Fans Punted On Chucky Chants And Pleading

December 19th, 2017

The stage was set last night. Your Bucs were trailing by 10 points at halftine and giving their typical garbage first-half performance with seven points, just one point below their season average in first halves.

(That’s the story of the season right there, by the way: brutal starts and trailing early.)

Chucky was coming out to the field with his family, friends and iconic Buccaneers and all members of Team Glazer to be inducted into the Ring of Honor.

Allegedly, fans (at least 20,000 or so) were going to be screaming their heads off in unison for a Chucky return to coach the Buccaneers. They could sing their burning desires — or wave endless homemade banners — to the ESPN cameras and ownership.

They punted.

Safe to say there was no real buzz for Chucky to replace Dirk Koetter. It didn’t register on any kind of significant scale.

It seems the Hire Gruden mania from many corners of Bucs fandom was all bark with little bite.

Interesting.

You won’t find Joe lobbying for a Chucky return, though Joe might consider a new head coach for 2018. Two games to go.

52 Responses to “Fans Punted On Chucky Chants And Pleading”

  1. Stav Says:

    That was all the Commish hyping up his wishlist to the masses. Are people enamored by Chucky in Tampa? Sure. But I think it’s because he is recognized nationally and fans want that attention towards the Bucs. Nothing wrong with that, but doesn’t make it a great argument to replace Koetter with him.

    Just think, IF the Glazers hired Gruden, what happens if he has 2 or 3 bad years? Are they going to fire him again? He would never associate with the Bucs ever again.

  2. thunderchunkyPA Says:

    That is what makes the Licht 1 year extension so interesting. Do they give Licht and Koetter 1 more year to get this right? Do the Glaziers give Licht 1 more chance to get the right HC in place? WIth the new of Licht and his 21 year deal in palce, makes you wonder how the Glaziers will proceed. If this team does go 4-12, I am not sure you can bring Koetter back.

  3. Chucklehead Says:

    Theres a reason they let him go the first time. Besides, what would he do now with Monte retired? All his old assistants have moved on and settled into their own gigs.

    Nope. Gruden is an offensive minded coach and he would need a straight up gangster defense to make things work here.

  4. IsrBuc Says:

    Why wait for the season to be over to make your mind about Koetter? Why should a win make any difference? Are you happy with the body of work? are you happy with the way the offense played considering the weapons they got? How they spread the ball and utilize the weapons? how they adjusted to Winston’s inaccuracy on deep balls? How they played their best running back?
    Why the hell should a 5-11 make a difference over 4-12? Why care about players quitting or not? Who says it’s even related to the HC? maybe they care for themselves? maybe they got some pride? and even if they really like the HC, why does it matter? Was JW that good on the field that his relationship with Koetter should matter and is it more important than the overall offensive play and the absolute insanity of crowning Doug Martin? I mean WE SEE THE GAMES we want a team that playes to its potential. forget about the record. Were we anywhere close to our potential on offense?

  5. Greg Says:

    Much ado about nothing. It would be interesting if he came back…nothing more, nothing less. Most of us that were there last night have been beaten into an apathetic coma this year. Anything this team does will be met with a collective “meh” based on the total disaster this year was amid all of the hype.

  6. Bob in Valrico Says:

    Don’t really see how Gruden could succeed here,Glazers would be fools to allow Chucky to be in charge of player personnel. Can’t have another yes man like Bruce Allen to bring in washed up players like Charlie Garner and Tim Brown.

  7. Sweezy 4 Sheezy Says:

    Actually there was a Gruden chant before his speech started and ESPN showed some Gruden 2018 signs , so this is fake news.
    This is not “fake news.” Joe wrote here about nothing significant coming down from the fans, like a third of them in the house screaming for Chucky. It was nothing remotely significant or lasting. –Joe

  8. Couch Fan Says:

    Maybe it would of seemed to much like the whole Schiano/Lovie Fiasco and we seen how that eventually turned out…

  9. Bob in Valrico Says:

    Jason Licht needs to not have tunnel vision for the offense,next year. He is the one ultimately responsible for putting the right players on the defense. Its like Mike Smith has been forced to play seven card stud with only three or four cards.
    Oh, and Jason we need a stout DE that can also stop the run.Noah spence appears to be a situational player if he regain his health,but he just isn’t stout
    enough to be a factor in the run defense.

  10. Eric Says:

    Lord knows we wouldn’t want to disturb this fabulous run we have been on since 2009.

    Keep listening to the local hack media Glazer boys, it’s served you so well.

    Dirk Koetter is totally the answer and thank God we wrapped up Smitty to prevent the frenzy of head coach seekers knocking down his door.

    Who needs championships anyway. Pointless.

  11. not there yet Says:

    Why do people keep talking about Chucky having personnel control or how he can’t succeed here as if koetter is on his level and he can’t do better than this sorry arse coach. If you don’t like gruden that’s fine but koetter is soft and he’s garbage, Chucky is far better coach without question. Do I want Chucky? No I’d take Raheem Morris back before I’d want to watch a letter offense another year. No one can consistently go on 80 yesterday drives for 4 quarters like this offense has to without penalties or breakdowns.

