Super Bowl LX was contested between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, ending in a 29-13 win for the Seahawks and their second Super Bowl title in franchise history. Many Saint Louis University students reported mixed feelings about the game, with many expressing their excitement, while others expressed their boredom with the primarily defensive gameplay.
A major point of discussion among fans was running back Kenneth Walker III and his explosive performance.
Throughout his collegiate years at Michigan State, Walker built a reputation as one of football’s most explosive RBs. In the NFL, he was previously best known for a 69-yard touchdown he scored in a game against the New Orleans Saints.In week 16 of the NFL regular season, Walker had an astonishing 55-yard touchdown run, breaking out from the backfield and showing his skill and veracity as a player.
Walker achieved his game high rushing yards this season in the Super Bowl, tacking on over 135 yards, the most by any player in the Super Bowl in almost 30 years. This performance led to a general consensus among viewers that Kenneth Walker deserved the MVP title for the game.
Ammar Sakroujeh, a freshman studying biology, cited the Seahawks kicker’s success but said he thought Walker deserved the MVP overall.
“He performed amazing the whole season. Without him, the kicker wouldn’t have made it to where he did and wouldn’t have broken the Super Bowl record. Walker definitely deserved it,” Sakroujeh said.
Thomas Gentry, a freshman studying biochemistry, said he shared similar thoughts with Sakroujeh.
“Kenneth Walker deserved the MVP, but I would’ve been happy if [place kicker] Jason Myers got it, as he scored most of the points for the team with 17,” Gentry said. “ I enjoyed the game but was surprised by the lack of offense from the Patriots. It seemed like the Patriots gave up too early on in the game.”
Walker cannot take all the credit for the Seahawks’ win, however. Other notable players gave major contributions to the victory, including quarterback Sam Darnold, who had an efficient turnover-free performance, helping the Seahawks put up a steady offense. Receivers Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner contributed four and six catches respectively, with Barner scoring a touchdown. Seattle’s defense was stifling, sacking Patriots QB Drake Maye multiple times, forcing turnovers and preventing any early points.
Another highlight of the game for many viewers was the Bad Bunny halftime show, which was performed almost entirely in Spanish. Many SLU students reported positive feelings about the message Bad Bunny was sending with lines like “Together we are America,” as represented by flags from throughout the Western Hemisphere, not just the United States.
Lexi Keeth, a freshman studying medical sciences, said that she enjoyed the show more than the football game itself.
“My favorite part of the game was the halftime show performed by Bad Bunny. I loved the choreography and music,” Keeth said.
Samuel Montealegre, a junior studying mechanical and international student from Nicaragua , said that he felt like the halftime show gave the world exactly what it needed in this greater political moment.
“Bad Bunny’s halftime show made history. Besides being the largest halftime show ever streamed for the Super Bowl, the scenery and atmosphere was beautiful. Most importantly, the message is what made it so memorable. It portrayed love and unity, showing how America is the whole continent and not only the USA,” Montealegre said.