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At last, months of football comes down to one final game. Tampa, Fla., plays host to Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Arizona Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium.
And Kris Hogan will be there to see it all happen as a guest of USA Football.
"It's been a great experience so far," Hogan said about being invited to the big game. "It's been everything I thought it would be and more."
Hogan, a USA Football coaching member and head coach of the Grapevine (Texas) Faith Lions, turned heads and caught the attention of many after displaying an enormous amount of compassion on the football field on a Friday night in November as his team faced the Gainesville State School Tornadoes.
He did the unthinkable by inviting his team's players, fans and cheerleaders to cheer for the Tornados - the other team - in their late-season matchup. But Hogan had good reason, and Gainesville is no ordinary school. It's a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas that is home to juveniles who more or less have no one else to turn to.
Thanks to Hogan's nudging, the Faithful turned out in massive numbers in support of the Gainesville players who had no idea they were in store for the fanfare they received.
"We wanted to figure out the best way to minister to these kids and give them what they needed the most," Hogan said. "They needed hope. The best way to do that was to cheer them on by name. Their behavior, their conduct at the game, their grades - those are all things that are commendable. We wanted to show that if you do the right thing, people will get behind you and you can do anything."
When the Tornadoes were set to storm the field to start the game, Grapevine fans made a 40-yard sprint line for them to run through with a banner at the end reading "Go Tornadoes!" Throughout the game, Grapevine cheerleaders and fans yelled support for the Gainesville players as if the team were their own.
And following Grapevine's 33-14 victory, both teams even met at mid-field to say a prayer together.
It was an incredible sight for all to see and even more special to be a part of. With a 7-2 record facing an opponent who was 0-for-the-schedule, Hogan wanted his players and fans to provide inspiration and a few smiles for some young men who could really use some support.
"As a Christian school, we're sitting there looking through the lens of scripture," Hogan said. "So when you see someone who needs help, you take action."
Hogan's tale was featured in an article by ESPN columnist Rick Reilly, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was so moved by the story that he wanted to commend Hogan for his commitment to good sportsmanship during Super Bowl week, with USA Football acting as the host.
"Coach Hogan understands the values of what football - and sports in general - are all about," USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. "We're proud to have him at the Super Bowl as our guest to share his story and the positive power of football."
Hogan, who also coaches track at Grapevine, has served as an educator for 12 years and has been a part of nine state championships in several sports since his arrival at Grapevine in 2004.
However, he'll never forget the night the Tornadoes came to town.
"The thing that stands out the most is the looks on the Gainesville players' faces," Hogan recalled. "It was the gratitude in their eyes. I will never forget the prayer at the end of the game because as of a result of that prayer, it was very evident that we had made an impact."
