With the start of a new year and spring semester, many are no longer thinking of football. However, fans of the National Football League still have one more game to look forward to: the Super Bowl.
Football fans across the country will be watching on Sunday, Feb. 9, as the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs compete for the championship title in Super Bowl 2025.
While football takes center stage, a wide array of other experiences will also be featured. Music fans are eagerly anticipating Kendrick Lamar's halftime show performance with special guests like SZA, while others are excited to see the new commercials.
Social media is abuzz with anticipation for Super Bowl Sunday, highlighting the game's cultural significance and global appeal.
“Football is a big part of American culture, and the NFL is the primary, like, largest football organization in America," said Owen Costable, sophomore in professional flight.
Some students prefer to watch the game in a bar with friends where they can order food, while others prefer tailgating at home with family and grilling out.
Costable described his fraternity's tradition for Super Bowl Sunday. Every year, they get wings and nachos, decorate their house and gather around the TV to root for their favorite team.
Since Alabama does not have its own NFL team, people in the state can pick and choose who they want to root for.
“There's a lot of fans from both teams. Being from Alabama, you can kind of choose who you want to root for because you don't have any team in the state. So that works for everybody,” said Reilly Elrod, bartender at Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint.
Super Bowl Sunday is not only for football fans, but also for those who like to spend time with loved ones. The event offers opportunities for socializing with friends and beer tasting.
“We host a Super Bowl party in here for our notchers, which is a beer club that we do here. People that drink 100 different beers with us, they get a shirt with a nickname on it and stuff. So they'll get invited to our party, and we took a bunch of food for everybody and stuff so they can hang out,” Elrod said.
For many football fans, Super Bowl Sunday is a tradition that will last a lifetime. Some students reflected on how this day will be celebrated in the future, once they form their families.
“Maybe when I'm a dad and I have kids, I'll find some way to torture them with having to bring their significant others to the house, and I'll find ways to humiliate them,” said John Michael Parcelewicz, senior in supply chain management.
More than just a game, Super Bowl Sunday is a cultural touchstone, a day for connection and celebration. As the Eagles and Chiefs battle for the championship, the focus is on the shared experiences, the traditions and the sense of community that this annual event inspires.
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