I was talking to a friend the other day and, and she asked me if I was excited about the Super Bowl.

First off, dumb question. She knew me well enough to know that the Super Bowl is my favorite single sporting event of the year – and quite possibly my favorite event of the year period.

I responded by telling her it should be a national holiday.

She laughed.

I did not.

And then I went on a five-minute long tangent on why the Super Bowl should be a recognized holiday – my most compelling argument being the crescendo that leads up to the big game. Think of the grandaddy of all holidays – Christmas. There is a certain buildup to the glorious day in what we call the “holiday season.”

The Super Bowl too has a buildup, from the playoff games to the idiotic Manning brother Oreo commercials to media day to the Star Spangled Banner to kickoff.

But the most crucial part of the buildup are the storylines outside of the game that make the event special even if you don’t have a rooting interest or if you don’t know a thing about football.

Here are five storylines to know about going into Sunday’s holiday:

5. Indiana divided – West Lafayette and Purdue nation will have divided allegiances on Sunday, some choosing to root for the man who turned around Purdue’s football program, Drew Brees, others sticking with the home state Colts.

4. Controversial commercials – This year’s most controversial spot? Not from the crazy minds at Budweiser, not from the sexually-crazed Go Daddy company. No, this year’s most talked about ad is Tim Tebow’s Focus on the Family spot, which has pro-choice groups up in arms.

3. Super Security – Sun Life Stadium will have the security of an airport terminal on Sunday. Banners, noisemakers, horns and beach balls are among a laundry list of items not allowed into the site of the Super Bowl. Metal detectors and pat downs also add to increased security.

2. Drew Brees – The shortest quarterback in the league has lived up to the tallest of expectations from a city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Not only did he put up MVP-quality numbers (4,388 yards and 34 TDs) and lead a futile franchise to its first Super Bowl, he has been active in helping the community recover. Brees said helping the franchise and city rebuild was “his calling.”

1. Pierre Garcon – There was not a more touching moment this NFL season than watching the Haitian born wide receiver proudly waving the flag of his homeland around Lucas Oil Stadium after the Colts clinched a trip to the Super Bowl. Garcon has used his new found fame as a sounding board to raise money for relief efforts. Oh, yeah he can play too. The former Division III player stepped up in place of injured Anthony Gonzalez and caught 47 passes for four scores this season.
2.
Honorable mention: Just how many times will the camera pan to Kim Kardashian when Reggie Bush even comes near the football?

Aaron Mueller is a reporter for the Niles Daily Star and Cassopolis Vigilant. He can be reached at aaron.mueller@leaderpub.com