Best Game Ever: Super Bowl XXXIV Ice Jacks Extend Win Streak to Four
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J umberjack Pape 10 Oct. 9 - Oct. 15, 2008 Best Game Ever: Super Bowl XXXIV Ice Jacks extend WADE MCMILLIN nessee, the squad figured out a as Baker-Fletcher), Leonard in which Wycheck lateraled T he L umberjack way to nearly pull out a thrill Little and Grant Wistrom. the ball across the field to win streak to four er. Ihe 1999-2000 Titans Dyson for a 75-yard kickoff BRYCE PROPHETEB the Jacks fell into some pen If football" really is a game The Titans’ two-minute squad wasn’t far from the tal return for a touchdown. T he L umberjack alty trouble and gave up three of inches, then Super Bowl offense worked to perfection. ent base that the Rams had St. Louis didn’t have XXXIV in 2000, between the Tennessee’s final drive could built up through many years trouble in the playoffs un unanswered power-play goals The stage was set. The before putting it away with an St. Louis Rams and the Ten have came down to a coin flip of losing. Tennessee’s unit had til the NFC Championship Division II San Diego State other score of their own. nessee Titans, was the cham riding on quarterback Steve a lot of heart with many crafty game against Tony Dungys Aztecs were coming off two “We had quite a few pionship of inches.’Personally, McNair’s ability to make that veterans such as offensive line Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The wins over the University of penalties,” said senior Matt the ending is what made this one game-changing play inside man Bruce Matthews, tight end contest proved to be a de Southern California Trojans Dyal. “Actually, every goal they matchup the best Super Bowl St. Louis’ 10-vard line. Despite Frank Wycheck, running back fensive battle, as the Rams the week before and, with the scored on us this weekend was because it literally came down McNair s best efforts, the Rams’ Eddie George and McNair. The narrowly defeated the Bucs, addition of home ice, seemed on the pOwer play.” to a final lunge by Titans wide defense squashed Tennessee’s Titans’ recent draft picks of de 11 -6. Warner completed the to have the upper hand. But receiver Kevin Dyson. Super Bowl hopes and went fensive end ]evon Kearse and game's only touchdown to Dyal, Ingram and Shaffer the Northern Arizona Ice Jacks agreed that the power play and Trying to give Tennessee onto win 2000 s Vince Lom defensive back Samari Rolle wide receiver Ricky Proehl, were not about to let their ri its fi rst Super Bowl victory with bardi trophy, 23-16. also contributed to their 16-4 with 4:14 left to win the penalty-killing special teams vals steal an easy win. six seconds left. Dyson made a Much like any good mov finish under head coach Jeff game. are areas that need improve After taking a two-game ment. lunge towards paydirt, but was ie, what made this game was the Fisher. After winning the NFC sweep against Fresno State last brought down one yard shy by characters on both teams. The In addition to the play Championship, the Rams * “Obviously there’s always weekend, Division III NAU Rams linebacker Mike Jones. 2000 Rams had former NFL ers, the way both teams got to went onto win their first something we can do better,” had some momentum of their The tackle put a damper on the Europe standout and league Super Bowl XXXIV and the Super Bowl appearance in Schaffer said. “But the bottom own. As the two undefeated Titans’ attempt to tie the con MVP Kurt Warner leading the alter math of what happened franchise history against the line is we got two big wins and I teams watched each other skate test alter a huge drive in the offense, with help from future throughout following years Titans. However, St. Louis think everyone was pretty hap onto the ice in San Diego, they dosing moments of the game. hall-of-famer Marshall Faulk made this one game very sig made its return to the Super py with the way we played.” knew that only one could skate Jones’ crucial red zone stop and the talented Isaac Bruce. St nificant. Bowl two seasons later, just In the second game, Dyal off still holding that title. would later be known simply Louis1 offensive line may rank 'Ihe Titans barely made it in time to be the first team had two goals while seniors Ty The anticipation mount as "The Tackle.” as one of the best lines in the past the Wild Card round of the to witness the emergence