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Am I disappointed in the loss? Yes. Am I thrilled to my team did so well this year? Darn right.

At the beginning of the season I would have been tickled if the Panthers had made it to the playoffs. Even as we made it to the first round I never expected us to beat the next team in line to the Super Bowl. It seemed we were too young and inexperienced at too many of the skilled positions to go the distance. With a first year starting quarterback, a second year head coach and a Panther franchise that was two seasons away from a 1-15 season, it was a bitter sweat to be a part of what is now largely being referred to as the greatest game in Super Bowl history.

This was a game that set the record for the longest period of time passing before a score. This was a game that saw the lead change a record number of times. It was also a game that had a record number of penalties, the longest offensive play in Super Bowl history, and two quarterbacks throwing for nearly a combined 800 yards. It was a Super Bowl where 8 different players scored touchdowns and the losing team's quarterback had a 10 point higher quarterback rating than the Super Bowl MVP even though he only he started the game 1-9 on completions.

It was a game to remember. The Patriots hadn't given up a 30 yard play all season only to give up three that all yielded Panther touchdowns. Two via laser guided passes that dropped perfectly into the basket and one by a dominating run by what amounts to a rookie running back. The Patriot's always reliable kicker missed an easy field goal and had another blocked. You could feel the Mojo at work as the football gods kept the Panthers in the game despite a malaises slow start.

Give the Patriots their props. Games are won at the line of scrimmage and they dominated both sides. The Panther's "best defensive line in the NFL" got very little pressure and where unable to stop the run for most of the game while the Patriot's d-line recorded 4 sacks and a forced fumble. The Panther's offensive line took too long to get settled into the game while the Patriot's o-line, starting a number of rookies yielded no sacks and opened huge running lanes.

With 3 minutes left in the first half, it seemed both teams had done their work with the body blows and had started going for the knockout. Give the Panther's their props. They came back from a 11 point deficit to take the lead on a 85 yard pitch and catch to Moose and then traded scores for the remained of the game. And when the Panthers tied the score with 68 second left on the clock I looked over to my wife and said we left way too much time on the clock. When Kasay had his kickoff go out-of-bounds I know that I was correct.

With almost 20 additional minutes of play on their shoulders, the Panther's defense couldn't step up and make the stop and mister comeback Jake Delhomme had to watch the game end from the sidelines.

The Panthers were out of miracles and the Patriots once again hold the Lombardi Trophy. My team will come home to a proud Charlotte, North Carolina to a community that has grown up this year with it's Cinderella team. And while the glass slipper didn't fit this time around, the world now knows where Charlotte can be found on the map.

Thank you gentleman for a wonderful ride. Thank you for an enjoyable season. Thank you for the entertaining the world with the "best Super Bowl in NFL history." It's bitter sweat, but it has been worth it.

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� colin-g 2001-2003