|
|
January 31, 2004
Hype has the teams on the run
Questions, answers are familiar as the Super Bowl talk continues
By John Dell | JOURNAL REPORTER
HOUSTON
Things are getting a little redundant as the Super Bowl XXXVIII hype and all the pregame talk that goes with it rolls on.
The head coaches of the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots met with the media yesterday morning, but there wasn't a lot to report. More questions, most of which have already been asked, and the answers seemed awfully familiar.
Coach John Fox of the Panthers seemed as if he would rather be anywhere else than talking again with reporters, something he has done at least once a day since they arrived. After answering a few questions he hurried off the podium like a man in search of his missing car keys.
Before leaving the podium, Fox was supposed to pose with the Vince Lombardi Trophy so photographers could take some pictures. Fox stopped for only a few seconds and half of the 30 or so photographers failed to get a picture.
Perhaps Fox is getting a little tired of the media spotlight, and is ready for the game.
And as far as reflecting on what he and the Panthers have accomplished this season, Fox has no intention of letting those feelings out. Maybe that's why he didn't want to linger too long near the shinny Super Bowl trophy.
"This is only my second opportunity to play in the last game," said Fox, who was the defensive coordinator with the Giants when they lost the Super Bowl after the 2000 season to Baltimore. "Very few occasions does a coach get to say this is our last game. It's something that you don't get the opportunity to do a lot.... As far as reflecting, I don't like to reflect until it's over - and we still have a game to play."
That game Fox is referring to is Super Bowl XXXVIII, which will kick off around 6:25 p.m. Sunday from Reliant Stadium.
The Panthers will get one last workout this afternoon and will practice at the stadium.
After practice the Panthers will move to another hotel to avoid any distractions. It's expected to be a light workout today, but one of the benefits will be practicing where the game will be played.
One thing Fox hasn't had to worry about this week is getting the attention of his players. For most of them it's a first-time experience, but they've handled it well, according to Fox.
"I've been impressed with the maturity of our team and the focus of our team all season," Fox said. "... We have a good pipeline of information throughout the team to prepare for this - from the experience of media day, to the experience of this, to the game itself."
Coach Bill Belichick of the Patriots, whose team has won 14 straight and will be trying to win its second Super Bowl in the last three seasons, doesn't much care that his team is favored by nearly a touchdown.
The Patriots were heavy underdogs against St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI yet they won.
So is there more pressure on his team because they are favored? "I don't think so," he said. "I think the main focus is on the Carolina Panthers.... It's not about external or internal pressure or anything else like that."
With two weeks to prepare after the conference-championship games, Belichick said that is about the right amount of time, but he acknowledged going against the Panthers won't be easy.
"Carolina is the type of team you could prepare for eight weeks and still need more time," he said.
The one thing Belichick had in common with Fox yesterday was to refrain from reflecting on what they've accomplished.
Belichick sang the same tune as Fox. When he was asked about being mentioned as one of the top coaches in NFL history if the Patriots win Sunday, what that would mean to him. "Not much," he deadpanned.
He later said he appreciated the compliment, but his focus remains on Sunday's game.
"I think at this point anything anybody is thinking about is playing the Carolina Panthers," Bilichick said.
And to think, it's only about 36 more hours until game time.
• John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com