News
Super Bowl XLVI divides Tufts boardroom
January 27, 2012
Super Bowl XLVI isn’t just Brady vs. Manning, New England vs. New York. It’s trustee vs. trustee, Jumbo vs. Jumbo, as the battle for pro football bragging rights divides the Tufts boardroom—and the Hill—for the rematch of the decade.
Call it Jumbo Bowl II.
For the second time in four years, NFL teams led by members of the Tufts family will be vying for the world championship of football. Tufts Trustee Dan Kraft, A87, president international of The Kraft Group, is the son of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, A87P. Tufts Trustee Jonathan Tisch, A76, is the co-owner of the New York Giants with his brother Steve, A71, who is also the chairman. With $13 million in gifts, Tisch led the support for a new Tufts fitness center that will add 30,000 square feet and state-of-the-art equipment to the current facility; construction of the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center on College Ave. has had the campus buzzing with anticipation since the summer.
From left: Steve, A71, and Jonathan Tisch, A76, chairman and co-owner of the New York Giants, respectively; Jumbo gets his game face on; Dan Kraft, A87, president international of The Kraft Group and son of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, A87P.
This will be a rematch of one of the most thrilling contests in Super Bowl history. In 2008 the 18-0 Patriots were heavily favored but saw their bid for history and an unbeaten season come to an end when the Giants pulled out a last-second victory over them in Super Bowl XLII.
While the matchup may divide the campus this weekend, in two areas almost all agree: Buffalo chicken wings are a must, and, when asked which player on either team they wish they could be for a day, Pats’ quarterback Tom Brady won by a reluctant landslide.
“I don't like him, but I envy him,” says Giants fan and Daily sports editor Aaron Leibowitz, A14. “He's got pretty much everything you could ask for, plus Uggs.”
Jumbos football head coach Jay Civetti was born and raised a Patriots fan. He even keeps “authentic dirt” from Foxboro Stadium on his desk in the Athletics Office. But the Giants are his NFC team.
“[Giants’] offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride coached here early in his career,” he says. “And personally, I coached at Boston College when [current Giants players] Mathias Kiwanuka, Mark Herzlich, Chris Snee, and Will Blackmon played for us; so when the Giants are not playing the Pats, I am a Giants fan.”
Just remember: no matter who you’re rooting for this Sunday, either way, Jumbos win!
Did you know?
- In 2005, one of Bob Kraft’s three Super Bowl rings was reported missing—to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kraft quickly dispelled any allegations of theft, saying he had given Putin the ring out of “respect and admiration” for Putin and the Russian people.
- Steve Tisch is the only person in history to have won an Oscar (as a producer for 1994’s Forrest Gump) and a Super Bowl ring.
- In 2010, Jon Tisch joined Jets owner Woody Johnson to bring the 2014 Super Bowl to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ; this will be the first Super Bowl to be held in an open-air stadium in a cold-weather region. Jumbo Bowl III closer to the Hill?
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