Final Four programs

[fgoodwin]

Speaking of final fours, I didn't want to hi-jack that thread so I'm starting a new one: if any of you collect Super Bowl programs, please be aware that the "Collector's Edition" of the Super Bowl IV program includes previews of all four league championship finalists: KC and Oakland in the AFL, and Minn and Cleve in the NFL. Only the stadium edition includes just the two finalists. So if you are looking to buy a SB IV program, be sure to ask the seller which version he (or she) is selling you. Obviously, the stadium edition is much rarer, and therefore more expensive, than the collector's edition.

Also, the SB 28 program (DAL vs BUF) includes the four conference finalists (BUF v KC and SF v DAL). I wrote a letter to the NFL complaining about this, but they gave me some lame excuse about having only one week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl to produce the program. Since they had to print the program early, they couldn't wait until the conference champions were decided. Of course, that's BS as it has happened before that only one week separated the conference championship games from the Super Bowl, and yet in every case except SB 28, the SB program included only the two finalists. The NFL assured me this would never happen again. Sorry, but how could the desk-drone who wrote the letter possibly know that?

I collect Super Bowl programs, and I have them all going back to SB I. As far as I know, only the SB 28 program includes the four conference finalists, but I didn't attend the game, so I don't know if the stadium edition had the same problem. I've tried for years to confirm this with anyone who actually attended the game and bought a program, but so far I've been unsuccessful. Does anyone know for sure if the stadium edition included just the two finalists?

On a related note: the following Super Bowls were separated from the conference championship games by only one week:

1970 SB IV which may explain the collector vs stadium editions of the program
1982 SB XVII the NFL had to use the off-week because the strike canceled so many games
1990 SB XXV was this the year the NFL had two bye weeks?
1993 SB XXVIII or was this the year the NFL introduced two bye weeks? If so, what caused the lack of an off-week in 1990?
1999 SB XXXIV I have no explanation for what happened this year
2001 SB XXXVI the 9/11 cancellations caused the season to extend into the off-week

I can confirm that in every case except SB 28, the program that I own lists previews for only the two finalists.

[Mark]

1990 was the first year for byes

1993 was the year of two byes

[fgoodwin]

1990 was the first year for byes

1993 was the year of two byes

Ahh so -- thanx!

[superbowlfanatic]

I believe Super Bowl XXXVIII (TB/Oak) also had only 1 week between the Conference Championships Games and the Super Bowl, and was the last to do so.

I also collect all the SB Game Programs, I'll take a look at my SB 28 program and see if I can shed any new light for you.