  12. martinni Says:

    I think hiring Gruden would set the Buc’s back at least 3 years. As many of you recall after the Super Bowl win the honeymoon ended and the war between The Big Dog against Chucky began. The town was torn apart and the dismantling of the team began. IMO anyone watching that game last night saw a bunch of rag tag back-ups who never gave up fight to the last second. This team and this coach with a few additions in the offseason will become contenders. I am not ready to turn my back on Jameis and Dirk yet.

  13. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I’m for giving Koetter another year and drafting 6 DEs & a CB…..

    Let’s see what we can do with a pass rush.

    But, if we chance coaches…..I’m all in for Chucky….I think that is a story that would propel Bucs future.

  14. zzbucs Says:

    I am 100% with Coach Koetter…..Its all about defense, running game,and a new Defensive coordinator……… that´s the main thing.

  15. Pierce Says:

    I like Gruden….in the booth. It was fun listening to him call the game. I loved the halftime speech. It was a lot of fun, but that’s about it.

  16. Jaybuc Says:

    No matter who the coach this defense HAS to change! It’s been horrendous

  17. mike10 Says:

    Nope nope and nope. I do not want a head coach in 2018. I know we’re all over the moral victories. I had hopes of this team beating in the NFC championship game. But I’ve watched 3 coaches that were ‘dead men walking’ where their team quit on them… Bucs fans have a PhD in recognizing it.

    This team ain’t quitting on Koetter. I think the story of 2017 was uncreative playcalling (until last night!) and not having the talent on the OL or DL.

    Keep Koetter, the teams still playing hard for him and every good coach has a bad season.

  18. mike10 Says:

    That was one of the grittiest games I’ve seen this Bucs team play.. so many injuries!

  19. Jaybuc Says:

    Doesn’t the horrible defense ultimately fall on Koetter? He is the head coach after all

  20. Greg Says:

    There were multiple signs calling for Gruden during the pregame show, but I didn’t hear any chants that’s for sure. Didn’t hear any booing after the game for Koetter either (doesn’t mean there weren’t, but I know I didn’t hear any).

  21. Pickgrin Says:

    Glad the fans at the game were respectful enough to not ruin the great moment Gruden had out there with chants of “We want Chucky back”…

    Would have been pretty classless. Not sure what it says about your boy Justin seeing as how he was apparently advocating for such a thing…

  22. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Grittiest games? is that what we as bucs fans are stuck with, CMON man its been 10 years of hogwash the bucs are Cleveland South, we deserve a competent GM who builds a team with vision and identity, not someone throwing cagey and questionable crap against the wall, this team is garbage ans we deserve better than “gritty” its Ws and Ls and just like thefirs letter in Lichts name time to get rid of the Ls

  23. Mike Johnson Says:

    All of this moral victory stuff I;m reading here this moring stinks worse than a country backyard cesspool, Buc history is full with..moral victories, great losing performances and..ge’em next time cries. I ain’t buying it fellow Buc fans. Not one ounce of it!! This franchise is either snake bit or needs new direction from the top down. You pick’em.

  24. DaveinFortMyers Says:

    I enjoyed every minute of Gruden’s Speech and could see a lot of mutual respect being given between the Glazers and Gruden. Last night was Electric and you could feel the old glory days and the possibility of what could be. To me, the game was secondary (Predictable Outcome) to seeing Gruden take the field and give an inspiring & heartfelt speech that reminded me of why we brought Gruden here in the first place. A man possessed, with the desire to win and a drive to be great! I also seen a Team come to honor their former coach and even current Bucs players showed their love. Stars have aligned, if it’s going to happen its gonna happen now. I for one am ready to see what Gruden could do with this much talent! DL, OL, RB, CB, S Help needed (Draft/Free Agency) but we almost won last night with the current cast. This team is close and the window only stays open so long. Glazers Seen this in the past ( Spared no Expense) hopefully they see it now! Hire Gruden PLEASE!!!!!

  25. Dan Says:

    I live the way our first round pick Winston plays one good game against a team who is suspect on defense and now we are supposed to forget the weeks of garbage Winston puts on tape.

    I want more than anything for Winston to be our guy. I just look at his judgment on the field and see him really needing a new mentor or something.

  26. mark2001 Says:

    Man…just think…if we had only drafted Johnny Football and passed on Mike Evans, we would probably be playoff bound. Go Bucs.

  27. IsrBuc Says:

    @zzbucs Then he should have been fired in the last offseason as the 9-7 record was achieved by a great defensive play and had nothing to do with the offense.

  28. Eric Says:

    Weeks of “garbage”

    68 touchdown passes, second of all time at this point in his career. First in total yardage.

    Can’t fix stupid.

