My Observations

[Happy Panther]

Not the most terrible loss by far. I'm usually doom and gloom but not ready to fall on the sword yet. Here are my thoughts from being at the game.

 

Starting with pregame, the atmosphere is typically one of malaise. We parked on Morehead east of the Y for $10. My buddy and I commented that nobody seemed all that fired up. It's been a tough 4 years so can't blame the fans. If I had told anyone ahead of time that we would lose another heart-breaker by less than 7 nobody would have batted an eye. Man we need a good season for this fanbase.

 

The stadium was not full. A decent crowd but some of the upper decks were maybe 65% full. 520 for example. I'm longing for the day when we are truly selling out the season opener. Overall probably 70-80% full.

 

The scalpers had a TON of tickets.

 

The Seattle fans around us were great and hilarious same as last year. Good for them for having classy fans although I fear most of them traveled all the way from Statesville.

 

Our team looked great in person. We should have won. Overall we got beat by a better team especially Wilson. He made a couple of absurd plays against a great defense. The play he made under pressure across the field that was challenged was probably the play of the game. That is an unreal play. I didn't mind the challenge but we could have used that timeout later.

 

Despite our great defense, Wilson had 320 yards.

 

Plays of the game in order of importance.

 

1) The penalty after the sack/loss for unsportsmanlike on the defense. Can't recall who it was now but it was dumb.

2) Josh Thomas getting beat on the "same play call." Our secondary did fine but that was an embarrassing play. Their OC said go right at him again and that worked. That's a playground call.

3) The fumble. Deangelo doesn't fumble but he did it at the wrong time. Williams looked pretty good most of this game.

 

The "not making an effort to get back in bounds" penalty looked like BS. There were two of them but one was reduced. 

 

We should be a little more prolific on offense. Correct me if I am wrong but we had one downfield play to our WRs that was called back on a penalty. I may have missed a play or two.

 

Beers are $7.50 for a coors lite I think they were $7.25 last year.

 

Cam to Olsen looked good early and disappeared. Not sure why.

 

The Nazi death march back to the car is becoming old. The atmosphere sucks after a loss.

 

Oh and nice play by Mickel or whatever his name is.

 

Tell me what I missed.

 

 

[carolina-chuck]

$7.50? Fug u JR.

[firstdayfan]

Star playing like a vet.

 

If there's anything to take away from this game on a positive note it has to be that Star looked awesome.

[Newtcase]

We have more talent on the field than we did last year and lost in the same fashion.