Across Campus, Students Cheer and Bemoan Giants' Win

As two rivals butted heads in a championship rematch, football devotees and neophytes, Giants fans and Patriots die-hards gathered across campus to bear witness to the unfolding of Super Bowl XLVI—an event which ultimately left Giants supporters and Patriots detractors triumphant while Pats fans were disappointed yet again.

Viewing parties took many forms, ranging from screening in House Masters’ residences to House Committee-organized events in dining halls.

Approximately 100 students squeezed into the cramped penthouse of Quincy House Masters Lee and Deborah J. Gehrke to cheer on their favorite team.

“It’s so great that we have House Masters that really like to participate in student life,” said Ling Lin ’12, a former Quincy House Committee chair and Crimson design editor. “Instead of watching the show separately, we’re together.”

Throughout the night, the House Masters gave away Patriots team flags and held raffles for an assortment of gifts.

“Deb and Lee are spectacular,” said Collin A. Jones ’12, one of the 40 or so students who tolerated the penthouse’s space crunch to watch the entire game.

At the Quincy Masters’ party, students ranked the Super Bowl commercials from one to five. “Dieting Dogs,” an advertisement for Volkswagen, was a favorite among many.

Deborah Gehrke said the party was an opportunity to have “all [her] students together.”

“I wanted to have as many students as I possibly could cheering for the Patriots. Giants fans were welcome, too,” Deborah Gehrke said jokingly. “I love hosting this party.”

Around 30 Currier residents congregated in the Fishbowl as the championship game played on the room’s large central screen. Many brought their dinner trays in from the dining hall to catch the game’s opening kickoff.

“The Fishbowl [has] a great sense of House community,” Robert O. A. Nash ’12 said.

Mather Common Room drew a crowd of roughly 40 students and tutors. Leverett House screened the Super Bowl in the dining hall, as did Adams and Pforzheimer.

Dining halls specially tailored their dinner menus in honor of the evening’s main event, offering students a meal of sporting event staples such as hot dogs, nachos, and french fries.

“It’s like everything fried and good in this world in this one night,” said Katherine M. Woodbury ’14, who watched the game in the Pforzheimer dining hall.

While Quincy residents grilled their own burgers, Adams students crunched on popcorn and sipped free beer.

But for many the experience of watching the dramatic game with their peers trumped even Harvard University Dining Services’ special fare.

“It was very thrilling—very nail-biting,” said Sagar S. Desai ’15, who rooted for the Giants.

Ben T. Martin ’15, a Patriots fan, left a bit more disappointed than Desai.

“I’m emotionally devastated,” he said.

Right after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ran the last play, celebratory shouts of “Go, Giants!” reverberated throughout the Yard.

“The first time we beat the Patriots, everyone was surprised,” said Glenn R. Thrope, a Business School student who cheered for the Giants and rushed to the Yard moments after the game ended. “Now that we beat them a second time, it’s clear we’re not a fluke.”

—Staff writer Laya Anasu can be reached at layaanasu@college.harvard.edu.