South Jersey Town Thrilled For Flacco, Ravens
By Dan Wing
AUDUBON, N.J. (CBS) -- While most football fans in the Delaware Valley don't have a connection to Baltimore Ravens or the San Francisco 49ers, the town of Audubon, New Jersey was strongly backing one of their own on Sunday evening.
Thousands of people were at a Super Bowl viewing party at The Kove Restaurant to cheer on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. The crowd was decked out in purple jerseys and green Audubon High School jerseys, most with the name Flacco on the back, and when the game was over and Baltimore was crowned champion, they couldn't have been more proud of Flacco and the Ravens.
"The whole town loves him, and we can't wait to see him after the victory," said a fan. "We're going to have a parade for him. Awesome guy!"
Audubon Mayor John Ward confirmed the town will honor Flacco.
"You know that's what Audubon does," Ward said. "We like to celebrate our own, and certainly Joe is one of us. And we all feel a connection to him."
After the Ravens 34-31 win, Flacco was named Super Bowl MVP, adding to celebration.
"Joe came through, the Ravens came through," Ward said, "and we couldn't be more proud of our own son."
Flacco's high school friends say Joe hasn't changed much since his days growing up in Audubon.
"Joe was kind of a dork, I guess, but kind of quiet," said one friend. "He would always come hang out with us. He's really good to our group of friends. We go to the games every year."
Some fans at the party have known Joe for most his life, and say he's someone the whole town can be proud of.
"Joe hung out with my daughter all through high school," a former neighbor said. "I think that the biggest reason I like him is he's just a hometown guy. He never forgot where he came from."
