Feb. 2, 2006

The Bus’s last stop?
Why Super Bowl XL is special

By JON MOFFETT
jrm001@marietta.edu

For every person who has ever dreamed of becoming a professional athlete, there is usually one thing that they all have in common.

Aside from wanting a multiple-million dollar salary, fame, respect, and admiration, there is another constant. Almost every athlete dreams of playing for their hometown or favorite team. The sad truth is that most of us will not become professional athletes, and in the slim event that we do, it’s almost guaranteed that we won’t be playing on our favorite or hometown team.

Some athletes, though, are lucky enough to do it. Jerome Bettis is not one of them. Bettis was born and raised in Detroit, yet never played for the Lions. But there’s something about his story that makes both him, and this event, truly special.
Bettis, a graduate of Notre Dame, began his career when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, who have since moved to St. Louis, in 1993. After a brief three-year stint, he was traded to Pittsburgh in 1996 for a couple of draft picks within the next two years. The Steelers look to have gotten the better end of the deal.

During his thirteen year career, Bettis has put up remarkable numbers, 91 total rushing touchdowns, and has become a figurehead in Pittsburgh. His smash-mouth style makes him an ideal choice in short-yardage situations.

His football achievements might be phenomenal, but the real reason that this Super Bowl is so special, is because Jerome is coming home. Super Bowl XL (40) is being held at Ford Field in Detroit. This marks Bettis’s first Super Bowl appearance. Coincidentally enough, he finds himself at his first Super Bowl in his home town. Can you imagine a better story for a career?
The big thing though, is that there has been a lot of talk of whether or not this will be Bettis’s last game. He’s considered retirement for the past few years. This seems to be it for Bettis, and what better way is there to go out.

Bettis takes pride in the game of football, something he must’ve learned from his parents. John and Gladys Bettis have never missed one of Jerome’s games in his thirteen year career, with the only two exceptions being when he played in Japan and in Mexico.

Not only is there a lot of emotion riding this game, but there is some history too. The Pittsburgh Steelers mark the first team in NFL history to go into the playoffs as the sixth seed and go to the Super Bowl. The road to the Super Bowl wasn’t exactly easy for them either, having to face teams that were ranked numbers 1 and 2 in Indianapolis and Denver respectively, as well as Cincinnati who had beaten them just a few weeks earlier.

The entire season will culminate on Sunday, February 5th as the Steelers take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.