Jim Curtin is the head coach of the Philadelphia Union.
He's also a longtime Philly guy and a huge Eagles fan who said in his introductory press conference that his "wedding revolved around 4th-and-26 with Freddie Mitchell."
So, yeah, he may have gone a little crazy watching the Super Bowl - even if he had to do it more than 1,000 miles away since the Union are currently in preseason camp down in Clearwater.
"What a game, what an incredible team story and performance," Curtin said during his weekly conference call Wednesday. "Sticking together when a lot of people counted them out is a story you see a lot in sports and it was fun to watch.
"Congrats to the Eagles, Coach Pederson, all the things they did this year were truly special," he added. "I think every Philadelphian stands a little taller now. It's an exciting time in Philadelphia sports."
Curtin said he watched the game in Florida with two members of the Union front office: fellow Philly native Chris Albright and Earnie Stewart (who actually comes from a family of Cowboys fans). Afterwards, he gave a big hug to backup goalie John McCarthy, a Northeast Philly native who said in an interview he "teared up a little" after the game.
Tears of joy with the boys. Something's you'll never forget in life #52 #champsarehere #birdgang🦅 pic.twitter.com/L1o3k8CvXa— John McCarthy (@jmacdaddy77) February 5, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and their NFL rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
McCarthy then lobbied Mayor Kenney to have the championship parade on Friday - the day the Union return to Philly from the first phase of their preseason. (Rudely, it doesn't seem like the mayor factored in the goalie's request as the city settled on Thursday.)
So let's try this again. @PhillyMayor what are we thinking about Friday as the parade day and a nice 3 day weeekend for the @Eagles and the city??? #phillypride https://t.co/uwUrF236gr— John McCarthy (@jmacdaddy77) February 6, 2018
"We were really excited," Curtin said. "Obviously everyone from Philadelphia knows the highs and lows of being a Philly fan. I thought it was a great moment for us as a city."
Curtin said he wishes he could be at the parade but is naturally focused on the Union's preseason game vs. Chicago on Thursday. There will, however, be plenty of representation from his family along Broad Street.
"I have a large number of family members and close friends sleeping over at my house tonight," said Curtin, who lives in the Queen Village section of the city. "My house isn't very big but it happens to be a couple of blocks from the parade route. There will be a big sleepover - lots of kids, lots of cousins, lots of family rolling through the house.
"Obviously we have work to do down here in Clearwater. It's unfortunate I'm gonna miss the parade but I know it's gonna be a heck of a party."
