Despite a no-show from the New England Patriots in last night’s Super Bowl, several hundred Boston University students went to Metcalf Hall to watched the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle in the National Football League’s biggest game.
Students were treated to a raffle, free food and a 20-foot projection of the contest at the Student Activities Office’s presentation of the ‘Big Game.’ Students munched on barbecue chicken wings and pizza at the event. BU hats were also given out, and SAO officials raffled several Celtics tickets, chip and dip helmets and a television.
While the Oakland Raiders had some fans in the audience, a majority of the crowd favored the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Good plays by the Raiders drew a few isolated screams while good Buccaneers plays elicited loud applause several times during the night.
Still, anti-Boston College feelings seemed to outweigh all allegiances at several points during the night. The crowd booed nearly unanimously at the introduction of BC graduate Bill Romanowski, a Raiders linebacker.
One Raiders fan was openly disheartened by his team’s performance, after they lost 48-21, though he said the commercials were fun to watch.
‘The Raiders were horrible, though there were some good, entertaining commercials,’ said Andrew Meroney, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Meroney said he came to the GSU for the game, instead of watching at home, because, he said, ‘why not sit here and have a good time watching it on the biggest TV in BU?’
Tampa Bay fan Nick Kassotis, a junior in CAS, had other reasons for watching the game in the GSU.
‘My TV has a lousy reception so watching it here seemed like a good idea,’ Kassotis said.
Though his team did not play in the game, Mitch Yapko, a Detroit Lions fan, also rooted for the Bucs last night.
‘Tonight I’m rooting for the Buccaneers,’ Yapko said. ‘I’m a Lions fan but I like the underdog thing, but it’s only a game.’
Several students in attendance said they were not avid football fans, but said the free food and big screen TV were what attracted them.
Technical difficulties nearly ruined the event, leading several students to file out of the GSU ballroom and watch the game on the televisions downstairs, but the problem was corrected just minutes before the opening kickoff leading to several cheers from the crowd.
Several students said afterward they were pleased with the event in general.
‘This event has probably been held for about the last 15 years,’ SAO member Annie Paquette said. ‘We want to bring students together and provide a way to collaborate on Super Bowl Sunday.’