The Online Reflector

Discovering that I was receiving media credentials to take photos during Super Bowl week, I felt both nervous and excited. Before my experience, I never knew how much preparation went into hosting the Super Bowl and what it took the week before game day.

I had originally imagined a press conference set up the way it is shown in the movies. When I walked into the first Giants’ press conference, it was unlike anything I had ever prepared for.  The room had separate tables toward the front and a main podium in the back.  Players sat at separate tables so the media representatives could crowd around to ask questions and take photographs.

I started at Victor Cruz’s table. I was as polite as possible and apologetic for ruining the view of any photographer. I was shocked to see how the media representatives reacted. Journalists from all types of media pushed and shoved their way through the crowd to get the perfect photo or quote.

Nobody cared if he or she ran into you. It was rare for a photographer to apologize for ruining the view of your photo.  At first, I felt as if I were going to get run over. I immediately learned that to get a great photo, you have to fight for it. That’s when I realized how competitive journalism is.

The room was filled with the sounds of clicking camera shutters and journalists scrambling to ask questions. Although the noise was loud, I could still feel the silence at the same time. I could feel the vibes and the nerves of the players as they each answered questions. The main podium, where Coach Tim Coughlin and Quarterback Eli Manning each took questions at separate times had more room for the media representatives with chairs.

As I stood by the podium listening to Manning answer questions, I was able to watch reporters from ESPN and various other sports news stations. I am only a freshman in college, so this experience felt unreal.

I was confident that I had learned enough about the media at the Press Conference to be prepared for Media Day on Tuesday Jan. 30. In my mind, I had planned exactly how I was going to act and how aggressive I was going to be to take good photos.

After passing multiple security checkpoints, I finally walked into Lucas Oil Stadium.  I felt completely overwhelmed once again.

The number of media representatives in the stadium had at least tripled compared to the press conference the day before.

When the players first walked onto the field toward their tables, most of them immediately got out their cell phones and cameras to take photos of the media representatives.

I was shocked to see that professional football players are still human after all. Everyone looks up to them as if they are superhuman, when in reality they have a regular life to live and emotions to control.  I developed a greater respect for the Super Bowl and the NFL after that moment.

I quickly learned how global the Super Bowl actually is after watching many reporters and photographers from different countries cluster around the players.

I also learned how our society respects members of the media. The hospitality we received at Lucas Oil Stadium made me feel honored. It was such a privilege to look to the table next to us and see journalists from CNN Sports and others around the world.

After learning how to compete for a good angle, like any other photographer, I took more than 800 photographs in one week. I began the week as  an ordinary freshman student at the University of Indianapolis and ended the week living the life of a big-time journalist. I realized that covering the Super Bowl meant covering one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

I am thankful and honored to have had such a great opportunity. I know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I am happy that I got to take it. I will never forget my experience here in Indianapolis during Super Bowl Week 2012.