Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) made his Tremendous Bowl debut throughout an upset win over the St. Louis Rams in 2002.
(Doug Mills / Related Press)
Feb. 3, 2002, Superdome: New England 20, St. Louis 17
45. The primary Tremendous Bowl after the 9/11 terrorist assaults endlessly modified the best way the NFL staged the sport. That included going from easy paper credentials for media and 1000’s of others working the sport, to full background checks on everybody. That system was devised in two months, exceptional for a change of that magnitude.
46. One of many largest fears by organizers was the potential for an Anthrax assault. The stadium’s large air-filtration system was overhauled, and excessive measures have been taken to safe it.
47. Safety surrounding the sport was so tight that Sunday morning one of many pregame performers was stored outdoors the stadium till authorities acquired permission to let him in. That performer was the “little-known” Paul McCartney.
48. Along with the safety perimeter and personnel from all forms of federal companies, there have been water vans poised outdoors the Superdome. That was in case of an Anthrax assault, and if followers wanted to be washed down in an emergency scenario.
49. U2 was the halftime act, and whereas performing “Where the Streets Have No Name,” the band scrolled the names of all of the 9/11 victims on a large display behind the stage.
50. On account of the NFL suspending every week of video games within the fast aftermath of the assaults, the Tremendous Bowl was pushed again every week. That made rescheduling extremely advanced, because the league needed to pay $8.5 million to the Nationwide Car Sellers Assn. to reschedule its New Orleans conference. There have been different teams that needed to reschedule as effectively to ensure that the NFL to carry the Tremendous Bowl in New Orleans.
51. Had New Orleans fallen by means of as a Tremendous Bowl website, the NFL had drawn up contingency plans to play the sport both on the Rose Bowl or in Miami.
52. The sport was a stunning upset, as most individuals thought it could be a coronation for the mighty St. Louis Rams. As a substitute, a younger upstart quarterback named Tom Brady made his debut on the sport’s largest stage.
53. David Hill, the legendary producer who began Fox Sports activities, didn’t insert a industrial break through the pregame present. He stated the significance of the second referred to as for an unbroken tribute to the nation.
54. Hill wished the constructing to go utterly darkish when U2 completed its stirring efficiency. That required an 11-minute delay to “restrike” the lights and convey them again up for the second half. The NFL allowed that, and through that point Fox aired a Terry Bradshaw interview of McCartney bracketed by industrial breaks.
