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Stover Has Fond Memories Of Tampa

Associated Press file photo

Stover made 47- and 34-yard field goals during the Ravens' 34-7 victory against the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa in January 2001.

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2009

Updated: 01/07/2009 07:00 am

TAMPA - Baltimore kicker Matt Stover has left Tampa twice with better memories than most Busch Gardens visitors.

Stover was a rookie with the New York Giants in 1990 when his team played Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV. He pulled his quadriceps and spent that season on injured reserve, but Stover was on the field when Bills kicker Scott Norwood's 47-yard field goal sailed wide right. New York won, 20-19, and Stover left Tampa with his first Super Bowl ring.

Ten years later, Stover was Baltimore's starting kicker. He made 47- and 34-yard field goals during the Ravens' 34-7 victory against the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa in January 2001.

Baltimore will play Tennessee in the AFC divisional playoffs Saturday, and Stover is two wins from a third Super Bowl appearance in Tampa.

"I like Tampa," Stover said. "Let's go get three."

Stover, 40, has spent this week mentally preparing for Tennessee, but he is beginning to share memories of Tampa with his teammates.

"You cast a vision, but you do it lightly at this point," Stover said. "You want them to understand it is the culmination of hard work and teamwork together.

"Walking off the field after the Super Bowl is amazing. It's an amazing accomplishment, but you can't forget about the present goals. We have to take care of today, and tomorrow has enough worries in itself."

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, the only other remaining player from that Super Bowl team, agreed with Stover's perspective, but he sees a parallel between this season and 2000.

Lewis' team advanced to the playoffs that year as a wild-card squad, like this season. Baltimore also defeated Tennessee during the second round of the playoffs, a task Lewis hopes to duplicate on Saturday.

"DejÀ vu," said Lewis, the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXV. "It's kind of a privilege. That's why I understood when Rod Woodson was playing with us, Shannon Sharpe, and these guys knew the importance of going to the championship and winning the championship.

"For me, I'm trying to educate these young guys that these opportunities don't come every day. Understand that. Forget the Super Bowl. Cherish the moment that you're in right now. If we attack every opportunity for the next 60 minutes, it's all we can do. It's all we can control."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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