ler Homes and Michael Pearce ed, the puck dropped and the 'The tackle by Jones was history of football, and many 1999-2000 playoffs after finish of Tom Brady and the New contributed one apiece. play begun. Two and a half probably the play of the game, would argue it was a key fac ing second place in the divi England Patriots. “I think the deciding fac as it secured the Rams’ first Su tor for the Rams'- 16-3 record sion behind the 14-2 Jackson In 2002, the Patriots hours later, as the final whistle tor was we really, really wanted blew, the scoreboard displayed per Bowl win; however, foot in the 1999-2000 season under ville Jaguars. Tennessee’s Wild defeated the Rams 20-17 in it,” Dyal said. “They’re defi decisively: NAU 4, SDSU 3. ball fans might agree the Ti head coach Dick Vermeil. Not Card game in 1999 could also Super Bowl XXXVI. With nitely a very skilled team, but tans’ drive was really the most far behind one of the leagues be one of the best NFL games its first title, New England After a close game I think we just wanted it a little impressive part of the game. top offenses was a solid defense ever. The Titans squeaked past went on to win two more throughout the night Friday, more" Even though time ticked down made up of players such as the Buffalo Bills 22-16 on the .Super Bowls in the next the lacks scored a late goal and Freshman Matt Williams and all odds were against Ten London Fletcher (now known famous “Music Citv Miracle,” three seasons. were able to hold on for the was the winning goalkeeper in win, beating SDSU for the first both games for the Jacks. time in team history. “He made some ridicu Junior Dillon Shaffer se lous saves,” Schaffer said. cured two goals for NAU and “Saves that he can’t be expected Remembering “the house that Ruth built” junior Kevin Ingram contrib to make all the time. But when ’ uted another. he needed to, he made some CHUCK CONSTANTINO went to was a Yankees game. Park. This section of the stadi announcer Bob Sheppard. “We had never beat San key ones" T he L umberjack To me, that stadium was um contains a collection of re Yankee fans are the greatest Diego State before,” Ingram The two wins against a ’ much more than a ballpark, tired jerseys, monuments and fans any professional team said. “We just wanted to go out former division rival helped ce As soon as I entered this it was almost like a refuge. plaques of some of the greatest could ask for. Yankee Stadi and work our hardest with lots world, ] was born a Yankees Before games, I would walk the ball players to ever wear the um is continually sold out; ment the confidence of a team of hustle and never quit.” striving for greater things. fan. My parents, cousins, aunts streets of the Bronx and go into pinstripes. each game, fans show up Saturday night was a re “We have a lot of con and uncles are all fans of the random little hole-in-the-wall Even though 1 was young with soul, confidence and match of the same two teams, Bronx Bombers. It is in my shops and search for rare auto and had never seen the likes excitement. Bob Sheppard fidence as a team, especially, although they now held dif while only playing four game? blood; my grandfather pitched graphed balls or baseball cards. of Yankee greats such as Lou has been announcing games I ferent records. With the Jacks together,” Ingram said. “We* I for th£ Yankees for a couple of The smell in the air while tail Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Mickey for over half a century. ‘“The looking to remain unbeat pulled off two big wins and 1 seasons before blowing out his" gating was always one of Italian Mantle, being in Monument Voice of God,” Reggie Jack en and San Diego trying to arm. sausages and peppers. Park made me feel like I’d seen son called him. think it’s definitely going to even the score, the two teams Growing up in New Jer During the fall, the past Yankees play. The tradition in Yan help us roll" I * squared off with the Jacks once sey, I lived less than an hour warmth of grills and smiles Some of the most dis kee Stadium is the richest The Ice Jacks host Nev£« again taking the win 5-3. away from the stadium. As a could cancel the cold chill in tinctive aspects about a Yan part of the stadium. I can Mexico in their home opener It was NAU who scored kid I made frequent trips to the air. kee game aren’t those of the remember my first time at lay Lively Ice Arena this Fri first.