PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Eagles fans woke up bright and early Sunday morning to tailgate before the game, some of the fans celebrating far more than the best team in football.
“The first time I cried was the ’80 Super Bowl when the Raiders beat us,” said Dan McAlee, who has been an Eagles fan since he was six years old.
This game became one of his all-time favorites before the team even took the field. The Vietnam veteran’s entire family surprised him for his 70th birthday.
“I went to help the bus driver move his truck off the highway and they were all on board. I got on there and they were all there,” he said.
In a sea of thousands of Eagles fans, Dan wasn’t the only one celebrating his big day with a tailgate.
“I turned 30 today so it’s a good day. All my friends and family are here and we’re having a great time,” said Rob D’Adrea of Northeast Philadelphia. He boarded a bus to the stadiums with 75 of his closest friends and family, bringing lots of toys and lots of good food.
“We’ve got smoked chicken, we’ve got smoked pork here, grilled mac and cheese,” he said, showing off their spread, which is, of course, the centerpiece of any good Eagles door.
“We got the breakfast sandwiches, the bacon egg and cheese, the pork roll egg and cheese. We got the scrambled eggs and the mimosas. The most important part, the mimosas,” said Courtney Bartkowski of Ewing, New Jersey.
She and her friends started the day right. Eagles fans wanted to show Tennessee why Philadelphia is the best football city.
“This is a city like no other. Everyone has a great time when they come to Philly,” said Shelley Holt of Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
It helps Eagles fans cheer on the number one team in football. It’s the gift that keeps on giving to lifelong fans like Dan.
“I think this is the best team I’ve seen in a long time,” he said.
Dan’s actual birthday isn’t until January. Now that he’s had his party, he’s hoping for one more gift. an Eagles trip to the Super Bowl.
(tags for translation)philadelphia eagles
