Sizing up the Super Bowl: Ohio Wesleyan coach and QB weigh in

Keith Rucker, special teams coordinator for Ohio Wesleyan’s football team, played seven seasons in the NFL.

Rucker said the Super Bowl is a once in a career type of opportunity, one he never had, but analyzed the results of this year’s match.

More than 111 million viewers watched the Seattle Seahawks demolish the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Feb. 2 in the 48th Super Bowl at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

“Mental preparation for the Super Bowl is intensified and magnified by an unthinkable amount, in comparison to a regular season game,” Rucker said.

“First, there may not be another chance for most of those guys, especially if they are older players or free agents at the end of this year. Secondly, the entire world is watching as you have the opportunity to become the world champs.”

According to bleacherreport.com, the event set the record as the most-watched television show in United States history, while also producing the largest margin of victory in a Super Bowl in 21 years.

Bishops’ former quarterback, senior Mason Espinosa, said the Seahawks’ defense slowed Bronco’s quarterback Peyton Manning’s passing attack.

“The pass rush of the Seahawks didn’t necessarily sack Manning a lot but they were extremely disruptive,” Espinosa said.

“Manning’s timing was thrown off which allowed the Seahawks’ secondary to 0be really aggressive because they were never worried about getting beat deep. That, in combination with the length and height of the Seahawks’ secondary, the Broncos could not complete a pass thrown over 10 or 12 yards.”

Coincidentally, this Super Bowl match-up featured teams in two states, Colorado and Washington, where recreational marijuana use is legal.

The game also featured a clash between the Broncos’ No. 1 offense and the Seahawks’ 0No. 1 of the regular season.

Rucker said the Broncos will be back for more next season.

“I would think that a lot of the Broncos are feeling like they have something to prove next season and will try to get back there next year,” Rucker said.

“I’m sure the entire team was thoroughly embarrassed.”