. Know your limit on consuming alcohol; watch others for signs of intoxication.
Here are the recipes we have been posting all week for your epic Super Bowl party!
