Optometry Super Bowl
Optometry Super Bowl: Much More Than Expected!
Diane Russo
AOSA Trustee-Elect, SUNY Optometry
SU-NY-OOOOO! SU-NY-OOOOO! My first Optometry Superbowl experience was underway. I turned the corner, accompanied by an entourage of SUNY students equipped with spirit-filled painted faces and signs, to find a sea of optometry students. As I stood in anticipation of what was about to happen, some upper class students (veterans of the Superbowl so to speak) tried to explain the impending events. "Oh this is a big deal, Diane," a classmate said. I was unaware that seating is of the utmost importance. With that knowledge, I playfully threatened a fellow board member from NSUOK to watch out because I'd knock him down on the way in - to which he echoed the same sentiment! I had never witnessed such an event, with the tension running so high in the air. Still, it was an exciting and fun-loving atmosphere.
As the doors opened, students flooded inside to grab good seating. SUNY was a few rows back center. We anxiously awaited the contestants' entrances. One by one the schools and contestants were announced, followed by roaring cheers. Each school exhibited great spirit. As the Superbowl began, our contestant, Hanish Patel, was participating in the very first round. Here we go! As I sat in the midst of my school's section, there was a definite feeling of nervousness sweeping through the rows. SUNY had never won the Superbowl before. Would this be the year? One by one, the questions were fired and answered. Amazingly, there had to be a four-way tie breaker. Two questions were asked; both answered incorrectly by other contestants, giving SUNY a spot in the final round! We made it! But there was still a ways to go and we all knew it. The second preliminary round was beginning, meaning I could finally relax and enjoy "the show". My most vivid memory of this round was the contestant from IU, sporting an Arby's hat while on stage. He managed to come back from a -7 score at one point and make it into the finals - all the while being humorously entertaining. The momentary reprieve was soon over and the final round began. Muscles tensed, voices screamed, and flags flew high.
The questions began barreling and my eyes darted toward Hanish each time to see if he had buzzed in. What I came to learn about this competition is that it is not about how many times you get to buzz in, but how many questions you answer correctly. It is imperative to play quick, but play smart. Hanish did both. At the end of the round, he was in the lead with 7 points. Everything was riding on the final question. Here it was: Your single vision lens power is +3.00+2.25 X 30. If the lens has a base curve of +6.00, what are the remaining two curves? Did he know the answer? A few moments passed. Hanish put down his pen and took a nerve-calming sip of water. Time was up! The first contestant from ICO was asked to reveal his answer: -3.00 and -0.75. "That is correct," the announcer said. Immediately every set of SUNY eyes gazed anxiously at Hanish. "Do you have it?" someone yelled from our group. With a subtle nod and a clever smile from him we knew …we had won! Hanish read his answer and it was official.
SUNY College of Optometry had won the 2007 Optometry Superbowl! We rushed up to the front of the stage to continue cheering on our champion, which then led to a stage dive in celebration. I couldn't believe it. Not only was this my first Optometry Superbowl, but SUNY won for the very first time. A sense of immense joy and prowess ran though all of us. It was as if Hanish's victory was all of ours, like we were all on stage with him… a team. My only hope is that every optometry student will have the opportunity to experience what I did that evening. Thank you Varilux for making this all possible! I think I speak for most, if not all, when I say I am overwhelmingly grateful. Congratulations Hanish! Congratulations SUNY!
Click Below to Watch the Rules Video and Highlights of Varilux Optometry Super Bowl XVI
Past Super Bowl Winners
| Super Bowl I (1992) | Ron Sayers | OSU |
| Super Bowl II (1993) | Shane Laster | NSU |
| Super Bowl III (1994) | Shane Laster | NSU |
| Super Bowl IV (1995) | Tracey Curry | UW |
| Super Bowl V (1996) | Dave Leonard | SCCO |
| Super Bowl VI (1997) | Gregg Steele | UAB |
| Super Bowl VII (1998) | Jason Miller | OSU |
| Super Bowl VIII (1999) | Robert Rhodes | NOVA |
| Super Bowl IX (2000) | William Witt | NSU |
| Super Bowl X (2001) | Bill Barnes | PCO |
| Super Bowl XI (2002) | Bradley Hines | UAB |
| Super Bowl XII (2003) | Mike Monson | SCO |
| Super Bowl XIII (2004) | Kari Burchett | SCO |
| Super Bowl XIV (2005) | Shawn Beilby | SCO |
| Super Bowl XV (2006) | Marisa Chung | UCB |
| Super Bowl XVI (2007) | Hanish Patel | SUNY |
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