This past weekend was one of the most culturally significant of the year for students at Union College, as well as for Americans across the nation, as the Super Bowl took place on Sunday, Feb. 9. Deemed one of the most popular and prestigious sporting championships globally, the de facto national holiday brought fans together in support of either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs to see who would win the most anticipated football game of the season. The end of a fairly one-sided game saw the Eagles emerge victorious with an impressive 40-22 victory.
Experts had been predicting a close game, with a fair chance of both teams winning. However, the odds were stacked against the Eagles in terms of pressure due to their underdog status, while the Chiefs were the defending champions of the past two years. The Eagles had only secured one recent victory, in 2018. What made the matchup even more significant was that the two teams had faced off for the title just recently in 2022, with the Chiefs emerging victorious.
“I am not a hardcore football fan, but my dad grew up in Pennsylvania cheering for the Eagles, and we have a family friend whose husband works with the team, so I was rooting for them to win. My mom called me as soon as the game ended to let me know that the Eagles had won and I felt very happy” shared sophomore Lia Nichols. Her enthusiasm was not lost across the campus, as football fans gathered eagerly to watch the most awaited football game of the year.
Since the Super Bowl is such a significant event, the Association of Campus Events (ACE) and the Minervas of Union College took the opportunity to bring the campus community together by hosting a Super Bowl watch party. The event was hosted collaboratively by Beuth and Golub houses, with Beuth supporting the Eagles and Golub supporting the Chiefs, creating an atmosphere similar to watching the Super Bowl live with friends, family, and fellow fans. The event also included football-themed snacks and raffle prizes for attendees and ended up being a huge success. Eagles fans left Beuth House with joyous roars and huge smiles spread across their faces after the match, while Chiefs fans could be seen with their faces hanging: disappointed with the outcome of the game, but hopeful for the next season.
Beyond the game itself, the halftime show, was one of the most highly anticipated aspects of the Super Bowl, with past performances featuring artists like Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. This year, fans eagerly awaited Kendrick Lamar’s return as the halftime headliner, following his 2022 performance. The excitement was even greater as it came just a week after Lamar swept the Grammy Awards, winning in every category he was nominated for, including Record of the Year for his track “Not Like Us.” He was also joined on stage by singer SZA and actor Samuel L. Jackson.
“I was excited to see Kendrick Lamar perform in the 2025 Super Bowl like he did back in 2022, especially since SZA performed with him. Two of my favorite artists came together to make my final year at U memorable,” said senior Nobel Nazrul. Sophomore Matia Malish shared his excitement about the mesmerizing performance. “It was phenomenal, and was probably one of the best halftime performances in many years,” she stated. “There definitely should’ve been more SZA. I also wish they had more of his old songs, but mainly, just more SZA.”
With the Super Bowl bringing thrilling competition, unforgettable performances, and a sense of camaraderie, this year’s game once again lived up to the hype, especially for the Eagles fans across campus. Whether students watched to cheer for their team, enjoy the halftime show, or simply take part in the lively atmosphere, the event proved to be a unifying experience on campus. As football season comes to a close, fans have already begun counting down the days until next year’s championship.
