The Sea Of Green
October 14th, 2013
Joe hasn’t wanted to vomit at a Bucs game like he yearned to do yesterday since the Bucs last hosted a playoff game in January 2008. On that day, Giants fans and their blue gear blanketed the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.
It was a heinous look on what was a showcase day for the Buccaneers. Even the parking lot had a blue Giants feel.
Yesterday had that vibe to it. The sea of green Eagles fans jerseys was ugly. Their loud chants of “Let’s Go Eagles!” made it worse.
Yes, Joe remembers going to Bucs games in the mid-1990s when Packers fans would take over Tampa Stadium. That’s part of life in these parts, but it’s a lot more annoying when it’s hated, rude Eagles fans.
Of course, the Bucs lost yesterday before a sold out crowd that may very well have included 20,000 Eagles fans.
To make matters worse, the Eagles official website penned a story about how Nick Foles and Chip Kelly were inspired by the home-game feel in Tampa.
“I felt like it was a home game with all of the (Eagles fans),” quarterback Nick Foles said after the game. “There were a couple of times where the crowd was yelling and I thought ‘Oh no, what happened?’ and then I looked and it was all of the green and white jerseys and it was our fans. We had a tremendous amount of support here and we did last year as well. It’s pretty fun when you’re in an opposing stadium and you have that many fans that come and support you. They helped us tremendously.”
October 14th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
I hate to say it, but the Bucs have NO ONE to blame for that but themselves. No one wants to spend money to see a live abortion that takes 4 hours on a gorgeous Sunday in Tampa.
You want to see red in the stands? Win. I used to have FALCONS season tickets, just so I could get the Bucs ticket and I would scalp the rest of them. The Bucs game was always a hot commodity and there was always legions of Bucs fans in Atlanta from 2002-2008.
If you’re going to put a Houlihan Stadium product on the field, expect a Houlihan Stadium crowd.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Screw Green…..the only thing worse are the guys with the Stars on the helmet.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Tampa is filled with white trash from all the major football cities (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, NY/Jersey, Cleveland, etc) nothing you can do about it. Everyone’s a transplant.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Has to be very frustrating for the players when the crowd roars after the other team scores
October 14th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
I agree 100% with Adam L.!
This is what we’ve been reduced to…..AGAIN. It’s like the ghost of Hugh Culverhouse is here. That’s what the Glazers have done with their “WHO CARES HOW EMBARRASSING OUR TEAM IS” attitude.
Listen to Schiano’s press conference. He represents them, yet he basically said…”THIS is the way we’re gonna do things around here. You don’t like it? Suck it!”
Consequently we’re looking at a complete repeat of the 80’s ONLY WORSE!
October 14th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Adam L. Says
“I hate to say it, but the Bucs have NO ONE to blame for that but themselves.”
Bullspit. Put the blame where it belongs. On the fans. We managed sellouts before Dungy came along, yet the current batch of Tampa fans refuse to support the team. It even shows here at JBF. Look at the way fans support this team.
It’s easy to shift the blame away from the fans when they refuse to accept responsibility, but the truth is it lies completely with the fans.
For years they complained the Bucs were too old. Then when the old guys were given the axe, the fans complained.
For years they complained the Glazers refused to spend money. Then when they finally did the fans still refused to buy tickets.
For years the fans wanted Olsen and Raheem gone. When it happened the fans found a different reason to hate the team.
And that’s the crock of the matter. Tampa fans don’t seek out reasons to support the team…they seek out reasons to hate the team.
And DO NOT blame it on the economy. I have news for you. Most of those eagles fans were local. From the local economy. So I highly doubt the bad economy picks out Bucs fans in Tampa to affect.
I spent years buying multiple tickets, trying to help stop the blackouts. The fans failed to hold up their end of the deal, so if it takes fans of other teams to sell out, that’s fine with me.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
DAMN
October 14th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Joe, I think you are mistaken concerning the firing of Schiano. PErsonally I think the Glazers should wait, but all the media pressure and fan pressure may well force their hands.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
I spoke to a lot of Eagles fans an most of them usually root for the Bucs except when the Eagles are in town.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Nope. Don’t feed me the bullcrap boys. Wins change that fast. Start winning and the color of the “sea” will stay Red. Until that happens, I don’t want to hear any whining from our own “faithful”. I saw the Chiefs at Arrowhead against our Bucs a few years ago. It wasn’t 20,000 people but that was when were playing some good football and there was a large contingency of Bucs fans. We celebrated like maniacs in Arrowhead. That was our biggest comeback….ever… if I’m not mistaken. That is a sick stadium and it is as loud as they say.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
I guess The fans don’t have the faith in Schiano and Glennon, that the Rockstar does!
