The Arizona Cardinals will finally play in a Super Bowl game this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It is the first time the Cardinals will play in a Super Bowl in franchise history. This game is also the most exciting thing that has ever happened to any Cardinals fan.

It’s just too bad that last year the Super Bowl took place in the Cardinals’ new stadium in Glendale, Ariz. They missed playing at home by one year. Instead, they’ll be across the country in Miami where, luckily, it is equally as warm. This is an important factor, as the game in inches of snow against the New England Patriots this season proved, when the Cardinals lost miserably.

I have loved and watched the Cards since I can remember. Growing up in Arizona, the only sports team that ever had some form of success were the Phoenix Suns. The Cardinals had year after year of losing season and never sold out on game day.

I remember not being able to watch their home games on TV because, unless the game was sold out, it wouldn’t be on TV. I would have to sit and listen to it on the radio or go to the game.

Going to the game was actually a cheap option before three years ago because no one really cared about the Cardinals. In fact, they shared a stadium with the Arizona State Sundevil’s until three seasons ago.

My family had season tickets for two years and my mom and I never missed a game. My brothers and dad used to complain about going to the games because it was so hot and they felt cramped in the bleacher style seating. I mean, what team doesn’t have seats with numbers.

Sometimes, the benches and unfilled seats made it feel like going to a high school football game, but it was always worth it.

Despite how horrible the team was, I was still a fan the whole time. I owe my passion for watching football to my mom. She has been known to miss church on Sundays to watch a Cardinals’ game.

I will always credit my mom as the reason I got into watching football in the first place. I guess I used to wonder why there was so much screaming coming from the living room each Sunday morning or afternoon.

Anyway, my point is that for all those Cardinal fans that have been cheering them on through the good times (which there haven’t been much of) and the bad (which is basically every season), this Sunday is the single best accomplishment of the team.

I am glad to say I stuck by my Cards for all those years and proud that one of the biggest jokes in the NFL is finally proving that they can play football like a real team.

I have learned one thing as a Cardinal fan, though, and that is to never get your hopes up too high. But, after this season, I now understand how great winning can feel.

With that said, I am not claiming that they will destroy the Steelers this weekend or even win, just that every Cardinal fan has been through a lot and is finally able to be proud of their team. GO CARDINALS!