Wednesday, January 24, 2001
Super Bowl Notebook
Coaches deal with hype
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
TAMPA, Fla. — Neither the Giants nor the Ravens had practice Tuesday. The teams and coaches were busy, however, and were available to the media at Raymond James Stadium.
Both teams will practice today.
Coaches Brian Billick and Jim Fassel are enjoying their first Super Bowl trips.
“It's kind of hard to put the Super Bowl into exact terms,” the Giants' Fassel said. “It has become an American holiday. I have watched the game for 34 years and have seen it evolve to the point to where months before the game, people are talking about what they are going to be doing for a Super Bowl party. It has become a holiday where everything else stops.”
Baltimore's Billick said dealing with the crunch of attention is the key to the game.
“The game itself is going to be pretty clear,” he said. “Those three hours are pretty pure, and that's what you are in the game for. The only difference between this game and the other ones we've played is the presence and how you deal with this presence.”
STREAKING: The Giants and Ravens enter the Super Bowl having won a combined 17 games in a row, the second-longest streak in 35 Super Bowl matchups.
In 1973, Miami (16 wins) and Washington (two) came into the game with a combined 18-game win streak. In 1977, Oakland (12) and Minnesota (four) had 16 wins in a row.
BIG MEN: Ravens tackle Tony Siragusa, who weighs 342 pounds, and teammate Sam Adams, who weighs in at 330, have a defensive strategy.
“Me and Sam are trying to eat as much as possible so our bellies are so bloated that we can totally block out (middle linebacker) Ray Lewis,” Siragusa said.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the first Baltimore Raven?
Answer: Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, who was the franchise's first draft choice in the 1996 draft.
“It feels great. I'm a trivia question. That's me,” he said. “I'm proud to be here representing Baltimore.”
AWARDS: The Sporting News announced a series of awards Tuesday that will be published in its Jan.29 issue.
St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk was player of the year, Philadelphia's Andy Reid coach of the year, and Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher rookie of the year.
DRIVE TIME: Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton, who came up with the passing plan that helped beat the Vikings 41-0 in the NFC title game, has a harder task facing him this week against the Ravens' record-setting defense.
“They do a great job tackling,” Payton said. “They run to the ball real well, and the eight-, nine-, 10-play drives against this defense are real difficult. There's a turnover along the way, or a sack.”
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Super Bowl Notebook