Chucky’s Favorite Memories
September 29th, 2011
Monday night, Chucky will be making a homecoming of sorts.
For just the second time since he was jettisoned by Team Glazer as the Bucs head coach, Chucky will walk into Raymond James Stadium, affectionately known as “The CITS.”
But this will be the first time Chucky sees the Bucs play at home since he wore a headset and cursed out referees offered guidance to officials as the Bucs head coach.
(Chucky’s first return to the stadium was to call the Florida-Penn State matchup in this past January’s Outback Bowl, a game Bucs safety Ahmad Black likely remembers.)
In a piece typed by Bill Hofheimer of BSPN, Chucky reflects on his favorite memories coaching the Bucs in the house that Brooks built. One of his favorites was the final home game of the 2002 season. Two games later, Chucky hoisted the Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory.
Front Row: What’s the loudest you ever heard it at Raymond James?
Gruden: The San Francisco game in the 2002 divisional playoffs was probably the loudest I ever heard that stadium. All the flags were waving. We had a pretty convincing lead at halftime and every time they dropped back to throw in the second half it was loud. It was impressive. The Bucs fans were in full force that day. We ended up winning 31-6. That crowd really helped us a lot.
Who would have thought at that time the opposing quarterback that day, Jeff Garcia, would soon be Chucky’s signal-caller for the Bucs in a handful of years?
Strange how things work but those final few weeks of the 2002 season were certainly magical times in the Tampa Bay area, not unlike the crazy night of baseball the Rays treated the area to last night.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Hey Joe any word on if the game has officially sold out or not?
September 29th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Fear The Glow:
Should know by tomorrow night.
The Rays winning last night and playing Monday night didn’t help. 🙂
September 29th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
It seems like yesterday being at that game. The jumbo tron caught images of TO crying into a towel. Good times!
September 29th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
He’s the devil…LOL
September 30th, 2011 at 2:29 am
You do realize Gruden still lives here, right? So what if he doesn’t roam the sideline anymore. I don’t think this will be a big deal for him.
I usually defend Gruden against all you haters. He won us a championship and nothing else need be said in his defense. Hoooowever…. I can’t believe he got to see how Jeff Garcia turns to crap in the playoffs first hand and still decided he was our guy. Mistake #1 getting him booted: signing Jeff Garcia.
September 30th, 2011 at 6:57 am
cashing those fat G’Boyz checks the past 3 years is probably high up on the list… 😉
September 30th, 2011 at 11:22 am
ESPO…I agree with your post 120%. I do not see why people hate Gruden or Dungy for that matter.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:43 am
Say what you want about Chucky, but the man won us a Superbowl and for that alone I’ll have fond memories of him. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Dungy’s team blah blah blah….Fact is, as much as I respect Dungy I think at that time Chucky was the right choice. Welcome back coach!!
October 1st, 2011 at 8:44 am
And hopefully someday I’ll be able to say the same thing about Rah.