When the Super Bowl comes around each year, two questions beg to be answered: Who will become the champion, and what are we going to eat while we watch them do it?
BYU athletes, faculty and students had no qualms in answering both of these pivotal questions that surround the legacy of football’s biggest game.
Predictions from the fans
Watch a couple BYU football players, a BYU accounting professor and other students weigh in on Super Bowl XLVIII.
Super Bowl traditions
When BYU football starting center Terrance Alletto first saw the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl in 1997, he remembered driving around town in his dad’s truck banging pots and pans to celebrate their boys’ win. It became a tradition that has been 14 years in the making — it has been that long since the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.
“Growing up in Denver we would always root for the Broncos,” Alletto said. “All those years with John Elway, we’d just be on the edge of our seats waiting for the games to come around.”
Freshman quarterback Billy Green, on the other hand, was raised a Seattle Seahawks fan in the Northwest. He is watching the Super Bowl away from family this year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Seahawks play one more game,” Green said. “We’re going to have some good people over and good food and will just enjoy it.”
No matter where they’re from or who they may root for, most Super Bowl enthusiasts can agree on two things: the importance of food and time with family and friends. 
Lauren Gemmel, a senior studying exercise science, is from Topsham, Maine, but grew up in Colorado and was raised in a family of Broncos fans. As with many other Super Bowl fans, she enjoys the food and family aspect the most.
“Of course you have good players and fun games to watch,” Gemmel said. “The best part, though, is spending time with family.”
Super Bowl parties transcend team loyalties
Football fans of all shapes, sizes and loyalties will prepare to celebrate the pinnacle of football competition with the glorious Super Bowl party. Kyle Talbot, whose beloved San Francisco 49ers were defeated by the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, will still take part in the Super Bowl festivities.
“It’s something that I’ve just started doing here in college — hosting parties,” Talbot said. “When it comes to parties, I’m just all about the food, friends and football.”
Talbot’s plans include setting up a projector and extra furniture in the apartment clubhouse and by headlining the Super Bowl spread with some Papa Murphy’s pizza. The other guests will be bringing contributions to fill out the spread, including favorites like hot wings, chips and salsa and Dr. Pepper.
While many folks have similar plans for the Super Bowl, usually involving food and loved ones, it means something different for each person.
What are your predictions, favorite traditions or party plans? Tweet them to #superbowltraditions
