Woman runs into horse, dozen arrested for counterfeit Super Bowl tickets

TAMPA - Police nabbed more than a dozen people Sunday for a variety of crimes, including selling counterfeit Super Bowl tickets and a woman who allegedly drunkenly drove into a police horse.

Tampa International Airport running smoothly despite Super Bowl exodous

TAMPA -- The citywide exodus of Super Bowl visitors began early this morning at Tampa International Airport, with officials expecting the busiest day in more than a year.

Despite the traffic, there were no big delays at ticket counters or security-screening checkpoints. Airlines began checking in passengers as early as 3 a.m., and the Transportation Security Administration brought in extra officers from Orlando to open all 27 of the airport's screening lanes.

Airport officials estimate about 32,000 passengers will fly out of Tampa through Monday, likely the most since the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2007, said airport executive director Louis Miller.

Chips, Chili's, sex and ecstasy outside RayJay

TAMPA -- Those who couldn't get tickets to the Super Bowl slammed Moe's Southwest Grill, Bennigan's and Chili's, along Dale Mabry Highway. Inside Moe's, the crowd cheered loudly for both teams and lauded Bruce Springsteen's halftime performance.

One man, who carried a harmonica, even played along inside the restaurant to "Born to Run."

But Moe's closing at 9 p.m. forcing the spectators to find another TV. At nearby Chili's, an employee barred the door and turned away any more patrons because the restaurant was standing-room only already. An FWC officer stood by in support.

About 30 fans, a number that grew during the seesaw game, stood outside the restaurant and peered in at televisions showing one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played.

About midway through the fourth quarter, the employee at the front door told the FWC officer that a couple was having sex in one of the bathrooms. The officer ran in. Twenty minutes later, he exited with a Steelers fan wearing a No. 86 Hines Ward jersey and a woman. The officer sternly told the man he should take him to jail.

Man gives up wife for Super Bowl, can't get ticket

TAMPA---Bob Mitchell  has been to every Super Bowl the Pittsburgh Steelers played.

He witnessed Lynn Swann's history-making airborne catch. He saw Hines Ward and Hall of Famers Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw become Super Bowl MVPs.

He was so sure he'd watch his storied franchise win yet another Super Bowl that he drove all the way to Tampa from New Smyrna Beach and booked a room at a Quality Inn.

He started at 6:30 a.m. on an Interstate 275 offramp, wearing a sign that read: "Wife said Super Bowl or me??? I'm going to miss her.....Need one ticket."

But his loyalty and his eye-catching Styrofoam sign didn't get him inside Raymond James Stadium.

Mitchell, 59, moved five blocks West, then 10 blocks to the north end of Raymond James. Lots of fans wanted a picture with him and his sign, but none of them had any tickets.

Just before 5:30 p.m., Mitchell resigned himself to the fact that he would miss his first Steelers Super Bowl.

"I'm heading home now," he said. "I'm tired. My feet hurt. Big disappointment."

-Rodney Thrash, Times staff writer