Favorite Era

[SwagAces9030]

So after the dust has settled from the display we put on against Seattle, I went into reminiscing mode. I popped in the Super bowl run DVD...  And then watched the Cardiac Cats DVD from 05. (Almost shed a tear lol) I remembered how fun it was to watch the fiery Jake Delhomme, the ground game identity with Stephen Davis, the way we beat STL in double OT, the brotherhood that was Steve Smith and Moose, and my favorite Panther ever (Julius Peppers). The lockdown eagles game with Deshaun Fosters run that defined our identity, the commentary of "He hate me... We love you!!"... And even though things fell off (A good thing always comes to an end) remembering John Fox on the sidelines and what he built here was something to behold. (Our team and talent may be different but the ground and pound mentality that Fox instilled is still there) 

Now currently we have a great era beginning here, Cam Newton is obviously the biggest draw, our defense is so fun to watch, and the personalities on this roster are growing on me. I'm not basing an era on Super Bowl wins or if we make it to the super bowl this year. (Call me crazy) I live and die with my team, and sometimes losing brings me back more than winning. I'm asking you the fans what you feel was or is the most exciting era of Panther football you have experienced. Taking everything into account player personalities, emotional draw, etc. Some people may say its unfair to compare eras when this one has just begun, but still to this day that team we fielded in the past was the most memorable team to watch in my opinion. Even with a potential Super Bowl win this year the old cardiac cats will never be replaced.

For those that don't remember...

 

 

 

[bLACKpANTHER]

I'd break it down into 7 different Eras:

Capers Infancy Era: 95'– 96' [Debut year + NFC Championship Year]

Capers Dark Ages: 97' – 98' [Carruth + Capers Firing]

Seifert Dark Ages: 99' – 01' [Unspeakable]

Fox Golden Era: 02' – 08'  [Superbowl year + Smitty Triple Crown + Double Trouble]

Fox Dark Ages: 09' – 10' [Jake's collapse + Matt Moore + Pickles + Carr + Record of 2-14]

Rivera Infancy Era: 11' – 12' [Cam's rookie year + eyes closed interview]

Rivera Golden Ages: 13' – Present [Cam in playoffs + Kelvin + Luke] - Favorite, obviously

[csx]

I dont really compare them. To me it's one long continuation. Ups and downs are just part of it.

[LinvilleGorge]

11 minutes ago, csx said:

I dont really compare them. To me it's one long continuation. Ups and downs are just part of it.

This.

Plus, with past teams the nostalgia factor kicks in.  When you look back on good teams, you tend to only remember the good while the flaws of current teams are fresh in mind.  At least that's the case with me.

[therealmjl]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

This.

Plus, with past teams the nostalgia factor kicks in.  When you look back on good teams, you tend to only remember the good while the flaws of current teams are fresh in mind.  At least that's the case with me.

Well said.

[OneBadCat]

I take this era easily. What we have now can be the greatest Panthers team ever seen for the next half decade. 

Cam is the first legit big time QB this franchise has seen. And he's also one of the most unique players in the NFL to boot. We also have the best MLB the game. Beason, Morgan and Mills came before him and he will be better than they all were. 

Then you have KK, Star, TD, the offensive line, KB and Funchess. We have a team thats built to last and a GM that knows what the hell he's doing. And then we've got Ron who's proving to be every bit the coach Fox was.

The only thing that's missing is Smitty but poo happens. I definitely take this era.

[OneBadCat]

Love me some prime Deshaun Foster though.

[cbarrier90]

If you break it down into eras, for the first time in team history, it feels like the success is sustainable.

Panthers still have yet to put together back to back winning seasons, and that's a fitting reflection on the team history to this point.

I will always appreciate Delhomme, Fox and Hurney for providing stability after the "Dark Ages," but ultimately each of their flaws created inconsistency in the franchise before it all came crashing down in the 08 divisional round.

Now we have: a defensive anchor who won DPOY at age 22, a QB about to win MVP at age 26, a soon to be two-time COY, and a top 5 GM in the league.

This "era" is the most fun in team history and it's not even close and just started two years ago. 

