The South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee sincerely congratulates the New Orleans Saints for earning the title of Super Bowl XLIV Champions. And we commend the Indianapolis Colts for being worthy and classy opponents. Both teams put on a great show for the world and one that will go down in Super Bowl history.

All the hard work put in by everyone was worth it after Sunday night's spectacle. The South Florida weather did not disappoint and the scenery was perfect for the biggest stage on the planet. Simply put, we could not ask for anything better.

The Host Committee would like to thank all those that could make this happen, including our sponsors and partners that supported us every step of the way. The events we hosted leading up to Super Bowl Sunday were a great success and built up much hype en route to the big game. Our staff members are grateful for all the help.

And while Super Bowl will not be coming back for at least the next three years, we are proud to have hosted a record-breaking 10 Super Bowls. Perhaps in the future we can bring back Super Bowl to the NFL's favorite destination for their championship game, right here in South Florida.

It's true. In about a month and a half, Super Bowl will roll into South Florida for a record-breaking 10th time. It's all gone by so fast, with the NFL regular season quickly drawing to a close and teams positioning themselves for playoff aspirations. To think that in the next forty days we will witness the most deserving AFC and NFC teams in Super Bowl XLIV.

Next week will mark the final chapter in the 2009 NFL season; at the same time it will mark the beginning of the postseason journey few NFL teams will embark on. A journey that will lead to Dolphin Stadium on February 7, 2010 - where fans from all over will descend on to be a part of Super Bowl history.

And let's not forget about Pro Bowl, which will also be coming to South Florida the week before Super Bowl Sunday. For two consecutive weeks, South Florida will be the Mecca of the pro sports world, hosting two tremendous primetime events.

So stay in touch. Next thing you know the NFL's all-stars will be riding into town followed by the AFC and NFC champions. Crazy, but true.

Edwin Pope, who has been a sports columnist at The Miami Herald for more than 45 years, is one sports journalism's most honored writers. He was the ninth winner of the Red Smith Award, is a member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and has received a record four Eclipse Awards for the nation's best columns. He's a member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and in 1996 received a Knight-Ridder Excellence Award.

He's one of only a handful of writers to have covered every Super Bowl.

Ed Pope spoke with Director of Communications David Silverstein to talk, what else, the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl coming to South Florida. His compelling Q&A is a must read.


David Silverstein: You've covered every Super Bowl for the Miami Herald. Do you have a favorite?

Ed Pope: The Super Bowl in 1973. (The year of the 1972 Miami Dolphins Perfect Season). It was not a particularly exciting game. It was a 14-7 win over Washington. That game was played in Los Angeles.

In fact, the 1972 season was not a gripping season. Believe it or not, it was pretty Hum-drum. They just went out there and won. There weren't any hysterical games. Hysterically great or hysterically bad.

They (the 1972 Dolphins) just went out there like a bunch of businessmen going to work every game.

Not a great deal of emotion before, during or after the game. They were just a bunch of businessmen doing their job.

They never got distracted and never got out of bounds, socially or professionally. The best part of the Perfect Season is they were all a great bunch of people, and that's a great part of the reason why they won.

DS: Your thoughts on South Florida's record-breaking 10th Super Bowl.

Ed Pope: I am happy it's here even though they (Super Bowls) are harder to cover in your hometown. When the game is out of town, (the media) stays at the same hotel, there's a bus to take you there and back from press conferences.

But it's nice to have it.It shows this is the best place to host a Super Bowl.
Number two is San Diego. But we have so much more to do, the weather is better and so is our stadium.

DS: What's your favorite memory about Coach Shula and Dan Marino?

Ed Pope: Nobody has ever asked me that before.

Shula, I always thought, was the most admirable person I've ever covered in any sport, at any time.

I want people who are the same kind of person every day. That's the way Shula was, honest.

He could get touchy and abrasive; we got abrasive with each other. Usually we were absorbed with what we were trying to do. We had arguments and we had great times together.

Shula was the perfect guy.
A roll-up-your-sleeves type of guy. Never said he was genius. He would recoil if anyone called him a genius.

He's my favorite guy to cover. He was informative. He lights up the room, he has great command and great presence.

Dan Marino didn't have a lot to say. But I found him a delight to cover. Although he never gave any great quotes. He didn't try to be clever. He was not comfortable trying to think up clever things to say. I felt for him. He didn't try to fake it. Not the most colorful talker by any means. But he gave me his honest feelings. And he left it all on the field every game. He was a real artist. I don't think there's ever been a more gifted player or passer.

