Lend Me Your Ear for a Moment...

[Argus Plexus]

The tone of the fanbase tonight feels very similar to the sour ending back on January 10^th, 2009. It’s been exactly five years and two days since that fiasco. Though the faces and names are mostly different, many of the same old sentiments are floating around.

 

Some believe our fanbase is simply fickle and fairweather by nature, scattering like roaches from a paper plate left out too long, only to return when things get good again. After an amazing roller coaster ride of a 12-4 season, it’s hard to blame many of those we see on suicide watch tonight. This loss was big, a far larger margin than any of us thought possible. It almost wasn’t even competitive in the second half…

 

As one juggernaut of an opponent after another fell at our feet, more and more new faces popped up here on the Huddle. Hell, I don’t recognize half the usernames calling for heads here tonight. Some may be true bandwagoners who just wanted to ride the wave with us diehards, but I believe most are reluctant fans. This team, in its history, has been consistently average to mediocre more often than not, so part of me can understand why they would abandon the team when things aren’t looking good.

 

To those people, I urge you to not give up the yoke, and here is why:

 

Back in 2009, we were riding on the backs of an aging gunslinger and his fiery partner in crime. Smitty is still here, though in a much reduced role. Foxy was still hard at work trying to recapture that 2003 magic. As a whole, the team was on the back end of its window of relevancy.

 

Now, in comes 2013. The storyline of this team is completely different. This team consists of young centerpieces on both offense and defense, fiery veteran leaders, a coach who is finally starting to “Get It”, and a slew of players and assistant coaches ready to support. The culture and mindset of this team is not that of a fluke team returning to the basement, but that of a team ready to rise into its place as a perennially competitive contender.

 

Don’t jump off the bridge yet. It’s like Riverboat said, “We are not done yet!”

 

Indeed, Ronald, we are not. I expect the defense to be back next season, Hardy or no Hardy, and the offense to be improved, Shula or no Shula. Do I know the future? No. Was I bitching and cussing during/after the game/for two hours after the game? Yes I was, but only for the same reason the players were crying. They came so far and just absolutely dropped the ball. No one person can be blamed for the loss, the team rose and fell together. Even the refs only deserve part of the blame, however large their blame is. This loss is a hard pill to swallow, but this team will move ahead together, and we all must follow it wherever it goes. Band together, Panther Nation. Today sucked, but the future is coming. Let’s look there for answers.

 

Love,

Douchebag Argus Guy 

[CPcavedweller]

Wasn't really unexpected to me. It was a tough draw. We knew we weren't going to score many points but the defense really let us down in big moments today. Boneheaded penalties.

[rico6]

Don't think anyone wants to leave the wagon.

 

Just want to see the wagon improve.

[KJ89]

word.

we ain't done.

[YourMomsLover]

Great post my man. It's just tough though.

[Khaki Lackey]

Fanbase-wise, it's going to start slow again next year. If we can get back to back winning seasons/playoffs, people will realize that this team is committed to winning.

[FearTheCats]

Great post. We aren't going anywhere. We got to the top and aren't going back to the bottom.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[philit99]

We are not done, but due to our success next years schedule will be tougher. I am exited to see what DG does to this roster and I am excited about next years team. Is it July yet?

[CatMan72]

Well said, totally different scenario this time around... the future is bright! 

[DecrypticShadow]

If anyone wants to jump ship.... Feel free!!! No one is stopping them.

 

Where I tend to draw the line and have an issue with it is when these "fans" try to bring the rest of the fan base down with them... Many of us have been around this team long enough to see some rough times. This franchise hasn't even been around 20 years yet and it already has a Super Bowl appearance and 3 NFC Championship game appearances.

 

A dynasty does not happen overnight. 

[neverlosethefeeling]

I regret the season ended like it did but I'm excited to see how the off-season shapes up. It's nice heading into an off-season feeling like the right guy will be making the decisions. And as others have opined, we're not far off. We're a few pieces away and I trust DG to get the guys in here that will help us continue on our upward trajectory. Keep Pounding, Panther nation!

[Your GFs favorite huddler]

Things are going nowhere but up we re on gonna be good for awhile and this fa base will only grow

[UpstatePanther]

i think the fans are to blame as well. we came out with absolutely no energy in the second half, team and fans alike. it was pretty discouraging to see people sitting down too focused on their frikken nachos to make noise while the 49ers were on offense. plus there was way to much frikken red in the stadium. we as fans dropped the ball and let our team down too. it made me beyond angry to see people filing out with 6 miuntes to play

[KendrickPanther]

This is not 2008. In 2008 we had one player with a monumental failure. We lost as a team today.