Groton family heads south for big game

While most local football fans will plop on their couches to watch today's big game, a Groton family will settle into lower-level seats at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Roger Spanier, his wife, Darci, and his son, Brandon, will don their Pittsburgh Steelers gear to cheer for their favorite team in Super Bowl XLV.

They also went to Super Bowl XLIII two years ago in Tampa, Fla. In that game, then-Steelers' wide receiver Santonio Holmes made a spectacular touchdown catch with 35 seconds to play to help boost Pittsburg to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

"One of the most breathtaking things since my kids were born," Roger, 48, said.

"I don't even know if you can put (it) into words," Brandon, 20, said. "It was unbelievable, the way it ended."

Roger has a photo of the catch, which was in the end zone on the opposite side of the field from where the Spaniers were sitting. It shows Holmes' toes just inside the end zone's boundaries - proof to doubters, Roger said, that Holmes was in bounds and the touchdown was valid.

It might be tough for today's game to match that excitement level. But the battle between the Steelers and Green Bay Packers should be a spectacle no matter the score. The game will be broadcast on Fox with kickoff scheduled for about 5:25 p.m.

Again today, the Spaniers have lower-level, end-zone seats and hopes of a Pittsburgh victory.

"Nothing (would be sweeter) than winning the Super Bowl on the Cowboys' brand new stadium turf," Roger said.

This is the second year Dallas has played in its massive, state-of-the-art stadium, and many experts thought the Cowboys would reach the Super Bowl. Instead, the team didn't even qualify for the playoffs, a fact that yields no sympathy from Roger.

A Steelers win would make the drive home a pleasant one, he said. But he can handle a loss to the Packers, a team many of his friends and neighbors cheer for.

Like they did two years ago, the Spaniers bought their tickets though an agent who arranges packages to Super Bowls and other sporting events.

Roger and Brandon go to one Steelers home game per season. This year, Brandon said, the game wasn't one of the best. New England soundly defeated Pittsburgh. He's hoping for better today.

Brandon said he wanted to go to the AFC championship game two weeks ago, during which Pittsburgh built a big lead and held on for a victory over the New York Jets. He was more confident about winning that game than today's. But he relented to his dad, who wanted to hold out for a second Super Bowl trek.

Keys to success for the Steelers today include getting pressure on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, forcing a couple of turnovers and taking an early lead, Brandon said.

The game aside, there are plenty of other activities in the Super Bowl host city, Roger said. The NFL Experience is an event that features displays, entertainment, games, a huge memorabilia show and opportunities to get autographs from NFL players and alumni. Plus, he said, there's a big pep rally the night before the game and a tailgate party the afternoon of the game.

One of the best parts of the trip will be spending time with so many other Steelers fans, Brandon said.

Roger agrees. It's fun to visit with fans of the other team, too, he said. Two years ago, the interaction between Steelers and Cardinals fans was good-natured, he said.

Darci, 37, is a reformed Vikings fan who has a Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh jersey and pays more attention to the Steelers during the playoffs than during the regular season.

"I have to (cheer for the Steelers) to live here or else I'd be booted," she said.