Both the Ravens and 49er’s held brief practice sessions at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome as part of their final preparation for Super Bowl XLVII. In addidtions to last-minute scouting reports and team meetings, teams are given a fifteen-minute window to appear at the stadium one-last time. Busloads of fans and family members of the last two NFL teams standing were able to watch the contenders work out and stretch briefly on the field where Sunday’s game will be played. The brief session could almost be described as a pep rally of sorts for the teams.
One 49er fan prompted the crowd to perform their traditional cheer of “Who’s got it better than us,” to which the mass of fans loudly shouted “Nobody!” The cheer even drew the ire and applause of 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. After the walk-through, those in attendance walked around the field posing for pictures and signing autographs.
“We wanted to come over,” Harbaugh said. “From a football aspect we need to get used to the lights…they looked a little brighter than the last time we were down here.”
In the Raven’s camp, their New Orleans experience can be summed up as sixty minutes of football, but a lifetime of memories. Their session consisted more of a backyard social than practice, though footballs were involved. The approximated 600 or so family members connected to the Raven’s family and organization were on-hand to create a festive atmosphere.
Technology was working overtime to capture all of the joyous events transpiring on that football field. Ray Rice jokingly tackled his mother, Anquan Boldin went through his paces in an Orioles cap, Marshall Yanda fastened a camera on top of his Raven’s cap and Ed Reed led the conditioning drills at the conclusion of the event.
Unquestionably the Ravens are happy, healthy, and hungry for another title, not to mention extremely loose headed into the Big Game. Head Coach John Harbaugh, who walked onto the field with his daughter, said that “family has been the whole storyline of the week. Most of the time in the NFL, there is a separation of family and it can cause a distraction. When families are included, the kids get to know the players and I think guys have a better sense of well-being.”
