TAMPA – As the rest of the team waited anxiously on the sideline, Ron Dixon was off to the side, by himself, near the end zone. He was mugging for the fans, psyching himself up, knowing in a few moments he might be the first person to touch the football in Super Bowl XXXV.
It happened. Dixon, the mystery-man rookie who burst on the scene with the Giants, did get his hands on the ball first, as he took the opening kickoff but traveled only 17 yards, out to the Giants’ 21-yard line.
It was not an auspicious start for Dixon, but thank goodness there was more from Dixon down the line. As bad as the Giants’ 34-7 loss to the Ravens was last night, it would have been even more humbling if the Giants had become the first team to be shut out in a Super Bowl.
That inglorious distinction did not come the Giants’ way, thanks to Dixon. The Giants trailed 17-0 in the third quarter and had just been sent to their knees when Duane Starks returned a Kerry Collins interception 49 yards for a touchdown.
The Giants were reeling, out of touch, ready to be dismissed. But in a flash, Dixon showed the entire world watching this event why the Giants decided to use a third-round draft pick on an unknown receiver from unknown Lambuth University.
“It’s something I’m going to remember, but I won’t dwell on it because we didn’t win,” Dixon said.
Just as he did to ignite the Giants in their very first playoff game this season, against the Eagles, Dixon did something special. He took Matt Stover’s kickoff and used his long strides to eat up the green grass at Raymond James Stadium.
He made a quick cut left, another cut right and really had no impediments as he sped 97 yards for a touchdown. It was the exact same distance Dixon traveled in his very first playoff game and this one actually gave the Giants life in the Super Bowl. Brief life, but life.
“It was a wedge left and the guys did a wonderful job of blocking,” Dixon said. “I’ve been running all my life and I made the move through the hole and when I saw the kicker, I knew it was over.”
It certainly looked like a game-turning play.
“When we returned that, without a doubt I thought we were back in the ballgame and we could do it,” Jim Fassel said.
“It was a big play for us, what Ron did, taking it to the house,” Ike Hilliard said. “He’s one of few guys who did anything.”
It should have been a big play, but before Dixon’s heart stopped racing, the Giants were sunk once again. Jermaine Lewis took the ensuing kickoff from Brad Daluiso and raced 84 yards for a touchdown, the first time there were back-to-back returns in Super Bowl history. The Giants were down 24-7. End of momentum, end of game.
“I thought after we ran that kickoff back we had momentum, but as great teams do, they responded,” Lomas Brown said.