First time in a long time- I didn’t get season tickets.
That offense was transparent at the end of last year, and it got worse in the Offseason!!
Went out in the Boat!
Waaaay better than watching the Pasta Nazi embarrass the Bay Area Again!!!
October 14th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
I agree with Adam. Who wants to pay to see this train wreck? No one wants to be a part of what’s going on with the Bucs organization. The Glazers got greedy and stripped this organization down from a Superbowl champion to a bargain basement team with inexperienced coaches and second tier players. Not to worry. Season ticket holders were locked in for 10 years. And they wonder why fans aren’t flocking back for another helping of crap!?
Put a good product on the field, have an organization with integrity, establish trust with the fans, stop trying to shove quick fixes down our throats and build a team that is a consistent winner with players we can be proud of. We don’t want gangsters, prima donnas, or coaches that don’t have the respect of players.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai,
So it’s Bucs’ fans FAULT that other people buy tickets to see their GOOD team, instead of Bucs’ fans laying out cash to see their crappy team. The fans of Tampa Bay are just supposed to throw money away on a sub-standard product?
That’s like saying “After Earth” would have been bigger than “Avatar.” It’s just that it wasn’t as good and movie-fans didn’t buy tickets to go see it.
All I know is that in 1997 as a junior at USF, I was buying tickets to the Bucs home games at the Marshall Center, in person, in cash. When they reached 5-0, they started selling out and I was never able to do that again.
You put an exciting product on the field, the fans will come. It’s that simple. No one is going to lay out a DIME for a team that hasn’t scored a touchdown in the 2nd half all season.
October 14th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Bullspit. Put the blame where it belongs. On the fans. We managed sellouts before Dungy came along, yet the current batch of Tampa fans refuse to support the team. It even shows here at JBF. Look at the way fans support this team.
It’s easy to shift the blame away from the fans when they refuse to accept responsibility, but the truth is it lies completely with the fans.
For years they complained the Bucs were too old. Then when the old guys were given the axe, the fans complained.
For years they complained the Glazers refused to spend money. Then when they finally did the fans still refused to buy tickets.
For years the fans wanted Olsen and Raheem gone. When it happened the fans found a different reason to hate the team.
“And that’s the crock of the matter. Tampa fans don’t seek out reasons to support the team…they seek out reasons to hate the team.
And DO NOT blame it on the economy. I have news for you. Most of those eagles fans were local. From the local economy. So I highly doubt the bad economy picks out Bucs fans in Tampa to affect.
I spent years buying multiple tickets, trying to help stop the blackouts. The fans failed to hold up their end of the deal, so if it takes fans of other teams to sell out, that’s fine with me.”
Check Mate
October 14th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Forgot the other ” lol
October 14th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Agree 100% BuccaneerBonzai. What I do love about the lack of support from the band wagoners though is that I don’t have season tickets and I haven’t missed a game in years. I also haven’t sat higher than the lower bowl either.
The Eagles may have felt good with a win yesterday but that doesn’t change the true scoreboard. Super Bowl wins. They aren’t even close to changing that anytime soon.
October 14th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
IT IS BUCS FANS. Damn it how many times have I said on these boards? If the Bucs were 4-0 and the Eagles were 0-4. Eagles fans would still outnumber Bucs fans by a massive amount. It’s just the way it is around here and it’s pathetic.
Look at Tropicana field, the Rays were winning all season long and the place was like a morgue.
October 14th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
How do the Cleveland Browns have better fans than the Bucs? That’s a fan base that sticks by their team through thick and thin…. and it’s been very thin up there for a very long time.
October 14th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
The Jags sell more tickets than the Bucs and that’s a FACT Jack! Explain that one to me….
October 14th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
I’ve heard the same thing from many of the opposing fans at games. They come to the games and root for their “home” team when the Bucs play them. They didn’t travel to see their team, they live here. Typical with a large population of transplants. Consistently winning will bring the fans back. We’ll always see a large number of fans for the opposing teams. It won’t look so bad when more Bucs fans show up though.
October 14th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
No…winning won’t fix it. The Rays will tell you that.
