By WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Jeff Gravley
Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton, left, talks to Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning (18) after the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won 24-10. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
I had a hard time sleeping last night, awakened by dream after dream. The continuous flow of dreams was all about the Super Bowl and my experiences last week.
Let’s start with game day.
If you enjoy offensive shootouts, Super Bowl 50 was not for you. I’m an offensive guy who can appreciate good defensive efforts. Carolina was in that category but Denver a level above. The way they pressured the Panthers led to a lot of mistakes.
As I have said before, I love music and especially when it’s live. The halftime show was impressive with Coldplay and hot moves from Beyonce and Bruno Mars.
Late in the fourth quarter, I thought we were going to see a 17-16 final with the Panthers on the winning end. I was certainly pulling for the Panthers but I can appreciate watching Peyton Manning play what could be his final game.
WRAL-TV’s Jeff Gravley live on the field after the game.
I was live on the field after the game and didn’t attend Cam Newton’s brief postgame appearance. Much has been said and written about this. All I will add is there should have been a better set up. NEVER should opposing players be close enough to hear each other’s postgame comments. There is enough room in these stadiums where that doesn’t have to happen.
People have asked me what the set up in the area for the Super Bowl was like. Spread out is the best way to describe it. We stayed in downtown San Francisco and it was in a pretty rough area. In fact, one night a TV photographer from Chicago was robbed at gunpoint. When you check in and they say, “Don’t go to the Burger King next door,” that’s a pretty clear indicator of possible trouble.
The game was played in Santa Clara and the Panthers stayed in San Jose. The map reads 45 miles between that area and downtown San Fran. That could mean an hour commute or more. Just plan baby.
We did have a neat live location at Super Bowl City at the foot of San Francisco’s famed Market Street. The energy there was off the charts! Crowds were as thick as southern accents and music danced in the air.
The bottom line is I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to cover such a significant, athletic event as Super Bowl 50. I just hope it’s not my last Super Bowl. If you ever have a chance to go, take the bait and enjoy the experience of a lifetime.
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Jeff Gravley for this capcom story & for the capcom photo of him on the field.
