NSR area director Chuck Howard hopes to end Super Bowl jinx

Chuck Howard doesn’t consider himself a jinx.

His teams just happened to be on the losing side – every time – during the five Super Bowls he covered for television stations in Buffalo, N.Y., and Charlotte, N.C.

Will the sixth time be a charm?

Howard, Charlotte Area Director for National Scouting Report and veteran sports broadcaster, will be covering the Carolina Panthers at Super Bowl 50 next week in Santa Clara, Calif. He will be co-hosting two weekly shows for the Carolina Panthers Television Network.

“I think I’m finally going to break the jinx,” said Howard, 51, a resident of Fort Mill, S.C., a long field goal from the North Carolina border. “I think we’re going to win this time.”

The Panthers (17-1), who routed the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game, are early 4-point favorites against the Denver Broncos (14-4), who held off the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

“I don’t think anyone saw this coming,” Howard said. “I thought the Panthers might win 10 games this season. This was totally unexpected.”

This will be the Panthers’ first Super Bowl appearance in 12 years and second in their 21-year history. Howard also covered the team’s 32-29 loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII after the 2003 season. Prior to that, he covered four consecutive Super Bowl losses by the infamous Buffalo Bills following the 1990-93 seasons.

“A lot of people made fun of the Bills,” Howard said. “However, as time went on, more and more people realized those Bills should go down as one of the best teams in NFL history. People appreciated what they accomplished.”

The same holds true for the Panthers, who, until the last few weeks, were considered by many as one of the most overrated teams in NFL history.

“The Panthers were called the worst 10-0 team in NFL history,” Howard said. “They were called the worst 14-1 team in league history. I think people’s opinions have finally changed. They finally realize this team is for real.”

Howard will have two busy weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. He will host two shows per week – “Open Mike” with Luis Moreno Jr. and “Game Plan” with former NFL player Eugene Robinson – for the Carolina Panthers Television Network. The first show analyzes the news conferences of Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton. The second one breaks down film of previous games and looks ahead.

Howard also will attend numerous media events, including Super Bowl Opening Night next Monday. Fans will have a chance to sit in the stands at SAP Center in San Jose or watch on TV as Howard and thousands of other media members interview Super Bowl players and coaches in prime time.

“When you cover an event like the Super Bowl, it’s the pinnacle for you,” said Howard, who plans to fly to the West Coast on Sunday. “However, it’s not all fun and games. You’re not going out there to party. You’re not going out as a fan. There’s a lot of work involved.

“It’s much more difficult to do your job at the Super Bowl. There are 2,000-3,000 media members covering the same event. You’re traveling around in a rental car to different news conferences all over the place. Sure, I’m honored to be going, but it’s a long week.”