  29. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    I wonder if this has anything to do with the majority of people in the stadium being Atlanta fans… That just inaccurate.–Joe

  30. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    Like I said. I wonder.

  31. Kevo Says:

    It would be an incredibly stupid move not to bring in gruden with a winning nfl franchise just 2 hours down the road from them . That would be giving shad khan ticket sales not Tampa.

  32. Kevo Says:

    No hope is not a good selling point. Give the fans what they want

  33. Perimeter Blocker Says:

    My son and I were holding the “Gruden 2018” sign. Everyone we talked to agreed. He shouldn’t have been fired then and needs to be hired now! No one will outwork this man. Remember he did the impossible. No one ever thought this team would ever win a SB! If we had kept him we would have the continuity we have wanted. The franchise QB we lacked back then is in place and played his tail off last night. Give us a average defense and we will win. GRUDEN 2018!

  34. Kevo Says:

    The fans are tired of excuses all theses years just bring the man back

  35. lightningbuc Says:

    mark2001 Says:
    December 19th, 2017 at 10:06 am
    Man…just think…if we had only drafted Johnny Football and passed on Mike Evans, we would probably be playoff bound. Go Bucs.

    __________________

    JOE KNOWS QBs!

  36. Steven007 Says:

    Blake, I was actually at the game and was surprised by the lack of Atlanta fans actually.

  37. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I tend to think the stick carriers are all bark and no bite.

  38. Ray Rice Says:

    Chucky Coach and O/C….. Rex Ryan D/C

  39. Pit of misery Says:

    how about going after Jim Harbaugh

  40. Maze Says:

    Your boy let us down Joe

  41. Nate Says:

    it was 17-7 at halftime lol and joe

    not a newsflash but glazers tried to hire chucky before lovie

    and have not killed those rumors and that IS NOT FAKE NEWS lol

  42. Phil Says:

    I would love if Grudens returned but expectations would be through the roof.

  43. Nate Says:

    when we average over 20 points a game

    & not 20 which can never even win us a game for the defense

    we will not win

    20pts avg per game for 3 years under koetter ….but we get happy for 3 tds for 20 points AGAIN!!!! just to lose

    lets wait and see how the offense with Carolina and New Orleans and then see if Gruden wouldn’t be a better playcaller

    and if we can score more than 20 points

  44. jeff Says:

    Fan showed a little class and I really think you like this coach and want him to stay. but I liked him too but he has packed it in and he will be talking injuries now and that’s all he has left

  45. jeff Says:

    This team dis not address the running back issues nor the defensive insanity yet you want to blame smith . we have 3 good lb and no d line no pass rush and mis judging your team is an under statement

  46. bucs_365 Says:

    Call me crazy, but I don’t think warm feelings and nostalgia ought to be the primary criteria for hiring a coach. Rehiring Chucky after 9 years out of the league is just as risky as hiring a top coordinator to become a new HC. The entire organization was in shambles by the time he left. We were one of the least talented teams in the league. Chucky chose the GM who did that to us. Let’s not forget that Gruden’s record with us after the SB season is a very mediocre .469 winning percentage. He’s definitely the most overhyped and overrated coach on NFL radars right now.

  47. SKBucsFan Says:

    You are not crazy. I believe we should keep Koetter as HC, Hire Gruden as OC and find a new DC.
    …Oh, and replace the worst GM in football with someone that understands how to draft.

  48. HooliganSixx Says:

    Marvin Lewis is Dirk’s BFF. Lewis will be the new DC next year for the BUCS with Koetter having a must win season in 2018.

  49. chickster Says:

    WOW DIRT NEEDS TO GO HE IS NOT HEAD COACHING MATERIAL

  50. chickster Says:

    EMPTY SEATS GUYS

  51. Milenko Says:

    Never ever said I was chanting anything for anyone. I haven’t listened to a commosh podcast for quite some time. Seems pretty angry and suppose to be a “fan” that switches with the wind. Thick or thin, he is not. Grudens balls is all his. Miss Gruden, yes. Is this the same gruden from years ago? No way has he been studying like #Lovie? Give Kotter one more year, can’t hurt. #ScuttleBucks better. Thankfully both on joes network. Easy to avoid one and listen to the other, more intelligent podcast. #KeepScrolling

  52. GhostofSchiano Says:

    Sweezy 4 Sheezy Says:

    December 19th, 2017 at 8:03 am

    Actually there was a Gruden chant before his speech started and ESPN showed some Gruden 2018 signs , so this is fake news.
    This is not “fake news.” Joe wrote here about nothing significant coming down from the fans, like a third of them in the house screaming for Chucky. It was nothing remotely significant or lasting. –Joe

    @JOE – Everyone in section 104 was chanting CHUCKY

    Did you observe the smiles, nodding, glances, for longing looks between the Glazers and Gruden during his speech? Did you listen to the words he spoke? I love Tampa, I Love the Glazers, etc, etc, etc. Something is going on behind the scenes. Gruden 2018. Make the Bucs Great Again. #MBGA