Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
CHESTER CO. FANS READY TO CELEBRATE
Fly, Eagles, fly! After winning the National Football Conference championship on Jan. 29, 31-7 against the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles now continue to unite the region — and much of the Commonwealth — with hope.
The Eagles team is now up against the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the American Football Conference 23-20 against Ohio’s Cincinnati Bengals two weeks ago.
Super Bowl LVII takes place this Sunday, Feb. 12, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“The Eagles going to the Super Bowl is like Christmas Eve to me when I was five years old,” said Coatesville City Council President Linda Lavender Norris.
“I’ll be watching the game at home with a few friends,” she said.
“The Chiefs are a very talented team,
they’ve been to the dance more recently than us and they’re not to be taken for granted. However, we’re ready.”
She added of the Eagles’ shinning stars, “I don’t have a current favorite player because they’re all playing their positions so well.”
Lavender Norris said her past favorite player has been Brian Dawkins because he always circled the wagons and held it down.
“The way they’re playing as a team is how they’re getting the job done,” the city council president said on Wednesday. “I don’t expect a blowout, but I do expect a win!”
“It’s exciting to watch the Eagles on the world stage, playing a powerhouse team, and pulling out a victory with an aggregate of talent,” said Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell of Downingtown.
He predicts the Birds shall win the Super Bowl this Sunday by 12.
Maxwell will watch the game at home
with family and friends and enjoying A.J. Brownies and Jordan Mailata Chicken Piccata among other tasty foods, he said.
Regarding the Chiefs, Maxwell said: “It always felt like we’d see Andy Reid in a game like this. He turned our franchise around and I believe he understands the heart of our city. I hope we beat him, and he smiles about it.”
Reid became the head coach of the Chiefs in 2013. Prior to Kansas City, Reid was in Philly as the head coach of the Eagles from 1999 until 2012.
Today head coach Nick Sirianni leads the Eagles, a role he took on beginning in 2021.
As for his top Eagle players, Maxwell said, “Randall always represented our team well, Cunningham was immensely talented, but he never got the talent he needed around him to be as successful as he could have been. I’ll be wearing my Kelly green 12 jersey for the game.”
As far as the significance that comes with being an Eagles fan, the commissioner said, “It’s an underdog mentality, recognizing achievement through effort.”
“We couldn’t be more excited about the Eagles being in the Super Bowl, where they belong! Go Birds! Let’s get this done,” said “We couldn’t be more excited to be playing the 49ers for the NFC Championship at home! Hopefully, one more great home win on the road to the Super Bowl,” said Anthony Racaniello, director of marketing and programming at The Creamery of Kennett Square..
He said he’s stopping at The Creamery to get his face painted to look like just as much of a fanatic as he is, and then it’s home to watch the game.
“I’m always excited to see Andy do well, except now he’s playing Philadelphia, and so this Sunday, he needs to lose,” Racaniello said of Reid.
“I’m rocking with Hurts this year,” Racaniello said. “A lot of people weren’t confident he was the guy to get us here. Now he has. Conversation is over, he’s got one more job to do.
“Being an Eagles fan is about community, it’s something that brings most of the state together — we smile, cheer, cry, jump up and down together and it couldn’t be better.”
West Bradford resident Eric Roe is running to become a Chester County commissioner. He also enjoys seeing the Eagles running for victory and landing sweet touchdowns.
“I’ve reached the ‘slather on green face-paint’ level of excitement,” Roe said.
Roe plans to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday at home with his family.
“I don’t want to miss a single play,” he said.
“I love Andy Reid, but Big Red won’t have my support this Sunday,” Roe noted.
“Nick Foles will always be an Eagle, but my favorite player right now is Fletcher Cox. He doesn’t have the most sacks, but he always comes through at just the right time,” Roe said.
“Being an Eagles fan is usually bad for my health, but this season hasn’t been nearly as stressful as previous years. The way they’ve been running up the score early-on in each game has been a positive change,” he said.
“I’m an Eagles fan in the good times, and I’m an Eagles fan in the bad times,” Roe said. “Go Birds!”
Landenberg local Dr. Jenny Chen is a dentist with a family practice in London Grove just shy of downtown West Grove.
Chen said she is very excited for the Eagles to be playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday.
“I can’t wait to watch the game,” she said.
Her favorite Eagles player is Jason Kelce, whose brother, Travis Kelce, is a tight end for the Chiefs.
Kelce is a great center who protects the quarterback, she said.
For Chen, who was born in China, being an Eagles fan signifies joining the passion and joy of the community, she said.
“It means shaking hands and jumping and hugging your fellow fans,” Chen said. “On Sunday we are all one.”
She added, “Go Eagles!”