Carolina Panthers: 11 Days to Training Camp
Day Two of our 12-day series, “12 Days to Training Camp.”
We’re going to do a special everyday, to do with the number of days remaining until the start of camp. It might commemorate something historical during Carolina’s 16-year history. It might make mention of a player selected at a particular number in a draft, or the jersey number they were issued.
Today marks 11.
Much like yesterday, today I’ll be able to start off with a familiar player who was issued the jersey number 11. Those in the past to don the number, weren’t around for very long, and didn’t contribute very much: Jay Barker, QB from Alabama; Taye Biddle, WR from Mississippi; Jason Carter, WR from Texas A&M; Micah Ross, WR from Jacksonville; Shayne Graham, PK from Virginia Tech.
Well, the hope this time around with the number 11, is that this particular athlete transitions quickly to the NFL with no more than few hitches, if possible.
- He was drafted in the third-round pf this year’s NFL Draft: wide receiver out of LSU, Brandon LaFell.
- On April 11, 1989 Mike McCormack, a Hall of Fame lineman with the Cleveland Browns and former president , general manager, and head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, joined Richardson Sports as executive consultant for the Carolinas NFL expansion effort.
- On August 11, 1990 “Carolinas Kickoff II” featured the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Falcons in a game billed as the “Backyard Battle” before a sellout crowd of 52,036 Carolinians, this time at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC.
- The Panthers’ regular season record in 2003 — the Super Bowl year — was 11-5. The club also reached an 11-5 record in 2005, the season they lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
- The Panthers’ all-time win-loss record against the St. Louis Rams, is 11-7.
- The public (common) area surrounding Bank of America Stadium, is 11 acres.
- Bank of America Stadium has 11 broadcast booths all with audio and visual capabilities.
- In this year’s edition of Madden 11, the Carolina Panthers received an overall rating of 75.
- 11 was the number of sacks almost attained by former defensive end, Julius Peppers in 2009.
- 11 was the number of wins we had hoped for in 2009, with 21-of-22 starters returning from the 2008 campaign.
- 11 is the number of men allowed on the field at any given time for one team, whether it’s on offense or defense.
Tomorrow (Monday), we will look at 10 things that the number 10 has in common with the Panthers, on our “12 Days to Training Camp” edition.
Follow Cat Crave on Twitter @THECatCrave. Check us out on Facebook, too!