Philly finally flies to Super Bowl

Finally.

I was born in August 1982. I threw on an Eagles shirt when I was 8. My first jersey… Finally.

I was born in August 1982. I threw on an Eagles shirt when I was 8. My first jersey was No. 32, Ricky Watters (he was good). I was a Donovan McNabb fan before he was drafted. (Hence the Syracuse Orange hat that I’ve owned for eight years.)

I lived in the 700 level of the Vet. I still have the ticket stubs to prove it.

I was there when Rich Kotite looked like the savior of Philly, starting out 7-2 but losing the final seven games and missing the playoffs.

I’ve been through the 3-13 season and the year of Bobby Hoying.

What ever happened to him anyway?

I’ve watched the Eagles, headed by coach Ray Rhodes, destroy the Lions 58-37 in round one only to fall to the Dallas Cowboys 30-11 the following week.

And now, after three straight NFC Championship losses, the team in green will be seen on Super Bowl Sunday.

For 24 years, Super Bowl Sunday has not meant anything to Philadelphia — just another day of saying, “We’ll be here next year … Next year.”

But this team has taken the city of Philadelphia on its shoulders and done what no one thought could happen — especially without Terrell Owens.

Owens may be back in Jacksonville, Fla., but it doesn’t matter. This team has come together in the face of adversity and shown why it’s played in the championship game four years in a row.

And the reason is not Owens. It’s not Brian Westbrook. Nor is it the Campbell’s Chunky Soup.

It’s head coach Andy Reid.

He is by far one of the most successful head coaches to also hold the title of executive vice president of football operations. He’s made moves throughout his tenure that have been questioned. But each was only questioned once.

Two years ago, the Eagles had three picks within the first two rounds of the draft. He drafted cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, and safety Michael Lewis — all while the Eagles had Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins making Pro Bowls in the secondary.

Now, both Vincent and Taylor are gone, and Lewis and Sheppard are on a flight to Hawaii with a two-week layover in Jacksonville.

A year ago, Reid pursued free agent Owens, and after some controversy which seems to follow him), the number 81 was placed on an Eagles’ jersey. But that couldn’t work for Philly, could it?

Owens only went on to catch 14 touchdowns for 1,200 yards.

Reid made his biggest mistake when he first stepped into the land of cheesesteaks. He drafted a Pro-Bowl quarterback, whom the city (not I) initially booed.

Through all those “mistakes,” Reid has become a genius. So much so that Broad Street is going to need a new name.

Andy Reid Way sounds nice. (I won’t claim royalties on that, so take it from me, Philly.)

Reid has the highest winning percentage in Philadelphia Eagles’ history (.670).

The word “dynasty” has been thrown around for the Patriots, and rightfully so. Bill Belichick has picked apart virtually every team he has played, including the Steelers yesterday at Heinz Field.

But it might be time to consider the Eagles as a future dynasty. Not yet, but Reid is on pace. After his 5-11 opening season, he has recorded five consecutive winning seasons, amassing a record of 67-25 (.728), including playoffs.

Again, that’s a while down the road. However, all the Eagles have to do is make a right on Andy Reid Way to get there.

Jimmy Johnson is the sports editor of The Pitt News, and he will not be reached until after he returns from Philly. There’s a Super Bowl party waiting for him, with Merrill Reese calling the game on 94.1 WYSP. Contact him at Jimmysjargon@yahoo.com and look for him in his McNabb jersey these next two weeks.