By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor

Jeff McDuff and Joseph Lopez had their eyes fixated on every play of Super Bowl XLIII, as they sat in front of the big screen television in the University Park clubhouse Sunday night.

Lopez roots for the Pittsburgh Steelers; McDuff roots against them. So when Pittsburgh’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger kneeled on the ball to clinch a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Lopez immediately pulled out his cell phone to call his mom.

“I’ve been a Steelers fan since I was seven,” said Lopez, social work grad student from Haskell. “My mom is a big QVC shopper. I’ll get at least a couple of hats and a couple of shirts.”

McDuff, however, kept his cell phone in his pocket.

“I was born not to like the Steelers,” said McDuff, senior accounting major from Indianapolis. “Being a Cowboys and a Colts fan, the Steelers have always been a big stumbling block to our success. It’s disappointing.”

Both students agreed this year’s Super Bowl was worth watching.

“It was a good game,” McDuff said. “The Steelers came back, and [Steelers wide receiver] Santonio Holmes made that ridiculous catch in the end zone – that was phenomenal. But I really feel bad for [Cardinals wide receiver] Larry Fitzgerald, who made two ridiculously good touchdown catches.”

Lopez then jokingly replied, “Would you like to speak to me? I’m going for a license in social work,” he said. “I can help you through your time of grief.” While Lopez, McDuff and several other ACU students watched the final seconds of the game from the UP clubhouse, Justin Pecoroni, general manager of The Grove, sat quietly in his office, finishing up some office work. A Super Bowl party had been planned at The Grove clubhouse, and while about 10 people showed up for it, they all had left before halftime.

“We kind of figured it wouldn’t be too big,” Pecoroni said. “It’s really a day that a lot of people spend doing their own things.”

Other parties formed in residential hall lobbies around campus, but most students watched the Super Bowl with their friends from the comfort of their own dorm rooms or apartments.

“It was nice to see the Steelers back in the Super Bowl again,” Lopez said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them back there next year.”

McDuff then replied, “I’m just waiting for The Office to come on.”