Panthers: Charlotte fans can ‘up’ their game for free
Carolina Panthers fans should bring more of an atmosphere on gameday…
This subject is being broached as a self-checking mechanism for fans, not necessarily to belittle or threaten tender psyches. Here’s the core question: Are you in upper bowl seats on the sun side of BOA Stadium half an hour before Carolina Panthers game time on September 9th *and still there* in the third quarter -no matter the score- or (as usual) heading home to not miss a neighborhood BBQ?
You know what we’re talking about here: Alllll those unoccupied blue seats after half-time is NOT people still in line at concession stands. In December its lovely to have that sun (and chilly in the shade), but the season opener vs. Cowboys is definitely going to be a LOT tougher. in late afternoon an extra push of humidity descends on Charlotte and makes you understand how shirts and pants feel at the dry cleaners when you’re hearing psssshhhh!
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As we read the basics about Carolina Panthers OTAs and Turner’s offense in mid-June, should we consider whether Charlotte fans maybe need to up their game a touch? Elementally, when Steelers, Giants, Packers hard core fans are here—especially at the end of games they’ll wind up winning—all the shots on TV have them raising a ruckus, because the home team crowd has already bugged out.
Granted, the Steeler diaspora means a good fan representation everywhere, and the Giants fans are almost the same deal. Many think it’s a Yankees keep coming thing, but truthfully, beyond the occasional Super Bowl victory, it’s more like a disease passed from generation to generation. The Packers? God love ‘em, Carolina Panthers fans will never travel as well as Cheeseheads. The primary reason is obvious: Its much easier to come here anytime and find a ticket vs. the potential catastrophe of temperature that Lambeau Field in December might be for a Panther fan. I’m not saying I’d love the idea of zero degrees, but *those* fans do it all the time. Would you even consider that pilgrimage and the stories you could tell if the opportunity arose?
The first event I ever attended in Charlotte was an Arena Football game. Score was 35-all, start of fourth quarter and people are hitting the exits! Brother Mike tells me they’re trying to beat the traffic. 4th of July, brother Steve starts packing kids up mid-fireworks for the same reason.
Mike and I battled a *snowstorm* to make it to the Hive with about 1,400 others years ago, and we’ve also stood ankle deep in monsoon rain with lightening all around in Tampa, for a Rowdies SOCCER game. My still-a-NYer brother and I went to Hornets-Celts when he came down one Thanksgiving; Bugs were 18-20 points behind the whole way, but they rallied, and Dell Curry missed a three that could’ve tied it with seconds left. We got from the Hive to house in like 12 minutes because everyone cleared out early.
The only time I *know* nobody left was that Monday Night game vs. Patriots under a full moon, because only an IDIOT would leave when Brady has two minutes and only needs one touchdown to win.
Its going to be a very eventful year for Panthers and fans, and truthfully,
- It’s easier being a believer when you see 11-5 as a start to a playoff run, not wishful thinking like Chicago or Cleveland.
- With all the hoohah about amping the offense, fans should know that, except for his completion percentage, the recent Super Bowl year wasn’t so different from ‘regular’ Cam years—and that accuracy thing is going to be the upgraded norm in 2018.
- It wouldn’t be the worst thing if Panther fans did something more significant than wear face paint, show up in Davis, Kuechly, Newton, Peppers jerseys, or buy lots of $9.50 beers as proof of their support.
- Show up and stay! would be a start. Neighbors shouldn’t expect a *real* fan to be around and refilling any chip bowls until WAY after the game was over.
Monday morning your buddy asks about a momentum-shifting play, is “No, we were on way back then,” or you saw it on SportsCenter a good answer? Yeah, the kids, spouse, or date might be a little fried and/or whiny, and stadium beer sales stop at end of the 3rd quarter, so make sure one is left in the cooler after tailgating, and have a ‘freebie’ when you get home.
Next: Kevon Seymour leading a crowded cornerback field
Hey, you invested in those PSLs and tickets, y’know?