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, outstanding for a change of that magnitude.
46. One of many greatest fears by organizers was the potential of an Anthrax assault. The stadium’s huge 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 saved outdoors the stadium till authorities received permission to let him in. That performer was the “little-known” Paul McCartney.
48. Along with the safety perimeter and personnel from all varieties of federal companies, there have been water vehicles 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 “The place the Streets Have No Title,” the band scrolled the names of all of the 9/11 victims on a large display screen behind the stage.
50. On account of the NFL suspending every week of video games within the quick aftermath of the assaults, the Tremendous Bowl was pushed again every week. That made rescheduling extremely complicated, because the league needed to pay $8.5 million to the Nationwide Vehicle Sellers Assn. to reschedule its New Orleans conference. There have been different teams that needed to reschedule as nicely to ensure that the NFL to carry the Tremendous Bowl in New Orleans.
51. Had New Orleans fallen by as a Tremendous Bowl web site, the NFL had drawn up contingency plans to play the sport both on the Rose Bowl or in Miami.
52. The sport was a surprising upset, as most individuals thought it could be a coronation for the mighty St. Louis Rams. As an alternative, a younger upstart quarterback named Tom Brady made his debut on the sport’s greatest stage.
53. David Hill, the legendary producer who began Fox Sports activities, didn’t insert a business break throughout the pregame present. He mentioned 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 produce 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 business breaks.