Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay, Fla. January, 28, 2001. Super Bowl XXXV. It was a perfect storm for the Baltimore Ravens that day, as they beat the New York Giants, 34-7.
After spending four seasons trying to connect with a town that still loved its long-gone Colts, the Ravens finally captured the heart of Charm City that night. A love affair began in full.
Recommended Stories
More than five years later, the memories still linger for the remaining players on the team, which returns to the site of the franchise?s greatest moment Sunday against the Buccaneers.
“When you think about the Super Bowl, that game, you think about it right before you go to bed and just sleep,” offensive guard Edwin Mulitalo said. “You sleep with a smile.”
Mulitalo said he and other veterans like kicker Matt Stover, linebacker Ray Lewis, cornerback Chris McAlister and running back Jamal Lewis ? who were all on the team that season ? will think of that winter day Sunday.
“I?m sure when we drive down to the hotel, when we get off the plane, there will be a little bit of flashbacks,” Mulitalo said. “It?s definitely a different team and a time, but oh, I?m sure we?ll think about it a little bit in the back of my mind.”
Players said memories were triggered this week.
“The last time we walked off the field [in Tampa], we had a win, coming off the Super Bowl, and that?s really what I thought about watching that film,” Jamal Lewis said. “We watch the film and you see everything. You see that field, see that big ship in the end zone. That?s what I think about it.”
Some, like head coach Brian Billick, plan to mask any emotion on the surface. When asked earlier this week about returning to Tampa and the memories it holds, Billick was curt.
“Yeah, but that was a couple of lifetimes ago,” he said. “So I?ll take a minute tothink about it and then go about my job.”
The most indelible image from that Super Bowl is when linebacker Ray Lewis held up a newspaper that read, “Ravens Win.” Lewis said the memories remain strong of that night, when he was named MVP for 11 tackles and four pass deflections.
“Now, that?s something that will never change,” he said. “It will never change what we went and [did] there as a team in [the] 2000 [season]. So that feeling alone, when you go back home and when you walk into that stadium, of course, the butterflies ? I?ll feel the same way, and hopefully I?ll play the same way, too.”
Getting defensive
» The Ravens defense allowed only 152 yards of offense, which is the third lowest total in Super Bowl history. They accounted for five interceptions and four sacks.
» Baltimore also became just the third team in Super Bowl history to hold the opposing offense scoreless, giving up its lone touchdown on special teams.
» Ray Lewis was named Super Bowl MVP after blocking four passes, making three solo tackles and assisting on two more.
