This Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, Minn. We talked with two Mule athletes, Eagles fan Christina Manning of the women's basketball team, and Patriots fan Sam Kasten of the baseball team, for their thoughts on their favorite teams leading up to the big game. 
 

How did you become a fan of your team, and when did you start following them?
Christina: My whole family is Eagles fans, so I grew up always watching the games.

Sam: I became interested in football at a very young age. My dad was born in Pittsburgh and is a diehard Steelers fan. I've basically been watching football since birth because even when I was too young to understand what was going on, he would plop me on his lap and watch Steelers and Patriots games every Sunday. I still root for the Steelers to this day but if the Pats are in the picture, it's all Pats all the time.

How far do you live from your team's stadium? And if you've been there before, what was the best part about the game(s) you went to? 
Christina: I live about 25 minutes away from the stadium! I have actually never been to a game, which is crazy to say, but basketball was usually just beginning for me. I can only imagine the atmosphere in that stadium though. Eagles fans are insane, but they are the best! I wish I could have been at the last game though. That would have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Sam: I live just under two hours north of Foxboro in the great state of New Hampshire. Foxboro is a small town, and there's not much around the stadium. Gillette Stadium itself is a great place to watch a football game, sun, rain or snow. My favorite thing about Gillette which makes it different from the other stadiums is the Endzone Militia (guys dressed in Revolutionary War attire) who fire their guns after every Patriots touchdown. Fun Fact: My middle school social studies teacher is in the Endzone Militia.
 

Who is your favorite player on your team? 
Christina: My favorite player on the team was probably Brian Westbrook when he played. He had such an energy when he played that made him really fun to watch. I do like Carson Wentz, too. I think he got the Eagles to where they are right now.

Sam: Tom Brady is the obvious answer, but he's been playing for so long that I developed other favorites. I was a HUGE fan of the recent addition of James Harrison, sorry Steelers fans. He's been one of my favorite players in the NFL for years. I'm also a big Julian Edelman fan.
 
What do you remember about the last time the Eagles and Patriots met in the Super Bowl? (Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005) 
Christina: Unfortunately, the Eagles lost, but only by 3 points! It is pretty exciting having another chance to take down the Patriots in the biggest game. I think the Eagles are a whole new team now since 2005 and definitely have what it takes to win.
 
Sam: It's tough to remember each Super Bowl victory specifically, we have so many it just gets muddled.
 
What is it like going to school only an hour away from Philadelphia, with so many Eagles fans on the Muhlenberg campus? 
Christina: It is really exciting being so close to Philly and seeing people wear their Eagles jerseys around campus. It is definitely getting me more hyped for the game on Sunday.

What is it like going to school away from the New England area, where the Patriots tend to be a mostly disliked team? 
Sam: I've gotten used to being the only guy in the room rooting for the Pats. Over these last four years I've also gotten used to being the only guy in the room who's team is in the playoffs. The Eagles I'll admit are on the come up, but it's satisfying knowing that since my arrival as a freshman at Muhlenberg College the Jets and Giants have combined for a playoff record of 0-1. Tough.

Prediction for who wins the game, and what will the score be?
Christina: I think the Eagles are going to win 28-24.

Sam: 28-3 Patriots