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After Dark, NFL Experience Gets Festive, If Not Wet

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2009

TAMPA - From video game contests to player autographs to a 56-year-old man in a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders costume, the NFLX After Dark celebration offered fans a wild, and wet, experience Thursday night.

Hundreds of people crowded the NFL Experience in the shadow of Raymond James Stadium as the afternoon rain eased up long enough for fans to wander between tents filled with memorabilia, interactive football drills and chances to win collectible souvenirs.

NFLX After Dark allowed fans a chance to savor the festivities from 9 p.m. to midnight. The event closes at 10 p.m. tonight and Saturday.

Mark Miller, decked out in Pittsburgh Steelers gear, squatted behind a life-size replica of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2008 team photo so his longtime girlfriend Lisa Donitzen could snap a picture. The couple, who live in Tampa, are originally from Johnstown, Pa. They came out to show Miller's brother George around.

George Miller said he and his sister-in-law Kim Horner drove 16 hours straight from Johnstown to Tampa to attend the Super Bowl and root on the Steelers. They left their respective spouses in Pennsylvania to watch the game on television.

"I've been to all five they won," George Miller said of the Steelers' previous Super Bowl victories. The only game he missed was the team's loss in 1996 to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Ariz. "I feel very good. We're going for the Iron City six-pack."

Steelers fans were in abundance Thursday night. Noticeably absent, however, was anyone wearing the team colors of the Arizona Cardinals, who are making their first Super Bowl appearance.

"I'm going for them this year," Darnell Malone of Clearwater said as he stood inside a life-size replica of a Cardinals' player in uniform with full pads. The replicas of players from NFL teams were scattered throughout the NFL Experience for fans to stand inside and have photos taken. "They need to win one. They deserve it."

Malone said he was having his picture taken in a Cardinals uniform so he could e-mail it to a friend who is a die-hard Steelers fan.

Vincent Owens of Tampa came to NFLX After Dark for one reason — to compete for a pair of Super Bowl tickets in the EA Sports Madden NFL 09 Mini Tournament. Owens said he is part of Madden Nation, an online gaming community of people who play the popular videogame on Xbox Live.

Owens, 30, lost early, however, after throwing an interception.

"I was disappointed," he said. "I thought I would make it to the final game."

And then there was Richard Welch of St. Petersburg, who barely had time to talk as people stopped him to have their picture taken with him.

Welch, 56, a retired federal employee who spent 30 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in St. Petersburg, was decked out in Dallas Cowboys boots, shorts, a midriff-baring top, black tights, blonde wig and cowboy hat.

He said his wife made the costume for him six years ago, and he's worn it every year since to a handful of NFL games, including Buccaneers home games and a few Cowboys games in Irving, Texas.

Welch, a self-proclaimed conservative Republican, said he just likes to make people laugh.

"If you can't laugh at yourself and have a good time, it's not worth it," he said.

Just then, a pair of young women came running up.

"Can we take a picture with you?" one asked. "You are sexy!"

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915.

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