Thousands of fans watched thousands of media interview Patriots and Giants players Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in the first ever Super Bowl Media Day that fans were allowed to attend.
A crowd of mostly Colts fans in the stands, many wearing Peyton Manning jerseys, tuned in radios that allowed them to hear Giants quarterback Eli Manning talking to reporters down on the field.
Eli answered another round of questions about his big brother. No, he isn't staying at Peyton's house. No, he doesn't have a Peyton Manning souvenir jersey. But he does have a bunch of fans in Indianapolis. Colts fans are backing the Giants, cheering for their quarterback's little brother to take down the hated rivals of the Colts, the New England Patriots.
"I'm excited about being here," Eli said, seated at a podium and surrounded by cameras on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf where his brother has starred. "My mindset is I'm here to play a game. This is just a Super Bowl venue. I'm not looking at the fact that this is where Peyton has played his career. I'm just trying to go out there and play my best football; and try to get a championship for the New York Giants."
Indianapolis welcomes home former Cathedral High School standout Mathias Kiwanuka. The Giants defensive end went home for dinner Monday night. He's still trying to figure out how to divvy up Super Bowl tickets for his family.
"It's unbelievable and has been a great journey," Mathias said, seating in the end zone stands, reflecting back to his days playing for the Cathedral Fighting Irish. "It has been fun with a lot of ups and downs. I look back on the teams we had and there was some great players that went on to do some great things. There are a lot of guys that went on to contribute to their college teams. To be at this point I feel very fortunate."
Giants Offensive Tackle James Brewer is also from Indianapolis. He played at Arlington High School, then went on to Indiana University.
Punter Steve Weatherford is a Terre Haute native. Weatherford joked that his slight build allows him to get out of the team hotel unnoticed and enjoy the downtown Super Bowl atmosphere. He says fans are waiting outside the hotel ready to pounce on any large men who might be football players to ask for autographs.
The Giants ended Media Day with a team picture on the field. They hope the next team picture includes the Vince Lombardi trophy as champions of Super Bowl XLVI.
