ATLANTA – Eddie George woke up on January 30, 2000 – Super Bowl Sunday – feeling like a kid again.

The Titans running back, in his fourth NFL season and the turbulence that comes with playing in four different home stadiums in four years behind him, had survived it all.

And he was ready to live out a childhood dream.

"It was like Christmas Day," recalled George, smiling. "It was like, "This is something I've thought about since I was a young boy. But I felt comfortable. I felt like this was the next step to achieve greatness, by hoisting up that Lombardi Trophy. I was ready. I could hardly wait until kickoff."

Exactly 19 years ago -- 6,940 days to be exact -- in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead, George got out of bed and lived a day he'll never forget as long as he lives. The day would include tears, following a 23-16 loss to the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.

It would also include memories George carries with him today, 14 years after his playing career ended, and now closing in on his 46th birthday. The day includes memories with his fallen friend, late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, from their quiet moments before and after the game, to McNair's heroic moments on the field at the Georgia Dome.

In an interview with Titans Online leading up to Super Bowl LIII, George took us through his day, from beginning to end. His only regret was not winning the game, and not getting another chance.

This was Eddie George's day 19 years ago today:

George had his own room at the team hotel. Tamara Johnson, his girlfriend at the time (and now his wife), gave him a pep talk the night before, and then left him by himself.

"She kissed me and said: Go get 'em," George recalled. "I kind of went over a few things in my playbook, meditated a bit, visualized what the next day would be like, and I went to sleep."

George woke up and had breakfast, and then went to a chapel service at the team hotel.

"It was standing room only," George said. "I want to say every coach, every player, was in there. I felt like in that moment we all had this feeling that we were about to play the game of our lives, and we wanted to be connected in spirit with that."

After the service, George attended meetings. The gameplan was in place.

Then came the team meal. George sat with teammate Anthony Dorsett, and they couldn't keep from hearing the nearby televisions tuned to pregame Super Bowl coverage.