This Sunday, all eyes will be on Minneapolis and the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots.
Those of you watching Championship weekend last Sunday will have seen the Philadelphia Eagles crush the Minnesota Vikings’ hopes of becoming the first team to host it’s own Super Bowl. Subsequently they face the defending champion New England Patriots this Sunday in a rematch of Super Bowl 39.
The Eagles, renowned this season for their defence and pass rush, will start two former UVa students in the Super Bowl – safety Rodney McLeod and defensive end Chris Long. McLeod played a stellar season at the heart of the secondary, and was even projected by madden to intercept Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. Because hoo wouldn’t want to see that?The latter made headlines earlier this season by pledging to donate his full 2017 salary to various charities. Notably, Long decided to give his first 6 weeks’ income to a scholarship program here in Charlottesville at Saint Anne’s-Belfield.
The Eagles’ defensive end enjoyed a solid 2017 season, registering 5 sacks and an impressive 4 forced fumbles. For those of you who saw the Eagles defeat the Vikings last weekend, Long’s pressure on quarterback Case Keenum led to the first interception – turning point – of the NFC Championship game. But his work off the field is equally as impressive. Long partnered with ‘Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Virginia’ and ‘St Anne’s Belfield School’ to provide 2, fully funded, 7 year scholarships for middle school students. This philanthropy serves as an example to all UVa students.
Who do you think will have the edge this weekend, Eagles or Patriots? Will we see Brady and Belichick and Tom Brady lift yet another Lombardi together? Will the Eagles change their sporting legacy? We’ll find out this Sunday at 6:30.
As you Americans continue to ask – ‘Hoo ya got?’ let us know in the comments below.
