WORKING THE BIG GAME
Nantucket's Nick Judson a Super Bowl fixture behind the scenes
by Steve Sheppard
Joe Namath was lost. The hall of fame quarterback had been driving around Miami and wondering where he was supposed to park. No problem, Nico Judson was there to help him out.

Nick Judson on the steps of the Coffin School, home to Nantucket Community Sailing. Once a year, Judson is Super-Bowl bound.

Come February 4, no matter how the Patriots fare against the Colts this Sunday, Nantucket will have a Super Bowl connection - for the 14th year Judson will be there.

For the past ten years, Nico, or Nick as he is known outside sailing circles, has served as executive director of Nantucket Community Sailing. Every January, however, well before the new sailing season starts, he leaves the island for his once a year job at the Super Bowl where he oversees transportation for the media and the National Football League. Judson is part of a team that makes sure the thousands of working media who descend on the Super Bowl not only know where they have to go but know how to get there as well. And if no one

notices, Judson knows he is doing his

job.

"They could see the greatest game of all time, but if the transportation is horrible it could affect their perspective."

Namath might be glad the game is back in Miami this year, and for Judson, it's the third time he has orchestrated

transportation in the city. He has also

been to Phoenix, Atlanta and Detroit,

among other host cities, but his favorites are "the trio of Miami, New Orleans and San Diego."

To get an idea of the logistics involved, take a look at the Super Bowl Web site (www.superbowl.com) to see what Judson's up against. The Super Bowl involves not only the game but peripheral events like the NFLExperience, Media Day and different charity functions. That's why he left for Miami two days ago. "Sometimes I go for two weeks, sometimes a month," he said last week. "When they were held in Jacksonville and Detroit I was gone a little longer. ...

"The Super Bowl is very different from a typical Sunday game."

Judson got involved with the NFLafter he had worked for other major events including World Cup Soccer in 1994 and the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta.

How he got there began on Nantucket.

Judson began event planning with the Rock Run, a run around the island that helps raise money for island charities. When Swim Across America was organizing its Nantucket to Cape Cod leg, Judson helped out. Because of that he received a call from the World University Games in Buffalo, N.Y. "It's the second largest international sporting event in the world, but it's completely unknown," Judson noted. "They gave me a phenomenal position; I was in charge of transportation planning and transportation for the athletic village."

What he learned helped him move on to the World Cup, the Olympics and the Super Bowl. For a time he contemplated going into event planning full time, but a call from Nantucket brought him back to the island. "Alan Newhouse called to see if I had any interest in getting involved with Nantucket Community Sailing." The startup sail-training organization was growing; with his experience as a world-class sailor, his work with events and his knowledge and love of the island, Judson seemed a natural fit. Nantucket Community Sailing agreed that he could continue traveling to events during the slower winter months. Although he did go off to a few in his first years at NCS, his calendar now is marked with just one event. "Nantucket Community Sailing has been great in giving me the opportunity to take the time every year," he said. Besides being part of a veteran crew ("all of us started working within a year of each other"), his duties at the Super Bowl hone his management skills. "The part I enjoy most is creating a system of how people get in and out (of hotels, events and the stadium) and then managing it."

He also takes a host of Nantucketers along to help. Jim Hurd, Jane Stoddard, Alex Fleming, Dave Powell and Chad Hudnut will work with Judson this year, with Hurd the veteran. Tony Molis usually accompanies Judson as well but prior commitments are keeping him home this year. Judson says his team inherently knows one important aspect of the job: "You need to be someone who can deal with people in a positive way. ... It's a big operation."

By Sunday night we will know if the Patriots will be part of it. "When the teams know who's going to play, the advance teams come immediately," Judson said. He also pointed out that the players make sure they arrive at a certain time, a very certain time - no team that's arrived by itself on a Monday has ever won. You can be certain, Judson noted, that teams make sure they get there on Sunday.

He's seen coaches like Mike Holmgren and Bill Parcells and a certain 'Sconset resident named Belichick. He's been there when Steve Young set a record by throwing 6 touchdowns; when Elway won with the Broncos; and for all three Patriots victories (and one loss, to the Packers, when, Judson noted, "the focus of the entire week was whether Parcells was going to the Jets"). He's been there, all right, ever since Super Bowl XXVIII, but as for actually watching the game. ...

"I usually get to see the second quarter," he said. "Before the end of the

third quarter, we're back to it again." I