Sports fans everywhere are gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday when the Green Bay Packers will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. A few local high school football coaches are busy planning their annual game-day rituals. For most, it seems, Super Bowl Sunday is a family affair and for one, surprisingly, it’s not that big of a deal.

Liberty County High School offensive coordinator Ryan Glazer said his viewing party is usually a family gathering.

"We always have a small
get-together at our house, my parent’s house or one of my brother’s houses," he said. "Mostly family and some friends get together and we all hang out and enjoy watching the game together. We usually grill/smoke some type of food and make some other appetizers."

Bradwell Institute’s defensive coordinator Jeff Miller echoed Glazer’s sentiment. "I just like to chill and watch the game with family," he said. Miller added that he doesn’t settle down to watch the game until one hour before kickoff to avoid being influenced by the massive media coverage before the game.

Tiger assistant coach Aaron Mock said he doesn’t have a typical Super Bowl routine.

"I haven’t necessarily started a ritual, but now that I have two children I may have to begin one," he said. "In the past it’s just been my wife and I and every now and then we would have a get together with some friends and have a Super Bowl party. I like the finger foods, the appetizers and all those foods that are bad for you."

Mock said he and his wife Rebecca are looking forward to creating a Super Bowl tradition for their 2-year old son and 4-year old daughter.

Liberty County High School football coach Kirk Warner said it’s always been a family ordeal for him. This year, the coach and his clan have invited their extended church family, too.

"I usually cook Super Bowl party foods such as wings, dip, cheese tray and sandwiches and watch with my boys Kelzey, Kameron and Karrington," Warner said. "This year we will have a gathering at our church, eating and watching the game together."

Tiger football coach Jim Walsh played for the United States Football League’s Tampa Bay Bandits about 25 years ago. He said coming out of the pro circuit changed his view of the game.

"I’m not a big pro football watcher," he said. "I’ve done that myself, saw how it works — the good side and the bad side — and I’ll just say that when I came out, from that point on, I just never watched anymore. I am an avid Falcons fan and this (Super Bowl) is a game I’ll watch but I don’t sit down and watch a whole lot of pro ball. I prefer the college games and obviously the high school games because it’s not about money or the politics of the business. I get more excited during bowl season and state playoffs because those kids are playing for the love of the game."

Walsh said he is more excited about his daughter’s birthday on Saturday.