New Fans are everywhere!

[Fan01]

I ran to the Wal-mart by work on my break to grab a snack as I missed breakfast.  There are two checkout ladies at the register I went through.  One is a cashier and the the other one was bagging and had a Santa hat on.  They're both in their late 50's, maybe early 60's.

I was wearing one of my long sleeve Panther T-shirts and the one in the Santa started pointing at my shirt and a huge smile came over her face.

Santa hat: - "I hear about what people are saying about bandwagon fans but I don't care.  I never had a favorite NFL team before but I love them Panthers.  After I watched them play on Thanksgiving, honey, I knew they was fo real!  And that big beautiful quarterback we got....oh...my." 

[Begins to fan herself]

Me:  [I smile and actually do the Cam Superman move right there in Wal-mart while the cashier is ringing up my little Debbie chocolate covered donuts.]

Santa Lady: [starts giggling and grinning from ear to ear]

Cashier lady:  "And the way he give the ball to them kids.  Bless his heart, that is so good. I just love watching him with them kids."

They go back and forth for a bit how how great Cam is for the kids.

Me:  "There's always room on the bandwagon", I say heading out the door.

Love me some Panther Nation!

[KendrickPanther]

I had someone call me a former Seahawks fan. Just sipped my sweet tea and soaked it in.

[umpjl]

Im stationed in Spain, had some guy offer to buy my Panthers 1/4 zip shirt today.  Pretty sure he didnt know who the Panthers were last year this time. 

[Cary Kollins]

Going through TSA at the airport Saturday, guy sees my shirt and says, "You're not one of those bandwagon fans are you?".  smdh

 

Also, someone I know was rocking a Falcons hat not long ago, went to a Falcons game in Atlanta earlier this year, yesterday he was referring to the Panthers as "we", as in "Who do we play next week? The Giants?".  lol ok

[a_gumbel]

I made sure to rub lots of dirt on my new flatbrim so it looks like I've been a fan for years 

[Matthias]

I always imagine when Cam gives away footballs to the kiddies, he's secretly creating an army of Panther fans across the nation years down the road.  Kids across the nation will want to be Panther fans because they want their chance to get a football.

[Ivan The Awesome]

I was called a bandwagon fan last week....Because I was wearing my Panthers hoodie... Man, I about slapped the snot out of the guy. -_-

[PntherPryd]

[The Huddler]

I feel like a dirty fug using them on madden.  Its like im cheating

 

cam is 97 now

[PntherPryd]

12 minutes ago, Matthias said:

I always imagine when Cam gives away footballs to the kiddies, he's secretly creating an army of Panther fans across the nation years down the road.  Kids across the nation will want to be Panther fans because they want their chance to get a football.

So much truth here.  And you can't help but be happy for the little guys because making memories is what it is all about.  

That being said, gotta call out the bandwagon fans even if they belong to your team.  I was in row 11 just to the side of the falcon tunnel and people bringing their kids to get to the front row is normally adorable.  But the guy that sat in front of me with preppy green and white clothes and his wife dressed in black but no Panther stuff brought their adorable 6 year old.  Kid was just a little too adorable with a Cam jersey.  The husband paid no attention to the game while mom hovered over kid and both kept going down to railing.  Attendant kept sending them back.  Then they would send the kid only.  Amazingly, they disappeared the entire 2nd quarter when our end zone was on other side.  Can only imagine the process being repeated over there.

Third quarter, right on time, they were back.  I waited to see if they would rotate for the 4th quarter but when DA came out they just left for the day.

Their is a price to pay for success.

 

[Arroz con Panther]

50 minutes ago, Cary Kollins said:

Also, someone I know was rocking a Falcons hat not long ago, went to a Falcons game in Atlanta earlier this year, yesterday he was referring to the Panthers as "we", as in "Who do we play next week? The Giants?".  lol ok

I think this is my biggest pet peeve.  I know a guy that really isn't that into football, but he lived up in Boston for a while.  So, he claimed himself a Pats fan (again, he could care less).  He came in one day and said, we're 12-0 and I snapped back with, "What do you mean, 'we'?"

It's funny because I don't have a problem with new fans, but if I knew you and I knew you rooted for another team before you were a fan, I get defensive.

[cardiackat88.]

At Fort Campbell KY ever establishment I have been in the last 3 months had someone with a Panther hat, or keychain lanyard or more.

[cptx]

You'd figure that after the Thanksgiving Day Massacre I'd get some poo wearing Panthers gear down here in TX. It's quite the opposite. It has been nothing but compliments. Granted, the part of Texas I am in has a lot of fans that rooted for the Skins because of RGIII, but still.

Actual Texas born and raised Dallas fans have been rather meek lately, even the die-hard ones.

[rippadonn]

Yes. The force is strong within PantherNation and growing...