Area coaches weigh in on Super Bowl matchup

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Feb. 1, 2004
Steve Nelson has a special place in his heart for the Carolina Panthers.
Seven-point underdogs entering Super Bowl XXXVIII against the New England Patriots today, the Panthers remind Nelson of another underdog team his own Northeast Lauderdale Trojans, who pulled off their first-ever playoff win in 2003.
Other local prep football coaches agree that the game's outcome could largely be determined by the Panthers' stable of running backs, but that other intangible factors may come into play.
While Carolina is making the first Super Bowl appearance in the team's 10-year history, the Patriots are playing in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. In 2002, New England knocked off the heavily-favored St. Louis Rams 20-17 for its first Super Bowl title.
This season, the Patriots have used a barrage of short passes to cripple opposing defenses and reel off 14 straight wins. New England's running game was ranked just 17th among NFL teams, but quarterback Tom Brady's quick release and laser precision have made his short passes just as effective as sweeps and draws.
What may or may not be good enough, though, is the play of Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme. The Louisiana native has started one more game during this year's postseason three than he did during his entire career before the 2003-04 season began.
Since a three-game losing streak late in the season, the Panthers have won six straight. During the playoffs, Delhomme has completed 62.3 percent of his passes.
Despite Carolina's late-season success, it is the Patriots' winning streak the longest in the NFL since the Miami Dolphins went undefeated in 1972 that has held Lamar head coach Mac Barnes' attention since midseason. Barnes said New England's offense will present Carolina with challenges the Panthers have not faced.
Barnes, who coached Lamar to its first-ever MPSA state football championship in Class AAA Division II last season, said Carolina's defenders will have little room for error.
And while the Patriots will inevitably complete plenty of their trademark quick outs and slants, Stanley said Carolina must not allow short plays to become big plays.
That precision on both sides of the ball is what led Barnes to his Super Bowl prediction a Patriots win.
That would be just fine for Stanley, who is not making a prediction but instead hopes for a good game.