Super Bowl XXXVI

Trivia

• Following Super Bowl tradition, the original logo for Super Bowl XXXVI was to have a flavor that represented the host city. A logo was designed and distributed on a very small amount of memorabilia items in early 2001. After 9/11, a new logo reflecting American pride was designed, featuring the shape of the 48 contiguous states (see above). Merchandise featuring the original logo is now considered extremely collectible.
• Rescheduling the game from January 27 to February 3 was a difficult task. Not only would the game itself have to be moved, but all related events and activities had to be accommodated. It was normal for there to be an open weekend between the Conference Championship games, and the Super Bowl. However, in this particular season, there was not one. Beginning in the 2001 season, the NFL moved the first week of games to the weekend after Labor Day. The date of the Super Bowl had been set through 2003, so the bye week would be absent until 2004, when the Super Bowl would be moved to the first weekend in February. NFL and New Orleans officials worked diligently to put together a deal to reschedule the game. At first, the league considered shortening the regular season, shortening the playoffs, or even moving the game to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. To further complicate the situation, a convention was scheduled to occupy the Superdome on February 3. By late fall 2001, the three parties came to a settlement, and the game was held on February 3.
• This game was the last Super Bowl played on antiquated AstroTurf. About a year before the game was held, stadium officials considered bringing in natural grass for the game. The system would use large trays of grass grown and cultivated outdoors, and brought inside to be placed on the field of play. Cost concerns, and the fact that it had never been done before, prompted stadium and league officials to abandon the project.
• In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the speculated destruction of the Superdome, this may be the last Super Bowl to ever be played at said stadium. That being said, if a new stadium is built, it is almost certain that the Super Bowl will be held there as soon as possible (the earliest opportunity would be Super Bowl XLV in 2011).
• As noted earlier, the Patriots entered "en masse" rather than being announced individually, while the Rams were announced in the traditional individual fashion. In every Super Bowl since then, each team has been announced as a whole, copying the Patriots' switch.
• This game is currently the only Super Bowl that was won on the last play of the game. (Jim O?Brien's winning field goal in Super Bowl V was made with 5 seconds left to play. Adam Vinatieri's winning field goal in Super Bowl XXXVIII was made with 4 seconds left to play).
• This Super Bowl win was the first of three in four years for the Patriots
• In an NFL Films documentary about the game, St. Louis Rams Wide Receiver Ricky Proehl is seen commenting "Tonight a dynasty is born" just prior to the player introductions. Many find this comment to be extremely ironic, as the Patriots triumph in this game was the first victory in their dynasty and any notion of a St. Louis dynasty completely dissapeared.
• This game was intended to be Pat Summerall's final NFL telecast. The former CBS and Fox announcer had announced his retirement, and Super Bowl XXXVI marked the end of his longtime partnership with analyst John Madden. Madden left Fox for ABC's Monday Night Football, but Summerall, instead returned for one final season in a limited role.