Mayor A.J. Holloway says he’ll have split allegiances when Super Bowl time rolls around Sunday.
Holloway, a former collegiate star at Ole Miss, has strong ties to both the New Orleans Saints, having been a lifelong fan; and the Indianapolis Colts, quarterbacked by the son of fellow Ole Miss alum Archie Manning.
“Archie would come over from Drew while he was playing in high school to watch us play at Ole Miss, so I’ve known him that far back,” said Holloway, who was a running back on the storied Ole Miss teams of the early ’60s, having been a member of the Rebel national championship team and playing in two Sugar Bowls and a Cotton Bowl.
“Of course I watched Archie when he played for Ole Miss and when he ran for his life with the Saints,” Holloway said, “and I’ve always considered him a friend.”
Which brings us to this weekend.
“I’ll be happy with which ever team wins,” Holloway said. “Of course, as mayor, I have to support New Orleans. But let me say this: I think the Saints will come out and look good initially, scoring some points. But Peyton Manning is the kind of quarterback who studies the defense. He will find your weaknesses and exploit them.
“Frankly, I think he’ll be one of the greatest – if not THE greatest – quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. I think he probably has about five more good years left, and by that time he’ll own every record there is.”
And predictions for weekend? “I think it’s going to be a great game, and one thing’s for sure: It can’t end in a tie.”
Weekend preview: While the Super Bowl doesn’t arrive until Sunday, a host of activities are on tap for Biloxi and the Gulf Coast this weekend.
You’ll find six Mardi Gras parades rolling on the Gulf Coast, hockey at the Coast Coliseum, Kellie Pickler at the IP, Brad Paisley at the Coast Coliseum, Lynda Carter at the Hard Rock, and shows at Center Stage and Biloxi Little Theater. And, there’s the football game on TV Sunday.
To see the entire list of local events, as compiled by our friends at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, click here.
News and notes
Council preview: Mayor A.J. Holloway on Tuesday will ask the Biloxi City Council to approve a quarter-million-dollar project that will see the resurfacing of Beauvoir Road, and other measures that would provide more than $50,000 in funding for a trio of Biloxi youth sports leagues and $7,000 for Biloxi Little Theater. Also on the agenda: zoning measures for property on Back Bay Boulevard and on new Highway 67. To see the complete agenda for Tuesday’s meeting -– a dozen measures in all — click here.
February events: Two long-standing events – the Mississippi Coast history week and the Arbor Day run – are coming up in a few week. To read more about history week plans, click here. To read about plans for the Arbor Day Festival and Run, click here.
Traffic update: Road work has sections of several major thoroughfares closed – Howard Avenue, Floyd Drive, Esters Boulevard – and others with partial closures. To see today’s report from the Public Works Department, click here.
