Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt spoke of his pride at guiding his team to a first ever Super Bowl appearance in their history.
Cards coach faces old club in Super Bowl showdown
Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt spoke of his pride at guiding his team to a first ever Super Bowl appearance in their history, and it will be extra special for the head coach as he goes up against his former side, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Tampa Bay.
The Super Bowl XLIII line-up was finalised on a frantic Sunday of action, with the Steelers beating Baltimore while the Cardinals continued their surprising run by beating Philadelphia to win the NFC title.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerland and quarterback Kurt Warner connected with a hat-trick of touchdown passes in a blistering first half that set-up the victory, to hand the Cardinals a first Super Bowl and chance of winning a first national title since 1947.
A total of 61 years is a long time to wait for a title, the second longest in American sports, and to make the day even more special Whisenhunt will go up against the Steelers, where he worked for six seasons.
"Like everyone else, I was a little disappointed that we couldn't get a Super Bowl match-up with any compelling storylines," Whisenhunt jokingly said in a statement.
Special storyline
"But honestly, it's unbelievably special that we're going to the Super Bowl under any circumstances, but now to find out that we'll be playing the Steelers certainly takes it to another level.
"Obviously, that organization and the people associated with it hold a special place in my heart. From that standpoint, this is something of a dream scenario for me and many of the other coaches on our staff.
"We're looking forward to a great match-up in Tampa."
Warner stayed cool under pressure after the Eagles moved ahead late on in the game, and his winning drive means he will go to a third Super Bowl at the age of 37.
An MVP winner when St Louis won in 2000, and a loser with the Rams two years later, Warner has had a remarkable renaissance season in the desert.
"The reason we're here in great part is because of what Kurt Warner has done for us," Whisenhunt said.
Thanks
Warner himself added in his post-game speech to the crowd: "I want to say thanks to all of you guys.
"When nobody else believed in us, when nobody else believed in me, you guys did and we're going to the Super Bowl.
"I want to say Arizona Cardinals and Super Bowl in the same sentence. The Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. How about it?"
Fitzgerald has also played a massive part in the Cards' success, as he has been virtually unplayable in his record-breaking post-season.
Eclipsing Jerry Rice's post-season receiving record with 419 yards and still a game to spare, Fitzgerald has been in awesome form and will be a huge threat in the big game.
"He's been on fire," said fellow receiver Anquan Boldin. "Running wide open, making big plays. He played like a man among boys."
Warner and Fitzgerald will face the toughest test possible in Florida, facing the number one-ranked Pittsburgh defence, but if any two can break down the Steelers machine it is the explosive Cardinals duo.