[PghPanther]

I'm not nostalgic for a time when the Panthers came within 2 minutes of winning the SB only to lose to a NE field goal and then watch them swept off the field after Jake sat on the bench contemplating that he may never see this chance again.

I will admit that for me the double overtime win in St. Louis was the most exciting game to date...............but we are early in this franchise history and there is much to come.

Win the NFCC and then a SB and you will have an era that a fan can begin to relish............and this comes from a person who lived through 4 SBs in 6 years in Pgh, PA

[Bronn]

I, too, see things as one continuous era... I mean, hell, we're only 20 years old...

I'd have to break things down to favorite times/favorite games...

We've been at our highest in the Super Bowl... but the games leading up to that game were pretty epic... X Clown, Ricky Manning Jr's interceptions, Foster's runs, Stephen Davis, Moose "shhhhhh," etc.

We've had other great moments too... Cota's interception... Peppers' highlight reels... Kevin Greene, Sam Mills, and Lamar Lathon... Smitty's triple crown... Ice up son!... etc. etc. etc...

But, if you want to narrow down and group things into eras, I would have to say that the RivEra has been pretty damn good tbqh. I mean, we have faces of the franchise in positions that we have never really had before (Keuchly and Cam.) Quite honestly, what we used to joke around about and reference as "Stoic Ron" has actually turned out to probably be my most favorite coach we've ever had, and just the air about our team right now gives me the feels.

TBQH I will probably cry my eyes out if we make it to, and win, the Super Bowl this year. It has been a long time coming and, for most of us here, it has been nothing but the Carolina Panthers during our formative football years...

[UpstatePanther]

IMO, there have only been three true eras for this team:

1) The Capers Era / Birth of the Franchise

2) The Fox Era / Establishment of Franchise Identity

3) The Cam-Rivera Era / Franchise Coming-Of-Age

Each had its highs and lows. But I think we are watching the best team to ever take the field in Panthers colors, and we will remember this era as the one that cemented our place as an NFL mainstay like the Packers, Steelers, Cowboys, Patriots, and Bears, among others. I don't think we will ever again be thought of in the same vein as the Rams, Browns, Bengals, Lions, Bucs, etc. In other words, winning a Super Bowl this year, and/or any time soon, will take us permanently out of the conversation of cellar dwellers.

[The_Light_Brigade]

This is going to sound incredibly dumb but I remember 1-15.  How much I loved that team.  That was when I first started to understand football.  I mean, I remember the NFC Championship against Green Bay and how I was excited that it was happening but I didn't really know.  I remember that season starting and winning against Minnesota.  The subsequent crap that followed and attending my first game. (Probably because tickets were so cheap).  There was no one in the stands it felt like a high school game.  The Patriots whooped our ass.  It didn't matter.  As my knowledge increased and the more Madden 2001 I played the team also improved. You know the rest of the story but that was my favorite part.  I literally got to grow up with a team.  I realize that now and it makes me that much more of a fan.  People in this state aren't Panthers fans.  Every chick I graduated with has a Tom Brady jersey because "He's the best!".  They don't know.  I mean I get made fun of in my own neighborhood because everyone like the Seahawks because "Lime green" and "Russell fuging Wilson"! "He went to NC State, you know?!?!?!!?". Don't get me wrong this season is great, but I'll remember those terrible times.  

[firefox1234]

As the sayin goes, no better time than the present....

[MechaZain]

The underdog mentality is the one thing that I think has been carried through every era. Feeling disrespected and with something to prove is an attitude that's been ingrained into the franchise and when I hear these guys mention it every week it reminds me of the past rosters. It's so deep that if we go all the way I thoroughly expect fans and players to still feel underrated next year when not everyone is treating the Panthers as the next football dynasty. 

Team and community chemistry is at an all-time high so the current roster is probably my favorite. Between TD and Peanut and Braylon and the Sunday giveaways among a ton of other stuff it's hard not love this group. There's a lot of great stories here and guys you want to see succeed. That's huge for a franchise whose biggest star for the longest was notorious for being kind of a detached from the community (Peppers).