Representatives of Melrose High School, the football team and cheering squad attend the MIAA Championship Breakfast and Media Day on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, in preparation for Saturday’s Super Bowl. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The Melrose Red Raider football team got their first taste of Gillette Stadium at this week’s MIAA Championship Breakfast and Media Day on Tuesday, which serves as prelude to this Saturday’s Super Bowl showdown. Representatives from the 12 Super Bowl teams in divisions 1-6 were on hand to greet media and prepare for the event, the first Super Bowl for Melrose since 1982. The occasion also provided a personal introduction between Melrose and Dartmouth team members who flipped a coin for home advantage. (Spoiler alert: Melrose won and is home team, which means they wear their home jerseys.)
Members of the press from across Massachusetts were on hand for pre-game talk with team captains and coaches. It was an opportunity for Melrose head coach Tim Morris to reflect a bit on the team’s journey. “These kids are three sport athletes who love playing together, they have a lot of playoff experience under their belts in football, hockey, basketball and lacrosse,” he said, noting their chemistry. “They stay well conditioned on the off season. Even if they are playing other sports, football is never far behind them. We’re having fun and doing what we love right now.” The significance that sons of the 1982 MHS Super Bowl team are returning to Foxboro to finish the job was not lost on Morris. “I’m glad that these men can watch their kids continue their legacy. It means a lot for the city, the school and their families. It’s been a great story.”
That aside, the Raiders will not be feeling warm and fuzzy at 6 p.m. on Saturday at kickoff. “There is no sense of ‘we’re just glad to be here.'”, Morris notes. “We’re here to win this thing.”
It was no fluke that Dartmouth (10-2) made the Super Bowl, though they surprised many by rallying past Walpole 20-16 in the sectional final. Prior to that they beat Dighton-Rehoboth and Somerset, which suggests that Melrose probably had the tougher playoff road by taking down undefeated Woburn, Concord Carlisle and state champ Tewksbury. Still the Indians bring to the field quarterback Blaine Almeida and strong running backs Jack McCabe and Chris Martin. McCabe in particular will be a handful to contain.
Dartmouth head coach Richard White spoke about this first Super Bowl appearance for the Indians since 2007. “I think it will be a good game. We’re similar teams I think, identical records, underdogs, just regular guys playing at a high level. It was good to meet them today.”
Melrose senior captain Zack Mercer simply soaked in the scene at Gillette. “It’s amazing to be here and this weekend be able to play where the Patriots do.”
Fellow senior captain Chris Devir spoke of the team’s work this week en route to the Big Show. “We have a good shot, we always have a good shot because we worked hard all year and our coaches always prepare us well.”
Two senior captains representing Melrose are sons of former players, Chris Hickey and John Mercer, who suited up on the last MHS team who went to Super Bowl in 1982. For senior captain Jack Hickey continuing that legacy means everything. “We’ve heard the stories about their experience and, as a kid, all you wish for is to make your parents proud,” says Hickey, “It’s a dream come true to be here.”
