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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks with strong safety James Ihedigbo during practice on Thursday. The Patriots are scheduled to face the New York Giants Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5. (Associated Press)
Millions of people will tune into NBC this Sunday.
Like every other Super Bowl Sunday, it is a toss up whether people are watching the game or waiting for the commercial breaks.
Then, there are those select people who just wait for the half-time show.
However, many SMU students will watch as former Mustang defensive back Sterling Moore storms the field as the New England Patriots take on the New York Giants in a re-match of the 2007 Super Bowl.
Playing at SMU from 2007 to 2009, Moore is the third Mustang to appear in the Super Bowl in three years.
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders played for the Steelers in last year’s game while Thomas Morstead, a punter, helped the New Orlean’s Saints win in 2010.
Just two weeks ago, Moore knocked the game-winning touchdown pass out of Ravens’ wide receiver Lee Evans’ hands to help the Patriots beat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game.
His performance on the field that day is referenced as a “Sterling Performance.”
Because of his game-saving play in Foxboro, Mass., he has a lot to live up to as he leads the Patriots’ secondary.
The national spotlight will be on the weakest passing defense in the NFL.
In recent years, the pressure faced by athletes in the Super Bowl has dramatically increased.
In 1967, the average Super Bowl ticket cost $9 while advertising time only cost $42,000 per minute.
Last year, the average Super Bowl ticket cost $900 while advertising time cost up to $3 million for the same amount of time.
Moore isn’t too concerned about the pressure of the event.
“Four years ago, I was working at Best Buy. It’s been a long road and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Moore told the media on Thursday.