Soldier enjoys Super Bowl XLI from combat zone

Photo By Spc. William Hatton | Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division got a chance to take a small break from fighting and cheer on their favorite teams during this year's National Football League championship between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears in Baghdad, Feb. 5. Troops had to wake up at 2 a.m. in order to catch the heated game.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.05.2007

Story by Spc. William Hatton 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Pfc. William Hatton
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – In the dead hours of night, excitement and energy were flowing throughout a small chow hall here. Soldiers gathered in the room, anticipating one of the greatest games played all year. This game is a competition of brute force and sharp minds, known as the Super Bowl. As troops here watched and cheered until dawn, the Super Bowl would become a vivid memory, as the Indianapolis Colts took the Vince Lombardi Trophy as winners of Super Bowl XLI, 29-17.

For Staff Sgt. Kristopher Villarreal, a big Bears fan, from Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, watching this game was a necessity, something he looked forward to all season. Although Chicago lost, watching the game still meant a lot to this Bears fan.

The Super Bowl wasn't exactly the easiest to watch, said Villarreal, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas.

"My Soldiers and I all decided that we really wanted to watch the game, which meant we'd have to wake up real early," he said. The Super Bowl started at 2:30 a.m. in Baghdad.

After going to bed early, Villarreal and his comrades were ready for what would be an enjoyable game.

"I've been following the Bears all season," Villarreal said. "Most games were either played really early or repeated at a later time, but I tried to watch as many as I could."

Optimism was high for Villarreal leading up to the game, especially after making the decision to wake up and get somewhere to watch the game.

Throughout the year, the Bears have relied on a solid defense and great running game to get to the championship, Villarreal said.

"I like the Bears because of their defense," he said, prior to kick-off.

One of the reasons the Super Bowl was going to be great this year, Villarreal said, was because the match-up between the Colts and Chicago was a good one, a strong offense against a dominating defense.

"I seriously thought the Bears were going to stomp the Colts going into the ground," Villarreal said.

With so much excitement and confidence that the Bears were going to win, what happened during the game surprised Villarreal.

"It was great when Chicago ran the opening kickoff in for a touchdown," Villarreal said. "My friends and I called the touchdown after Chicago caught the ball."

The first half, fast-paced and filled with turnovers in the Miami rain, kept the Chicago fan on the edge of his seat. One of Villarreal's biggest disappointment with the game was the decisions that Chicago made, he said.

"They could have made better choices," he added.

Although it would have been nice to see the game at home, with family and friends, Villarreal said it was still a good time enjoying the game with his fellow Soldiers 8,000 miles away.

Even better, he said, would have been a Bears win.

• Date Taken: 02.05.2007
• Date Posted: 02.05.2007 10:40
• Story ID: 9049
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