Not since Sammy Baugh.


DS: Your thoughts on the Pro Bowl being played in South Florida.

Ed Pope: The Pro Bowl brings tourists to South Florida, and that makes me happy to see. But I've never been very interested in the Pro Bowl. I've never covered one.

DS: What does South Florida need to do to land more Super Bowls?

Ed Pope: We lead the league in Super Bowls, and we need to keep up (our) standards.

The stadium has made a huge difference.
It's very simple why we get it.
We have the best weather, the best housing for players, the best fans.

It wouldn't make any sense for the Super Bowl to come here less, and it makes a lot of sense for it to come here more often. I realize the league needs to spread it around.

But this is the perfect place to play it.
I've never heard an owner say an unkind word about Miami.

Mr. Pope then said he wanted to mention the Orange Bowl:

Ed Pope: The Orange Bowl Classic, as I like to call it, is the greatest sports attraction South Florida has ever had, and ever will. In terms of the money it brings in, in terms of prestige, in terms of how the Orange Bowl Committee and the weather treat all of our visitors.

I'm a big Orange Bowl Committee fan and I think the Orange Bowl plays a big factor in bringing the Super Bowl to town. Their unselfishness dazzles me.

It's official, and its hard to believe.
Super Bowl XLIV is only 100 days away from kicking off in South Florida for a record-breaking 10th time. There is no doubt that it all builds up from here. We may not know which two teams will face off on February 7th, 2010, but we do know it will be a showdown for the ages.

And if things couldn't get any more more exciting, South Florida will host the 2010 Pro Bowl the week before Super Bowl, on January 31st, 2010. Put these two together and South Florida will be the Mecca of the pro sports world in just a few months. Fans from all around will descend on Dolphin Stadium to rejoice in the spectacle of two prime time sporting events. It will truly be a memorable moment in South Florida history.

So stay tuned and follow us on our incredible journey to the 2010 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and on this blog for the latest on Super Bowl and Pro Bowl.

Thursday, September 10th is the official kickoff of the 2009 NFL regular season. With every new year comes new hope. Hope that your team will be successful. Hope that your team will make the playoffs. Hope that your team will make it to the ultimate game of the year - the Super Bowl.

With that said, we at the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee want to know who think will be playing here on February 7th, 2010 in Super Bowl XLIV. Drop us a comment, keep it clean and let your voice be heard.

Let there be football!

You know, it seems like Super Bowl Sunday is so far away, yet 200 days can pass by so fast. The work the Host Committee has ahead is exciting and a little frightening at the same time. After all, there is nothing like watching the fruits of your labor materialize into two of the biggest prime time games in the sporting world: Pro Bowl 2010 and Super Bowl XLIV.

Our commitment to the NFL has been to prepare South Florida for the Super Bowl, something few cities have had the opportunity to do, and this is our record tenth Super Bowl. We look forward to meeting those goals set by the NFL and bringing another great Super Bowl to the tropical destination that is South Florida. And when it's all over, we know you will help us make South Florida shine!

All of the Host Committee departments are working in full force to meet the goals set by the NFL and it can't go without saying how passionate the staff and interns have been day in and day out.

The Volunteers Department has continued its efforts to recruit a total of 6,000 to 8,000 volunteers by January - they are ahead of schedule and have secured over 2,500 volunteers already. Those interested in volunteering for the Host Committee can always visit our site and help represent your community.

The Communications Department has been reaching out to local and national media outlets in order to gain exposure and spread the word about Super Bowl XLIV and Pro Bowl 2010. Not to mention, social networking, like this blog, has been a huge platform in updating sports fans about both games.

Our Community Outreach program has been very active in assisting local small minority and women-owned businesses through the NFL Emerging Business Program. This program helps stimulate growth in the local economy as well as promote diversity in the business sector. Other initiatives, like the NFL Youth Education Towns (YETs) and other community-enhancing activities, have been undertaken by the Community Outreach Department in an effort to assist in bettering the community socially, financially and environmentally.

Last but not least, our Marketing Department has been working diligently to create relationships with various companies and media outlets in order to gain the necessary funding to carry out the Host Committee's duties and continue the awareness process on the road to Pro Bowl 2010 and Super Bowl XLIV. Our sponsors continue to grow by the week and we are glad to have a solid group of supporters on our side.

In essence, Super Bowl Sunday may be 200 days away, but here the groundwork started months ago. We want to bring the best Super Bowl possible to South Florida and that can only be done through hard work and commitment each and every day. The clock is ticking and we are making sure every moment counts.