Hopatcong Remembers Giants' 2008 Super Bowl Win

When the final second ticked off the clock, signaling the New York Giants' Super Bowl win and the demise of the New England Patriots' perfect season, the room exploded around Mark D'Ambrosi. Yelling. Whooping. High-fiving.

But just feet away in the other room, D'Ambrosi's wife slept on a couch. A few weeks from giving birth, nothing was waking her up.

So what's D'Ambrosi looking forward to most about Sunday's Giants-Patriots Super Bowl rematch? "Best part now is I get to watch the game with my daughter four years later, and my wife will be awake," he said.

Many Hopatcong residents were glued to their TVs in 2008, screaming as David Tyree's helmet catch kept the drive alive and fist-pumping when Eli Manning found a wide-open Plaxico Burress in the end zone for the game-sealing touchdown.

So Patch asked readers via its Facebook page to share some of their best memories of the game.

Bobby Weber had a day to remember. The 2006 Hopatcong High School graduate was celebrating his 21st birthday during the game. He said the win was "epic" and considered Tom Petty's halftime performance possibly the best in Super Bowl history.

Bri Pante-Rolson and Nick Moyer each rejoiced in the win, the Giants' third Super Bowl victory. Pante-Rolson said she took pleasure in ruining the Patriots' perfect season. Moyer only had one word for his mind state: "Shocked!"

At the time, Mike Unick was living in a condominium complex. "After the game everyone was outside, chanting 'Giants!'" he said. "Banging pots and pans and shooting off fireworks. It was a great experience."

Deborah Fletemeyer, though, doesn't expect history to repeat itself Sunday.

"I think the Patriots will win," she said. "I'm sorry."

What are your greatest memories of the Giants' last Super Bowl win? Tell us in the comments.