When it’s all said and done, the New Orleans Saints’ stint as world champions will have lasted less than a year.
Either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Green Bay Packers will hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night in Dallas — exactly 364 days after the Saints did the same thing in Miami.
This fact isn’t lost on many University students, as the Saints’ early exit in this year’s playoffs has understandably curbed some enthusiasm for Super Bowl XLV.
“I care about it like it’s a game I can watch, but I’d rather watch the Saints in the Super Bowl,” said Taylor Roy, communication studies junior.
Of course, the local favorite can’t win the Super Bowl every season, which raises the question whether LSU students can bring themselves to care about a non-Black and Gold Super Bowl.
“Unless the Saints are in it, professional football kind of sucks,” said Leigh Anne Evensky, marketing freshman.
For those fans with a less severe point of view, there are at least a few reasons — aside from the commercials — to tune in Sunday.
The history involved in the matchup is cause enough for interest. The Steelers enter the game with a league-best six world titles, while the Packers claimed the first two championships and are going for their fourth.
“I like both teams. I’m a big fan of [Pittsburgh coach] Mike Tomlin, and obviously Green Bay has some LSU ties with Matt Flynn,” said Adam Waguespack, theatre sophomore. “I’m just hoping it’s a good game, since it’s not the Saints.”
Many people are rooting for the Packers in the hopes of seeing something new. This is Pittsburgh’s third Super Bowl appearance in six years, and the Steelers won in both of those trips — in 2005 and 2008.
“I don’t like Pittsburgh,” said Craig Clement, international business senior. “Their uniforms are black, they’re playing the intimidation factor, and plus they’ve won it before. And I just don’t like them.”
Others hope to see Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers enter elite status among NFL quarterbacks after he completed 65.7 percent of his passes this season for 3,922 yards and 28 touchdowns.
“I like Aaron Rodgers. He was my fantasy quarterback all season long — didn’t disappoint,” Clement said.
Others hope a Packers win will help Rodgers overcome the legacy of Brett Favre, who played 16 seasons in Green Bay and brought the Packers their most recent world title in 1996.
“I’d like to see Rodgers get his ring and shit all over Brett Favre’s legacy,” Clement said.
There’s also an important fact for many Saints fans regarding the Packers. One week after New Orleans bowed out of the playoffs, Green Bay dismantled the Saints’ biggest rival — the Atlanta Falcons — in the Georgia Dome to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
“I respect the Packers, since they beat the Falcons. That takes some talent,” said Michael Broadwell, biochemistry senior. “I like what Aaron Rodgers has done since Brett Favre left. They’re the next best choice after the Saints.”
 
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Contact David Helman at [email protected]