By Tony Kennedy
*This article was originally published on Sports & Service.
Tony Kennedy is just you average sports guy, who happens to know every fact known to mankind about the Super Bowl.
A former football player for Virginia Tech — and former free agent with the Dallas Cowboys — Kennedy has always been about sports. After teaching History for some years, Kennedy decided to follow his passion and do everything he could within the sports industry while also mentoring youths. Now, Kennedy runs the Maryland Crab Bowl, a state high school All-Star football game, as well as the Kennedy Sports Group. In addition, Kennedy serves as the Eastern All-Star Director of the United States Army Bowl.
When Kennedy isn’t mentoring kids or working on the sideline, he’s talking shop with his friends on their podcast, “The TD Report”. With Super Bowl LVII fast approaching, Kennedy felt inspired to write. Football fans, this is a story for you.
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The history of Super Bowl Sunday is a tale of passion and dedication to the sport we all love. It all started with a $12 entrance fee on January 15, 1967, when the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game was played in Los Angeles at the iconic LA Coliseum. The Green Bay Packers took on the Kansas City Chiefs in a game that would lay the foundation for what would become one of the biggest events in sports.
It wasn’t until 1969 that the game officially became known as the “Super Bowl,” with “Super Bowl III” being given to the game played in Miami between the Jets and the Colts. And since then, the Super Bowl has been a source of anticipation and excitement for die-hard football fans everywhere.
One of the standout players of the first Super Bowl was Herb Adderley, a future Hall of Famer who played as a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers. He was the “Original Shutdown Corner” and the first defensive player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl after intercepting the Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica in Super Bowl II for a 60-yard return.
Barbara Adderley, Herb’s wife, was lucky enough to attend four of the first six Super Bowls and recalls the excitement of those early games. Barbara remembers the movie stars who held a reception for the winners after the game, with Ricardo Montalbán in attendance, and the players and stars partying together. Barbara also has the distinction of being one of the first white and black wives to room together on their road trips to the Super Bowl, along with Margaret Lewis, the wife of Dallas Cowboys LB D.D. Lewis.
The Super Bowl truly became a cultural phenomenon in the 1970s with the rise of great teams like the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, and Pittsburgh Steelers. These legendary teams dominated the field, playing in a combined 10 Super Bowls and winning nine championships during this decade. Their success on the field and the excitement they brought to the game cemented the Super Bowl’s place as the biggest event in American sports. The fierce competition and unforgettable performances by these teams created a sense of awe and wonder for fans, making the Super Bowl must-see TV. The 1970s marked the beginning of an era where the Super Bowl would capture the hearts and minds of football fans everywhere, and it’s a time that will always be remembered as a golden age for the sport.
Today, the Super Bowl is a different beast altogether, with ticket prices reaching more than $7,500, according to StubHub. But for die-hard football fans, the high cost is a small price to pay to be a part of this monumental event. From the excitement of the game to the performances by the biggest musical stars at halftime, the Super Bowl is a celebration of everything that makes football great. So, raise your team’s flag, put on your jersey, and get ready to cheer on your favorite squad on Super Bowl Sunday.
Photo credits: Courtesy of Shutterstock, Tony Kennedy
