6 years ago today I watched the Panthers beat Tom Brady and the Patriots in Foxboro

[hepcat]

A Facebook memory popped up on my feed today. 6 years ago I was in Massachusetts where my wife grew up and we ended up getting great seats to see the Patriots and Panthers in Foxboro. It was an absolutely GORGEOUS Fall day. Not a cloud in the sky, around 70 degrees, slight breeze, just a perfect day to watch a football game. The Roaring Riot was out in full force and there were a surprisingly large number of Panthers fans at the game. There were enough that every good Panthers play I had multiple other fans around me to high five. 

Cam was on point that day and was obviously motivated to take his game up a notch against Tom Brady. The Patriots defense made a ton of mistakes and blown coverages. McCaffrey was still a rookie but was still getting a lot of attention from the defense. Mike Shula called a good game and smartly used CMC as a decoy to let Fozzy Whitaker score a big TD. For all the hate he got, he was actually one of the best offensive coordinators in team history. 

The game was close most of the game but the Panthers started pulling away late. Brady brought the Patriots back with his classic heroics, throwing an TD on 4th down late in the 4th to tie the game. If it wasn’t for a late 3rd down penalty to keep the Panthers final drive alive, the Patriots were probably going to win. Either way it was a great game and one of my favorite sports memories.

Fast forward 6 seasons and this Panthers team is unrecognizable and miserable. Since David Tepper bought the team, he hasn’t done anything right aside from put the logo at midfield. 

 

With the 8th oldest stadium in the NFL, compounded with the failure to build the new practice facility and team headquarters in Rock Hill, and the atrocious performance of the team under his ownership, I have no doubt that relocating the franchise is creeping into David Tepper’s mind. The fanbase is fed up and checked out, evidenced by visiting fans filling the stands at every Panthers home game. Charlotte FC is another awful team without a stadium of their own. 

It was bittersweet to be reminded of this nice memory given the current state of the team and the poor ownership. 

[PanthersGOATFan336]

[Bear Hands]

The last time we were in the playoffs, I was single, starting fresh in my career, in Southern Cal, world ahead of me.  Long hair, had a surfboard, thought I'd be a beach-bum urban designer based in Laguna.      

I've since had a long term relationship, beat cancer, moved away/split for a promising gig, met a new gal, we eventually got a dog, she became my wife, made another big career move, now near Minny these days.   

I MISS WINNING

But alas, life goes on.  

[The Lobo]

Fugging great game 

[TheBigKat]

I was there

 was a great game

[KSpan]

Ah yes, the 'Why dies Stephen Gilmore keep slapping our receivers in the head?" game. That was a fun one.

[OneBadCat]

Doesn’t look like Cam will be usurped as the greatest Panthers QB for a long time. 

[kungfoodude]

5 minutes ago, OneBadCat said:

Doesn’t look like Cam will be usurped as the greatest Panthers QB for a long time. 

Not at this rate.

[App Panther]

Good Lord, your post makes me miss Mike Shula. I didn't think that would be possible. This is hell, it really is. 

[TeppersEgos]

Holy poo I miss this team so much. I miss Cam, Luke, Olsen, Kalil, TD58, Stewart. I miss having Ron and Shula calling plays. I didn't like Shula at the time, but little did we know it would get so much worse.

This was also our last winning season. Also the last season before Tepptard took over.

[BIGH2001]

5 hours ago, App Panther said:

Good Lord, your post makes me miss Mike Shula. I didn't think that would be possible. This is hell, it really is. 

Hell at this point I even miss Gettleman. Shula wasn’t that bad in hindsight. 

[Moonstone]

8 hours ago, Bear Hands said:

beat cancer

you kept pounding and you won ! congrats, wishing you all the best and here's to your good health

[Billy Love]

I was there. Epic Monday night at BOA. Ted Ginn, j. Stew, Cam and Luke were on point. Tom Brady cried to the ref after the game. The look on the faces of opposing fans was priceless, SHOCKED!

[hepcat]

24 minutes ago, Billy Love said:

I was there. Epic Monday night at BOA. Ted Ginn, j. Stew, Cam and Luke were on point. Tom Brady cried to the ref after the game. The look on the faces of opposing fans was priceless, SHOCKED!

Different game, that was 10 years ago!