'Super' fans seek ultimate victory

SANDUSKY — They're flying high, feeling proud of their respective teams who match up in Sunday's ultimate gridiron showdown. Of course, it's not the Cleveland Browns — far and away the region's most popular team. Actually, there's a sliver of area residents whose diehard fandoms align with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Five locals in particular spoke about when they began rooting for each team and what a title victory would mean for them: Patriots fan Patrick Wise, of Sandusky I would say I became a Patriots fan at around 10 years old in 1997. The Patriots were AFC East champions that year, and all I could think about was the fact that this team's colors were red, white and blue — and I grew up in a house where the only two teams my whole family would root for were the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I just couldn't get into rooting for either team. And after seeing the (1997) season the Patriots had with Drew Bledsoe at quarterback and Pete Carroll as head coach, at the time, I couldn't stop watching this team year in and year out. Yes, we had some ups and downs as a Patriots fan, hence why, after a few years, they parted ways with Pete Carroll and brought in one of the greatest coaches of all time, Bill Belichick. He turned this team around with his brilliant drafting techniques and free agency. And when all of Patriots nation thought our season was over in 2001, when Drew Bledsoe got hurt, here comes our savior for the franchise in Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick out of Michigan. Man, who would have thought this kid would have led us to an amazing run for our franchise and lead us to six Super Bowl victories? My favorite memory of all time would have to be Malcolm Butler's interception to seal our most recent Super Bowl victory against the Seahawks (in 2015). One of my bucket list items was to be able to go to Foxboro Stadium (New England's home stadium) and that has been checked off when my wife, Mandy Wise, and I went to Boston on our honeymoon. We stopped at the Patriots Hall of Fame and got to walk into the stadium when we were there. It was an absolutely amazing experience and so glad my wife wanted to experience that with me. And now, with this year's season almost at a conclusion, with us making the Super Bowl, once again, I am proud of this team. I can say that, last year, I wasn't sold on Drake Maye as our future quarterback. But after getting rid of the coaches at the end of the year and bringing in Mike Vrabel, a long-time Patriots player and now our new head coach, he was able to bring in a new excitement and joy into the locker room and other coaches to help develop the young quarterback, and we see where that got us today. I'm so excited for my team and for Patriots nation that we are in the Super Bowl, once again, and I am so pumped for Feb. 8 to get here. Let's go, Patriots: A Super Bowl win for my team this year would be amazing to me because my son, Grayson Wise, would get to watch our favorite team together win the Super Bowl. Seahawks fan Trey Lofton, of Sandusky I first became a fan in 2014. It was my second year ever watching football, and I loved their jersey colors, and the players were electric at the time. My favorite memory as a Seahawks fan has got to be the Super Bowl blowout victory over the (Denver) Broncos and, of course, the "Beast Quake" (a memorable touchdown scored by former running back Marshawn Lynch), but I wasn't watching at the time. (A victory) would mean so much more than a ring because everyone said we were going to go below .500 and (quarterback) Sam Darnold wasn't our guy. We proved all the haters wrong from Week 1, and now we're going to the Super Bowl. Patriots fan Tony Valentine, of Norwalk I became a fan of the Patriots when they drafted Ty Law in 1995. Being a Michigan fan, my favorite player was Ty Law, and then it continued when another Michigan man got drafted by the Patriots — a guy named Tom Brady. There are a lot of good memories to choose from with the Patriots. Of course, winning six Super Bowls has to be at the top. But, probably, my best memory is sort of a bittersweet one: going undefeated in 2007 because that was only the second time in NFL history for a team to have a perfect regular season, but the Patriots fell short in the Super Bowl, losing to the (New York) Giants with the David Tyree helmet catch. I was so mad. I threw all my Patriots stuff away, but then my wife (Stephanie, a Steelers fan) yelled at me and said that I spent too much money on stuff just to throw it away. Winning the Super Bowl would mean a lot to me. It would mean that the Patriots have seven (titles) — and my wife won't like this answer, but it would mean that they pass the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most all time. We got spoiled being Patriots fans for 20 years, having the GOAT (greatest of all time) Tom Brady, and now we have who people call Brady 2.0 in Drake Maye. So with a win in the Super Bowl, it could start another 20-year run. Who knows? Seahawks fan Chloe Valladares, of Fremont I'm from Seattle, so I grew up watching Seahawks games with my family. My favorite memory was when the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in 2014. My family hosted a Super Bowl watch party with all of my uncles, aunts and cousins. My friends and I were able to attend the Super Bowl parade in downtown Seattle and catch some Skittles from Marshawn Lynch. (A Super Bowl win) is much overdue. We had a great season this year, and it would be great to witness their second Super Bowl win. Patriots fan Corey Croom, of Sandusky, and a former New England Patriots player I played for them (the New England Patriots). Playing in the NFL was always a dream of mine, even as a young kid. My favorite running back was Eric Dickerson, and, in high school and college, I wore his number, 29. I never really had a favorite team growing up, just favorite players. I wasn't drafted in the 1993 (NFL) Draft but had my choice of a few teams to sign with. New England seemed like the best option because of their running back situation and the fact that they just hired a new head coach, Bill Parcells. I signed with them as a rookie free agent days after the draft. I wanted No. 29 with New England also, but it was already taken by a veteran player. I chose No. 26 for my second favorite running back, Wendell Tyler. It was a very cool experience being able to play in front of thousands of fans and to do what I loved. It was definitely a grind, but I liked the grind. Also great friendships were made that still exist to this day. (My favorite memory of all time was) the Super Bowl comeback versus Atlanta (2017) and the Malcolm Butler interception versus the Seahawks (in 2015) to win the Super Bowl. A Super Bowl win would mean, to me, that the Patriots would have to most Super Bowl wins in history, which would give me bragging rights over all of the Steelers fans, including Tracy Shoemo who's been avoiding my messages.