---> MEMORIES OF THE '03 PANTHERS SEASON <---

let's take a bit here before the biggest game of the season to remember just how special this season has been so far.

from offseason moves, to draft day, to mini-camps, to training camp, to signing days, to memorable quotes, to big plays, to tailgating, to celebrations, to watching the games in a bar, to roadtrips...

WHAT ARE YOUR LASTING MEMORIES OF THIS SEASON?

 

Getting to watch the Tampa Bay game from club level seats (thanks Star!) and scrambling to get a ticket to the Redskins game, then meeting Coop and the rest of the guys after each of those two games!

 

I've got a couple.

My fellow co-worker is also a big Panthers fan and we left work on our lunch hour to go down to Panthers Ticket and buy two nosebleed seats for the Panthers Jacksonville game. I'd been a huge fan of Delhomme since training camp just based on what type of person he was. That drive, competitive, and extreme excitment for the game. I can remember the Panthers stinking it up during the first half and my friend and I were saying how they should so put in Delhomme. Then right before the second half starts my friend points down to the sidelines and says, "Hey, look at Peete, he's wearing a backwards cap." We both, along with the rest of the stadium, went crazy when Jake ran from the sidelines to the huddle. Then we watched and cheered in utter amazment when he threw TD pass after TD pass along with some of the worst interceptions I've ever seen but that last play with 16 seconds left. A beautiful pass to Ricky in the endzone and everyone goes crazy. That was my first of many near heartattacks this season.

The biggest moment for me this year is probably the Tampa Bay game here. Three friends and I had great tickets. Eighth row, corner of the endzone. A great game. I mean the players are right there. At one point Warren Sapp is literally 20 feet away from us talking smack to the crowd and we're all screaming right back at him. I can distinctly remember the totally feeling of dread and dejection when Keean McCardell (sp) made an unbelieveable catch that put Tampa on top. I just fell down in my seat really as close to tears as I'd ever been watching a football game. I just couldn't believe we were going to loose. Then came the miracle of Jake Delhomme. When Smitty finally caught that TD pass for us to win my whole section erupted. Fantastic experience.

There were many other great time too.

Jenkins blocks that kicks against Tampa.
Peppers knocks that ball loose in overtime vs. the Saints and that great hit that Minter has just the previous play.

The St. Louis game. There just aren't enought words except to say this season is what being a Panther fan is all about.

 

Actually getting to meet CGF and help her fulfill her lifelong dream of meeting Coop

Getting to watch a playoff victory over Dallas that was even more exciting than the '96 season 'Boyz game

Watching a humble, friendly, and unconventional kid like Jake Delhomme calmly and professionally make idiots out of everybody in the NFL family, including me, who thought he didn't have the right stuff

Going to the Giants game in NJ with my whole family and finally giving my sister's kids something to make up for the '98 Jets game I made them sit through

Beating the Bucs twice. Assholes.

PLAYOFFS BABY!

 

for me, i think it started in march.

in a matter of a week and a half, this team's identity was reshaped.

gilbert and lamar smith were cut and delhomme and davis were signed.

huge turnaround, not only physically, but mentally.

 

season ain't over, I still living in the moment....




....see you guys in Febuary!

 

thinking back to the tampa bay game back in the beginning...

i was at a beach house with some friends (read: away from my direct TV and NFL Sunday Ticket) so thnk goodness this is bucs country and it was on TV.

nobody else was watching but me and i was going nuts.

when those kicks got blocked -- it was just unreal.

this is back before everyone knew that the super bowl champions were garbage. i like to think that the panthers sort of exposed them and that it started the bucs downward spiral.

 

Week 2 sitting at a sports bar as the only Panther fan in the place. I live in Northern VA so the Redskins game was on the big screen. The place was packed with people (at least 100). When Tampa scored the touchdown with no time left on the clock, I walked around and shook the Bucs fans hand and congratulated them. When Kris Jenkins blocked the extra point, I was give free beer and the game was placed on the large, 2 stories tall screen and the loudspeakers. When Kasay kicked the game winning fieldgoal I was allowed to do a screaming victory lap around the place to the applause of the crowd.

 

Sitting in a sports bar at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware watching the Falcons get smacked in Charlotte

 

beating the colts in OT was sweet.