Gators' Guide to the Super Bowl in G-ville

Thursday, 04 February 2010 20:12

In a league built on parity, a NFL championship match-up between the top seeds in each conference hasn’t happened since 1993. But we will be treated to just that on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 6:28pm, when the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts take the field in Miami for the nation’s most-watched sporting event, the Super Bowl.

By Patrick Annesty

All season, the Saints and the Colts established their dominance over the rest of the league. New Orleans won 13 straight games before losing the last three of the season, though at that point they had already secured the top seed in the NFC, and starting quarterback Drew Brees didn’t play the final week.

Amid much controversy, Indianapolis pulled key starting players halfway through a Week 16 match-up with the New York Jets, abandoning pursuit of the second undefeated championship season in NFL history (the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to finish unblemished). The Colts, like their opponent, finished the regular season with a losing streak after locking up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

For those without a vested interest in either team, the actual game is only part of the fun. Super Bowl Sunday is practically a national holiday, and Americans everywhere will crowd around the television and gorge on meat, cheese, hot sauce and beer. Hosting your own Super Bowl party can be quite the production, but luckily, several bars around Gainesville are offering special deals for viewing parties.

There are two different ways bars cater to Super Bowl viewers. The first charges customers a one-time entrance fee for access to unlimited buffet and various drinks. For example, Ale House, located on Archer Road in the Butler Plaza, offers all-you-can-eat steamed clams, oysters, hoagies, wings, pasta and salad for $50 a seat. Entry also includes all-you-can-drink well, call and premium liquors, in addition to draft and bottled beer and wine. The party starts at 5pm, and reservations are required.

At Mother’s Pub and Grill, located just west of West 10th Street on University Avenue, $35 gets you unlimited steak, clam, snow crab, chicken wings, tenders, shrimp, draft and bottled beer, well and call liquors. Tickets will not be sold at the door, so call for reservations.

A third option, Joe’s Place, located on the southwest corner of Northwest 51st Street and 39th Avenue, offers a buffet of shrimp, wings, pork tenderloin, broccoli and penne Alfredo and all-you-can-drink draft beer. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 at the door, or you can reserve a table for four for $150. Two-for-one well liquors will be available, but are not included in the ticket price. Call or stop by for reservations.

For those hesitant to spend that much up front, other establishments simply offer food and drink specials and no charge at the door. Gator City, across University Ave. from campus in the midtown area, is offering 25 cent wings and $5 pitchers of Budweiser and Bud Light. Reservations are not necessary, but if you want to ensure a table (especially one with a view of the projector screen), contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Copper Monkey, located upstairs in the nearby UF Plaza, offers a similar deal but adds $5 burgers to the list. Hooters, known for its scantily clad waitresses, is synonymous with football and Gainesville’s is just south of Archer Road on 34th Street. Hooters is featuring a $5 menu with pitchers of Budweiser and Bud Light, ten wings or a burger. Both Copper Monkey and Hooters are first-come, first-served, so arrive early to secure a table.

Wherever you choose to watch, this year’s Super Bowl promises an exciting and fast-paced game. The Saints scored 510 points this season, tops in the league. But the Colts have the only 4-time MVP ever in Manning, quite possibly the smartest quarterback to play the game. Like many games between prolific offenses, this one may go to the last team to get the ball.