CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After a week of media frenzy and practices in California, the Carolina Panthers will finally take on the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
The Panthers will likely go through their normal pre-game routine, but they already got their first look Saturday inside Levi's Stadium.
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Coach Ron Rivera still held the team’s walk-through at San Jose State University where they have been practicing all week, but he wanted them to get familiar with the Super Bowl locker room and stadium so they wouldn’t see it for the first time Sunday.
According to the pool report, the walk-through lasted less than an hour.
All 53 team members are cleared to play Sunday, including Jared Allen and Thomas Davis.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has a big honor even before he steps on the field -- he was named the National Football League's MVP Saturday night.
He couldn't be at the ceremony because of the Super Bowl, but he recorded a video message thanking the Panthers, his fans, and family and friends.
[ BEHIND the SCENES IMAGES: Channel 9 in California for Super Bowl 50 ]
He also had a message for his critics.
"I also want to thank every person that had doubted me. Because you made me better. Dab. Keep pounding. Thank you so much," Newton said.
Newton also won the offensive player of the year award.
Rivera won the Coach of the Year award. He dedicated the award to his brother Mickey who died last summer from pancreatic cancer.
Rivera won the same award after the 2013 season when the team went 12 and four.
Former Panthers linebacker Kevin Greene was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday.
He played for the Panthers in the late '90s and finished his career with 160 sacks.
He spoke about how much he loved playing.
"It was such a blessing to play against what I knew were special, special quarterbacks at the time," he said.
GUIDE: Following #SuperBowl50 across social media
Some of the other inductees included Tony Dungy, the late Dick Stanfel and Brett Farve.
Sunday is also One Carolina Day to celebrate North and South Carolina's unity in cheering for the Panthers.
Lancaster County was the first to make the proclamation. Several other counties, including Mecklenburg, followed their lead.
The Panthers created the One Carolina motto because their goal from the beginning was to be a home team for people in both states.
The lucky fans who made it out into California packed into Super Bowl City on Saturday for an official pep rally.
[ PHOTOS: Panthers fans head to Super Bowl City Saturday ]
Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts was among those who riled up the crowd.
"We've been staying plugged in all week watching the shows, knowing we were headed here. So we're truly excited to be here, and we've been following the panthers since the beginning,” fan John Mankowski said.
Super Bowl 50 starts at 3:30 p.m. in California and 6:30 p.m. on the East Coast.
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