Super Bowl

With Super Bowl LII just around the corner, a crew of lifelong friends will be making their annual trip to watch the game in person — just as they have done for the last 51 years. The five men - Sylvan Schefler, Lew Rappaport, Al Schragis, Larry McDonald, and Harvey Rothenberg who range in age from their late 70s to early 80s, began their annual tradition when the Super Bowl wasn't even called that; back in 1967, it was simply known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. That inaugural game, between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs, is now known as Super Bowl I, and it marked the start of a long tradition that has spanned nearly half a century. How it all began: Harvey Rothenberg, Larry McDonald, Lew Rappaport, Al Schragis and Sylvan Schefler are pictured at the very first Super Bowl in 1967 in Los Angeles. Year 2: The group had such a good time at the inaugural game they decided to organize a repeat trip the following year, in 1968. Five friends: The group have branded jackets and have become well known among Super Bowl circles. Through thick and thin: The group have never missed a single game in the entire time the Superbowl has run. In 1967, the five flew to Los Angeles to buy their tickets for the game, which retailed for just $10, and when they arrived at the stadium, it was less than half full. As for the game itself, Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in front of 61,946 fans, and the furiously-fought sporting competition was enough to draw them in as fans for life. Although the group admit that they never set out to keep up the tradition for so long, they are eager to keep enjoying it for as long as possible. 'Nothing is forever,' Sylvan told the Today show. 'We all understand that. But we've been blessed to have had the opportunity to say this is 50 years.' Honored: This year, the NFL is going to be honoring the group at the game for their remarkable acvhievement. Same jacket, different year: Five years into the tradition the friends always made time for a meet up. Nice round number: Ten years into their tradition, the group are pictured here in 1977. One for the history books: The group have a picture every year to add to their growing Super Bowl album. This weekend, the group is headed to Santa Clara, California, to attend Sunday's milestone game where they will be celebrating their own special date. 'We're devoted to each other, and we're devoted to the Super Bowl,' Harvey said. The friends, four of whom are from New York are are military veterans, call themselves The Super Bowl Five. During Friday's interview with the morning show, the group spoke about some of their favorite memories which include Scott Norwood's wide-right field goal miss in Super Bowl XXV and the New York Giants beating the undefeated New England Patriots in 2008. Living long in the memory: The group vividly remember Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' and Whitney Houston's stirring national anthem in 1991 . Decades on and still going strong: The gang are pictured here on their 20th Super Bowl in 1987. That's what friends are for: The group help one another out after one of the men's business failed. The Super Bowl Five, who range in age from their late 70s to early 80s, hope to continue the tradition for another ten years. 'To me, that was the best of all to beat the Patriots,' Sylvan said. It's not just the game play the five of them remember but the halftime shows as well. There's been a marked difference in the type of entertainment on offer beginning with a marching band at the first game to last years Katy Perry-led spectacle. In 1991, during the height of the Gulf War, Whitney Houston raised the roof with a stirring rendition the national anthem. 'There was not a dry eye in the whole stadium,'' Sylvan said. 'That was the most emotional time I think we've ever had,'' Larry added. Good game! Four of the men are New Yorkers and loved seeing the New York Giants thrash the New England Patriots in 2008 after a perfect season. Half-time show: The entertainment has changed over the years from a marching band in 1967, left, to something far more flamboyant. Pictured right, Katy Perry in 2015. Not surprisingly, all the men remember Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' in 2004 when her nipple was revealed to the world at the end of the halftime show. 'Lew said to me, 'Prez, look at this!' ' Al Schragis said. 'I said, 'What?' I almost missed it. But I saw it.' The tradition, which includes a 'no wives rule' has managed to overcome financial hardships in recent years. On one occasion, a friend needed to borrow from the other four to make it; another year the death of a father one week before a game put things in jeopardy. But throughout it all, the five have remained closed friends and hope to continue attending the Super Bowl for at least the next decade. Credits: dailymail.co.uk

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