Fever Check
May 18th, 2020
Back in 2003, Joe was like most of you, overflowing with Bucs pride and salivating with anticipation for the start of the season in which the Bucs would defend their Super Bowl title.
Joe remembers a Bay area gushing with excitement everywhere and loads of Bucs gear being worn at all times, in addition to a waiting list for season tickets.
Fast forward to May 2020 and the two months following the Tom Brady signing that injected hope into a sad-sack franchise. Is there more anticipation and Bucs fever in town now than there was 17 years ago?
This was a topic on the Ira Kaufman Podcast last week. (You can listen here at the 34:28 mark.) Kaufman, The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, thinks there might be more anticipation and hunger now. Joe was adamant that it was bigger back in ’03.
Joe believes the euphoria for Bucs football was greater in those days, in part, because the fan base was bigger (yeah, the Bucs lost a hearty load of fans during the Lost Decade), and there was no pandemic that stole the jobs of legions of fans, subsequently giving them more important things to think about than football.
But Joe wants to hear what you think, via the poll below:
May 18th, 2020 at 10:42 am
Damn the Colts and the Dungy/Manning comeback game that seemed to derail the season..ugh, that game still pisses me off!
May 18th, 2020 at 10:44 am
By one point for now. Some reason I feel we’re in better position now then back then to get into the playoffs. Plus being at home this year, if we are to get back to the dance floor! #GoBucs!
May 18th, 2020 at 11:04 am
I am 22 now. And so I was 5 turning 6 after the start of the 2003 season. While I do remember certain things from the bucs winning the super bowl and one specific game from the 03 season. I had no idea what was going on. Just like I didn’t know what was going on the past few years when I watched the bucs because I drank a little too much big storm before the game!
May 18th, 2020 at 11:06 am
2003. We knew what the Bucs had, and knew what to expect.
2020 is exciting, but we really have no solid idea of what this team will be all about.
Although I *AM* enjoying a more positive vibe than I’ve felt in a long time.
May 18th, 2020 at 11:09 am
No! But this year we will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs all the way to the super bowl
May 18th, 2020 at 11:24 am
2003 was better and that was a proven team and can win games 17-13 and actually destroyed starters and didn’t never lose to back up Qbs
2020 defense complains when offense turns it over and can’t play hard because of it
May 18th, 2020 at 11:24 am
The 2003 defense was regarded as awesome….one of the best ever. I just don’t see that today.
May 18th, 2020 at 11:27 am
when the bucs won it all I was 7 it was a bit of a blur I didn’t actually sit down and start watching football until 2005.
May 18th, 2020 at 11:27 am
i’ve been a fan since 76, and i think the most exciting time for me was, when they made their 5-0 start with doug williams as QB i was about 16 years old, and they were the talk of the league and NFL today with brent musberger jimmy the greek and so on and so forth, anyway’s it was the year they went to the NFC championship, and lost to the rams, who i hate to this day, especially since then and the emmanuel non catch years later, but i loved the day’s of brooks, sapp, allstott, dunn, pitman, lynch, rice, i just love my team, alway’s have and alway’s will. pewter and red till i’m dead, but i am stoked and so excited for this coming season, and so ready to get it going, the best off season draft, and FA signings we ever had, just hope we do get a season this year, go bucs
May 18th, 2020 at 11:37 am
Being a fan since 1987 the Super Bowl win was so so special and still is to this day. The team already transformed into a very good team that was starving for a SB for what seemed like years and years. When they won, I didn’t expect anything else the next season. I was already content. It so hard to repeat anyways.
I’d say about the same excitement for me from then and now.
Today, I don’t trust the Bucs as much as I did back then. Sure get Brady and Gronk but this is the Bucs. They’ll find a way to screw this up.
May 18th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
I am ore excited for the 2021 season because a good as this team will be, the refs will steal our chances of a Super Bowl this year won’t let it happen in Tampa, so I will say I am more excited for 2021 than I was 2003.
May 18th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Good question. My observation is there are ton of transplants that are now buying tickets to watch the Bucs. People from the NE and MW. Brady has put the Bucs over the top with interest. Covid and all…
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
May 18th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Anyone who went through 0-26 has to go with 2002. It got the monkey off our back.
May 18th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
As far as the circle I’m in, I think everyone is excited to see the Bucs play a more disciplined/mistake free type of football than they’ve played in the past, It’s one thing to get beat by another team, it’s something else when they’re consistently beating themselves.
May 18th, 2020 at 12:25 pm
more excited in 2003….
more anxious in 2020….
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 12:25 pm
More so now just because it’s now. Back then I was just loving being World Champions. Gotta agree about that Colts game, on national TV, too. Let’s GO BUCS!!!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Without a doubt 2020 because of Tom n then gronk still think I’m dreaming.
May 18th, 2020 at 12:40 pm
The problem is that the sheep and national media are picking the Bucs because of the offseason moves!!!!!!!! They have not figured out the “Heart over Hype” just yet!!!!!!!!!! Does the whole buc organization have the heart to win, from coaches down to the practice squad??? The “real” fans don’t think so!!!!!!! It has been only player “replacement” and not player “development”!!!!!!!!!!! All those interviews, and no one has asked how the most penalized team in the nfl will improve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the no excuses of no-excuses years”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to herd the sheep, and put them back in the pen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 1:45 pm
There was excitement for 4 years during that championship run. I felt it was more anxious could they actually get over the hump with Gruden coming in to actually put an offense on the field.
