Blackout Blues On Opening Day?
April 19th, 2011
Looking at the Bucs’ awesome 2011 schedule, if Joe were a casual Bucs fan only going to a handful of games, opening day on Sept. 11 against the Lions in the brutal summer swelter sure wouldn’t make the cut.
There are so many more attractive home games on the schedule, including the Cowboys on a Saturday night and the Colts on Monday Night Football in October, that Joe already figures the opening day crowd will be missing those only-go-to-a-few-games types.
So assuming a stunning glimmer of hope doesn’t emerge from One Buc Palace, the opener is sure to be blacked out. And please don’t tell Joe Lions fans come out in droves. They sure didn’t four months ago.
Hopefully, Joe gets this wrong. Blackout chatter surely will stain the glorious hype of opening day again, if that’s the situation.
Joe was hoping for a more popular team on opening day to help it sell out, but Joe’s not about to complain about this great schedule. The Bucs should be grateful to have four-of-six at home again, followed by the Bears in England and a bye week. Another 5-2 start is sure doable.
April 19th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
We are coming off of a 10 win season. If we’re going to start this blackout crap already, I’ve got to wonder when the Glazers start to think about relocation.
April 19th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Not trying to sound negative, but this schedule really worries me. If we had this schedule last year, we would not have gotten more than 6 wins, maybe 7 at the absolute most.
We have some huge holes to fill on this team. The Talib chaos could give us another major hole we have to fill, aside from redoing our linebacker corps and getting some good DE’s. Plus, look at all the key players that are free agents this offseason such as Davin Joseph. If we let one go, then we have yet more holes to fill.
C’mon Bucs. Let’s prove people wrong! Also, win the two primetime games! Doing that would do wonderful things for this franchise!
April 19th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
@micronole-the Bucs aren’t going anywhere man, we had years of sell outs in the past and we have one of the most desirable stadiums in the NFL..more then a few other teams in front of us if a team was to relocate..plus we have budding stars in freeman,blount, and mike will..
@patrick-that does sound a bit negative to me man..u dont think we would have beaten carolian twice get one from both atl and saints (which we almost did), and have a really good shot at beating lions,viks,49er’s,titans and cowboys…and i dont turn and run screaming at the thought of playing jags and texans..
April 19th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that we Really do need defense.
April 19th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
5-2 start……………….bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Cant see more than four wins.
Luck has run out.
April 19th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Hey WeNeedDefense I thought you aid in an earlier post- and I quote- “Adios JBF”. I assumed you would be prowling on the comment section of the Times Online by now. By the way eric says- I am sure predicting 10-6 this time last year would have induced a similar reaction…
April 19th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
I see flaws in the scheduling that will make it difficult for the team and the fans. 5 of 7 home games before the bye (one of those 5 in London) doesn’t exactly give the team much chance of building momentum/excitement in the fanbase. By playing so many home games early, there is a much higher likelihood of blackouts. Fewer home games early could have allowed the team to garner some wins on the road and build some excitement in the fanbase, leading to a higher chance of sellouts later in the season. Instead, by the time the fans are excited, there won’t be many home games left.
Also, 4 of the 5 home games are against the toughest competition. While they could be big draws due to the opponent, they could also kill the momentum, lose home field advantage, force the team to win on the road late, and discourage sellouts late in the season.
I can’t see 5-2 at the bye, Joe. The Lions are getting better, the Vikings played well below their ability last year, the Falcons and Colts back to back, the 49ers on a short week with long travel, and the Saints and Bears back to back with a long flight in between. If we can get out of that 4-3 we’ll be lucky, I’m thinking more like 3-4 at best. I don’t think that’ll draw more fans to the stadium for the Cowboys and Panthers later in the year.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
eric Says:
April 19th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
5-2 start……………….bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Cant see more than four wins.
Whoa!!!! What weird alternate backwards universe are we in???? I’m saying we’ll be lucky to go into the bye week at 3-4 and eric can’t see more than 4 wins? When did he become more optimistic than me???? C’mon eric. Where’s the 2-14 prediction?
April 19th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Rah is twice as good as I thought he was……………………………but i meant 4 wins for the entire season.
Messed that one up.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
After all the chatter about the Glazers asking for the London home game this year… I’m curious….
Conspiracy Theorists Unite!!!
Is it possible that yes, the Glazers did ask the NFL for the London home game with no other team would actually want. In exchange for their accepting the internationally televised game, the NFL would offer the Bucs a Monday Night Football game, and NFL Network broadcast, and position them for at least 1 or more other Sunday afternoon National spots, and leave open the option to flex them into more games in December. By taking this one London game, the owners have put the team into the national spotlight on about 5 occasions or more this year. Could they have masterminded the national marketing of this young team in a way that no one else could have figured? Could these national spotlight games draw fans to the stadium and also result in a few unexpected sellouts?
Nah, couldn’t be. Or could it? The cheapest mass marketing scheme in football. They don’t pay a dime, but get national (international) exposure on a massive scale. Sounds like Glazer marketing to me…. hmmmm…
April 20th, 2011 at 12:35 am
BamBamBuc:
Joe will have a post about the NFL Network option tomorrow morning. It’s not good for many Bucs fans whether there is a sellout or not.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:31 am
Unless we suddenly find a pass rush, that Monday nighter against the Colts will be a disaster. Manning will pick this defense apart if you give him any time at all back there.
That’s why I dont like that game. Bucs young defense will be embarrassed on MNF.
April 20th, 2011 at 4:39 am
The Colts defense didnt look to hot last year,pretty much identical yards given up. We have a better back that can control the clock,they have Manning,we have freeman.With Talib back, I mean if Talb is back our strength is our secondary and they give up 127 yards a game on the ground.I like our chances
April 20th, 2011 at 9:51 am
After being thoroughly embarrassed by his predictions last season, this scumbag has the balls to make another irrational prediction. You are a pathetic character Eric.
Its mind boggling that you actually claim to be a fan when any optomistic view of our future makes you laugh.
Please man up finally, show you have some! If we win more than 4, will you finally go away?