Super Bowl brings friends, family together for football, food and fun

For some area residents Sunday's Super Bowl game wasn't all about who won or lost, but instead about letting loose and finding comfort in the company of their friends, sharing laughs and their favorite snack foods.

About 55 high school students in Chaffee, Mo., gathered in the industrial arts shop at the school to watch the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts game projected on a big screen. Industrial arts teacher Jerrod McMurry has been hosting the party for four years for his students, who deserve a safe place to have fun, he said.

All the students brought food to share, creating a smorgasbord of snacks, including barbecue ribs, chips and dip, cookies, homemade brownies, beans and hot dogs.

"For the Industrial Arts kids, this is their party of the year," McMurry said. "All of these kids wouldn't hang out otherwise, but this brings them all together."

Sophomore Trevor Cannon, who was hoping for a Saints victory because many of his friends are Colts fans, escaped having to wear a Colt-blue shirt to school today after making a bet with a fellow classmate.

He said football is his favorite sport and he comes to the party to enjoy a good time with his friends.

For a group of friends who watched the game at Robert and Terry Tripp's home in Cape Girardeau, conversation and camaraderie was the highlight of their night, although any talking was silenced during the commercials.

"We talk about them and pick them apart," said Jamie Morton, a friend of the Tripps. "And it gives us something to discuss at work the next day."

The Tripps and their friends cheered mostly for the Saints, keeping their rivalry on hold for when the Washington Redskins make it to the superbowl, said Robert Tripp.

"I don't think anybody's team is in the Super Bowl," Terry Tripp said. " [Indianapolis quarterback] Peyton Manning, this just like old hat to him. Give [New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees] some action."

At the Cape Girardeau home of the Rev. Thomas White, a senior pastor at the Rock International Ministries of Jackson, 6-year-old Brandon Ivory couldn't wait for the Super Bowl to start.

"Is the Super Bowl on yet," he asked the crowd gathered in White's living room starting around 3 p.m.

White said he invites members of his church over each year as a fellowship activity. He often preaches about a balanced lifestyle to his congregation, saying it's important for Christians to have fun, too. White even canceled Sunday's 6 p.m. service for the game.

"We want to break this ideology that we can't be saved and have fun, too," White said. "I think it's important for Christians to get together and just talk."

The group, some cheering for the Saints and some for the Colts, watched the game on White's new television, bought especially for the game, while indulging in hot wings, Oreo pie, pizza rolls and other snacks.

"I'm not cheering for anybody, I'm just happy to be here," said Ivory, whose mother is a member of the church.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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