After they won the SB I think it was more relief than excitement although excitement was there for the following year. The trip to London and the infamous Monday night game where Peyton Manning came back killed the Bucs that season. Kenatta Walker doesn’t get a false start penalty they probably hold on to win that game against Manning.
Now there is much more excitement anticipation and hope for a team that has some talent and just fixed its major issue from last year.
However the most excited and nervous I had ever been for any sporting event in my life was the Bucs @ Eagles for the NFC title during the SB run. I couldn’t sleep that night waiting for that game. It was so intense watching that game and I only dream of experiencing that level of intensity again with the Bucs.
May 18th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
LOL! Anyone saying they were more excited for now, as opposed to 2003, is just a turd. 2003 this town was going nuts – Bucs stuff everywhere, the old 100,000 ticket waiting list for season tickets. When the schedule came out and the champion Bucs were disrespected by having to go on the road, to Philly, to open the season it was the talk everywhere. The buzz and excitement back then was worlds more than what it is now – if you think otherwise, you’re a j/o.
With that said, I’m excited about this season – but give me a break, comparing it to the high of coming off a SB win, with a team that was still young enough, with the one of the best defenses in football history (and the best passing defense in the history of the NFL), with an offense that finally showed life at the end of 2002… comparing that to now… Dopes.
May 18th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
El Buco, no player development? Is that yet another way for you to say how you feel about the coaching staff? Thanks again for your fresh take that the coaching sucks! Can’t wait until you tell us again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 2:26 pm
realist
player development?…..lol…
smitty couldnt develop mud if you gave him dirt and water let alone a defense with competitive DBs…..lol….
the “REAL” fans saw “coaching replacement” which turned into more wins!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 2:33 pm
I may be a turd, jack of, and dope, for not answering a stinking pole like you would’ve, but you’re an absolute D!CK. GO BUCS…….doubt you’d say it to my face, Rod Muncher.
May 18th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
The Super Bowl season was exciting no doubt. 2020 will be more exciting simply because it has not been played yet.
May 18th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
No contest. 2003 Bucs had shown they belonged with the NFLs elite for a couple seasons before that, not just considering the super bowl year. This year’s team has only 1 year of being a top offense and half a season of good defense. I’m still excited to see them play but nowhere near as excited as I was for seeing what the super bowl champion, hall of fame bound defense would do in 2003.
It seems from this thread that most people who think this year is more exciting is only because they had no idea what was going on in 2003!
May 18th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
That 2003 season was so Buc-like. We’re disrespected as SB champs by having to go to Philly to open the season. We totally ruin their new stadium opener by shutting them out. Things are picking up right where we left off in ’02– and then we had some of the most bizarre losses ever and end up with a losing record.
Aside from that Colts game, which unfortunately I was there to witness, Gramatica missed a damn extra point after we tie the game with a few seconds to go, and then lose in overtime. As a fan since ’76 I always said if they ever won the SB I would never complain again. I made it to the second game of the 2003 season before I did.
May 18th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
What more would you expect from Munch. Name calling if people don’t agree with his way of thinking. I have just as much hope and excitement now and if you don’t like it TAS.
May 18th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
If Tom Brady puts God 1st he will win the Super Bowl 1st year in Tampa guaranteed
May 18th, 2020 at 5:19 pm
BucemUp
Are you serious. The league now WANTS us to win!!! Did you not see the schedule they gave us.
The very best thing for the league would be a New England-Tampa SB in RayJay this year. Even the other 30 owners would support that. It would be historic and the side stories would be too numerous to cover. BB versus Brady.
The two old buds…TB12 and Gronk trying to ride off into the sunset with another title…the great buddy story?
And we had some good stories before this. D White and our kiddie corps DB’s are going to blow up this year. We have great individual stories of kids and vets who have broken their necks…blown off half their hand and still come back to play at a high level.
Again I say…wait until the first defender does something even perceived as questionable to Brady. Which will happen first? The officials toss the flag as usual to protect St. Tom…or Jensen jumps the defender and Marpet follows and we have a hockey style brawl…kind of like what happened in Cleveland last year.
May 18th, 2020 at 7:51 pm
Not really a fair comparison. I picked 2003.
But I’m pretty excited for this year too.
May 18th, 2020 at 8:02 pm
As a fan experiencing every year is exciting, even though 2003 was about one of the last times, besides 07 and 10 and 16. But I cannot wait for the defense to turn into an ultimate nightmare, offense popping, Bucs killing teams and everyone hating the Bucs because Brady and gronk still have it, hoping for a glorious new decade!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 9:06 pm
Considering the odds…
If we end up hosting the Pat’s in the Super Bowl this year.
I’m afraid I would have to believe the conspiracy theory that the NFL is “fixed” just like wrestling.
Playing the Raiders after snatching Gruden from them.
Playing the Pats after snatching Brady from them…
Just a little coincidental, don’t ya think?
May 18th, 2020 at 9:09 pm
Oh yeah, 2003 for me.
Still too many unknown variables this year.
However, I start every year expecting to win every game, bar none.