Final Practice: San Francisco 49ers
By: Michael C. Fehn
Updated: February 2, 2013
By Matt Maiocco
Pro Football Writers of
America
NEW ORLEANS--
The lights of the Super Bowl appeared a little brighter for 49ers head coach Jim
Harbaugh, as the team went through 15 minutes of stretching and playing catch at
the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The 49ers held their final
get-together, a light workout on the eve of Super Bowl XLVII against the
Baltimore Ravens, in front of 11 bus loads of family and friends. As the coaches
and players walked onto the playing field, one person in the crowd prompted the
group to perform the 49ers' traditional victory cheer. The man shouted, "Who's
got it better than us?" And hundreds of 49ers supporters replied in unison,
"Nobody!"
That brought a smile to
Harbaugh's face and he applauded the fans' efforts. Afterward, the large
contingent was invited onto the field to pose for pictures and get autographs.
The brief walk-through practice had a football purpose,
too.
"We wanted to come over,"
Harbaugh said. "And the football part of it is getting used to the lights. They
looked a little brighter than the last time we were down
here."
The 49ers played Nov. 25 at
the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, a game in which quarterback Colin Kaepernick made
his first career road start in a 31-21 victory over the New Orleans
Saints.
Harbaugh said he wanted the
players to visit the locker room and put on their game cleats to check out the
playing surface with "pat-and-go" drills. Harbaugh joined the three quarterbacks
in throwing passes to players at all positions.
"Also, wanted to get a
stretch, get the blood moving a little bit," Harbaugh said. "And get some new
blood going. Then, afterward, enjoy it with your family. Get some pictures and
make it possible for everybody to come down to the Super Bowl
field."
The most popular player on
the field was Kaepernick. He was surrounded by a large circle of people seeking
photos. Harbaugh said Kaepernick appears to remain unfazed by his new
fame.
"I don't see any change, one
way or the other," Harbaugh said. "He is who he is. He has been pretty steady
with his demeanor."
The 49ers are scheduled for
their normal night-before-game routine of meetings at the team hotel, Harbaugh
said.
"I feel good," Harbaugh
said. "The preparation has been outstanding, very focused. The players care
about winning. They care about this team, and that's complimentary to the
players and the way their focus has been. And that's not something that's been
just this week. That wasn't just created this week. That's been all season and
the offseason. It speaks very highly of the players."
