Students at Bracken Library Take Time to Watch Super Bowl XLI

It's not unusual to find lots of students gathering at Bracken Library to do research or to meet and work on projects together. Yet, February 4, 2007, on Super Bowl Sunday, there was something special for students to do during their study break – watching the Indianapolis Colts play the Chicago Bears on television.

Many students were in Bracken Library, an ideal place to watch the game since Bracken is a “home away from home” for so many of the regular students who study there. This is because Bracken Library offers a comfortable, friendly, safe environment as well as a variety of refreshments from the Bookmark Café.

On Sunday night, several Bracken Library television sets were tuned to the big game, giving students and other watchers a chance to cheer for their favorite team. And there was plenty to cheer about, too.

The Chicago Bears led in the first quarter when Devin Hester returned the opening kick-off for a touchdown — the first time that has happened in a Super Bowl. The Bears crept within 22-17 in the fourth quarter, but Indy’s Colts’ little-known second-year cornerback Kelvin Hayden intercepted a Rex Grossman pass and ran it back 56 yards for a clinching touchdown — the first of his NFL career.

The Colts won Super Bowl XLI with a score of 29-17. This was the Colt’s first Super Bowl title since 1970 when they played for Baltimore.

“There was a lot of excitement about the Super Bowl because of Indy Colts and Chicago Bears. We knew students would be interested in this big game and would want to cheer for their favorite team,” said Arthur W. Hafner, Dean of University Libraries.

“Making the game viewable at Bracken Library was a huge convenience for students and allowed them the opportunity to study and also socialize while catching the Super Bowl game.”