Forever Our Beyotch!!

Panthers. No Falcons. Wait it's the Panthers. Oh hell, I hate them both. Who is your most hated Buccaneer foe? When taking a simple survey of Buccs fans as to who their most hated Buccaneer foe is, you get varied answers. I've heard the likes of Lions, Packers, Vikings and Bears stemming from the Buccs past membership of the NFC Norris division, aka Black and Blue division, aka NFC Central. Unfortunately, for most of the 25 years between 1977 and 2001 that the Buccs spent in the NFC Central, they were the division's whipping boy. That doesn't mean to say there weren't some epic battles and hard fought close contests won by the Buccs, because there were, but not many. Some fans will even proclaim the Philadelphia Eagles as their most despised Bucc foe. It's easy to understand after the Eagles ended the Buccaneers Super Bowl hopes by knocking them out of the playoffs two season in a row in 2000 and 2001.

Then in 2002, the NFL decided it would be best served with a league wide re-alignment. This overhauling would include a new expansion team, the Houston Texans, and the relocation of another team from the AFC West to the NFC West. That team being the Seattle Seahawks, who ironically began their NFL lives as members of the NFC back in 1976. With this bold new look to the NFL, a new division was born, the NFC South. Right out of the gate the NFC South cemented it's reputation as one of the toughest, if not the toughest divisions in the League, buy producing the new era's first Super Bowl Champs. The following season, another NFC South team represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, but didn't come away victorious. Since then an NFC South team has participated in the NFC Championship game every year, and a different team has won the division title every year, with only the Buccs being crowned twice. The instant success and competitiveness of the NFC South has spawned immediate dissension and dislike not only between the teams but without a doubt among their fans. Sure some still hate the old NFC Central foes, but most Buccs fans when asked will obnoxiously blurt out a South foe without hesitation.

I have noticed something odd though, the Saints are hardly ever mentioned as a fan's most hated Buccaneer foe. Why is that? In 2002 during the Buccaneers' all time greatest season, the Saints punked us twice. Only four losses for the season, and half of those were at the hands of the Saints. Yet not much, if any ill will toward the Saints? I think I know why. It's just a hypothesis, but it's the reason why I have no ill will toward the Saints, and maybe it's the same reason you don't.

Let me take you back. Back in time to a period when the VCR was in it's toddler years. The year the Alaskan Pipe Line opened, and Jimmy Carter was President. Heck, it was two years before the rings of Saturn were even discovered. The year was 1977. What is significant about this year? I'll get to that in a moment. The city of Tampa was awarded the league's 27th franchise in 1974, and entered into it's inaugural season in 1976. A year of celebration for Americans all over the country, 1976 was a great year. For the country was celebrating it's 200th year of independence. Soon though celebration would end for residents of Tampa, and Buccaneer fans around the globe. The Buccs were miserable. Bad play, highlight reel follies, and loss after loss, after loss. They became the laughing stock of the NFL when they racked up 14 losses in a row. There were three games throughout the season where the Buccaneers almost pulled out a win. Week 3 vs. Buffalo, weeks 6 and 7 vs. Seattle and Minnesota, losing 9-14, 10-13, and 20-23 respectively. Branded with the nicknames such as Yucs, and Bad News Buccs, they ended their first season winless.

Enter 1977. The Buccs now in their new division, NFC Central after one season in the AFC West continued to lose, and so did the laughing. In week 2, Tampa came very close to winning for the first time by battling Minnesota to a 3-9 defeat. "Will the Buccs ever win a game," fans asked. Well of course they would win a game sooner or later. That's when fear struck the hearts of other teams around the league. The Creamsicle losers then became the most feared team in the NFL. What was the cause of this fear? No one wanted to be known for eternity as the team who lost to the Yucs. After a horrible offensive output for twelve weeks averaging 4.41 points per game, along with six embarrassing shutout losses, the Buccaneers exploded for 33 points in 33-14 beyotch slapping of the New Orleans Saints. Mashing their faces in it further was the fact that this monumental Buccaneer victory was carried out on the Saints home field in front of their home crowd. The Saints, the team that will always be known as the team the Buccaneers had their way with. The team the Buccs popped their cherry against. This single embarrassing distinction can't and won't be blurred or eroded with time. For one Sunday back in 1977 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the New Orleans Saints' daddy. For that reason, they will forever be our beyotch. How can the Saints be the foe Buccs fans hate most, we're still too busy laughing at them. Who's Your Daddy?
...JJC/ABuccsFan