The problem is this state sucks. People move down here from up north and don’t change their team. When their northern team comes down to play the bucs, they buy the tickets.
And its the same story with the Rays.
October 14th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Florida does not suck. Florida is the greatest state in the US. Carpet bagging yankee jerks who come down here and bring their obnoxious mannerisms with them just to enjoy a tax shelter. Then want to change Florida into what they want it to be. My daughter is 9th generation Floridian. Go Home Yankees! Its better there isn’t it? Trayvon’s death? Boycott Florida! We dont want you!
October 14th, 2013 at 5:04 pm
@Jim
Awesome!!!!!
I thought I was the only one calling them “carpet-bagging Yankees.”
I’d be fine with those other fans in the stadium if we won. Either way, this lifelong Bucs fan and 5th generation Floridian will always support the Buccaneers, through thick and thin, as always…
October 14th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
I will live and die a Bucs homer. But I left Tampa because of the people. I would leave Florida and get direct tv but my wife will never go for it.
October 14th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Why? Why is the area I was born and raised the laughing stock of the sports world? Even when we win we still lose. Its not fair. Bucs. Rays. Bolts. When they win oh lets bash the fanbase. I cant put into words how painful it is. I love Tampa Bay.
October 14th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Aye now I’m a northern transplant from Mass. and I hate the Pats with a passion. I’ve bled creamsicle orange for over 25 years now. Yes I may be an exception to the rule. Because I know a 10 yr old kid from NY that is already a die hard Jets fan even though he’s lived in the Tampa area for 8 out of his 10 years of life. I’m still a Red Sox fan though, but the Bucs mean more to me than my beloved Sox. The Bucs have an attachment to my heart that will NEVER fade away.
October 14th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
I noticed in my section (Club East side) yesterday that all the “Bucs Fans” with all their Bucs glamor garb on did nothing but sit on their rear ends and take it all day long from Philly fan. There was no passion, no caring, no sounding off by getting behind and helping the team.
I didn’t grow up here, but I sure as hell support this team and will let the opposing teams fans know that I do. We need the fans that are in the stadium to support this team. There are going to be times like this, its not going to be rosy each and every year. Everyone wants to be associated with a winner, but when your not a winner its times like this that the real fans stand up and let it be known that this is not frickin Philly.
TAMPA-!!!!—>
<——BAY!!!!
October 14th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
The Rays could leave tomorrow and I wouldn’t give two shits. I divorced baseball when they crapped on our town more than once, gave our original team to Miami (who isn’t supporting their team even with a new stadium), cancelled the world series, gave our team to a lame owner Vince Naimoli, and now Bud Selig is trying to extort money from our fine citizenry. Screw them (baseball), hard, with sand spurs, where the sun don’t shine.
Now if we lost the Bucs I would be inconsolable. NFL is America’s sport. Period.
October 14th, 2013 at 11:18 pm
Pewter Power …ha you should have been in my section. I was trash talking like a mofo to Philly fans even before the game. I made sure I wore my SB champs hat too. I kept pointing to the hat to remind them what’s up. I said my hat is Eagles kryptonite and asked them how that loss tasted in the NFC Champ game. That was only one tidbit of my trash talk. I also asked them repeatedly what decade their team was going to win a SB or if they would see it before they die. I’m from the Boston area..so I can talk some trash when needed, especially Eagles fans which I loathe.
October 15th, 2013 at 7:12 am
Dear Mr. Buck1987,……….
Your team is 0-6. But kudos to you and your ” trash talking like a mofo “.
You showed them Eagles fans whose boss.
October 15th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Somehow, no Floridian is stupid enough to retire up north.
October 15th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
The unintended consequence of having a train wreck of a football team is that the loyal season ticket holders (1978 here) have to put up with the garbage of the opposing teams fans.
As has been said, most of these people are local and whether it be Philly, Boston, Buffalo, New York, etc., the educated, driven people in the northeast have good jobs and stay in the northeast. The white-trash, convicted felons of the northeast, come here, file for disability, and take what little money is left over after beer, and drugs… and go to the stadium to see they’re beloved (insert team here) and act like they are … white trash POS’s.
These people contribute NOTHING to our local economies, schools or quality of life. They take absolutely everything good this community has to offer (weather, no state income, low cost of living) and contribute NOTHING to our area, other than saying how much it sucks here and how much better it is up north. As I say, it takes a special kind of dirt bag to crap where you eat.