Past Tense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the newer NFL franchises around; they have only been a franchise since 1976. Their career began as a member of the AFC Western Division, then quickly over to the NFC Southern Division. Residents were so thrilled to have their own pro football team that, even in their first season, season tickets were a sell-out. After many years of hard work, the Buccaneers finally brought home a Super Bowl win in 2002. Fans anticipate the same kind of year in ’09.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have only been around for 33 years. They have experienced some major changes, some within the first couple of years of play. After only one year in the AFC Western Division, the team was moved to the NFC Southern division. The move took place to allow the team to play the Seahawks twice in a season, and other NFL teams once. This contract was to last for two years.

Their name comes a pirate festival held in Florida every year, almost as a memoire to Florida’s history. The first owner of the Buccaneers – Tom McCloskey – did not hang around for long as he nearly drove the team into bankruptcy. After Tom was dismissed, the team was handed over to Hugh Culverhouse.

Today, after getting through many of their ups and downs, the Buccaneers play in the Tampa Stadium. The stadium, which holds 73,000 people, is nearly full to overflowing at every home game. Even with two other professional football teams in the state, the Buccaneers still thrive, both financially and from fan support.

Their first two years, in the NFL, were a bit of an embarrassment as they lost 26 games. Yes, every game they played, in the first two years, ended with a loss. Nevertheless, the season of 1979 would proved to be different for the team. Their first five games, in this new season, were wins for the Buccaneers and their fans. It was apparent, now, that this was a good team and tickets, literally, disappeared.

They were such a success that Sports Illustrated approached the team about being a featured cover story for the magazine. Fans began to get so rowdy, with excitement, which the goal posts had to be greased in order to keep them from toppling over. As the Buccaneers beat the Chiefs, the field was covered with fans. The team was on a streak, which continued into the Central Division title.

In ’96, the Buccaneers faced many changes, the first of which was that Culverhouse was no long in charge of the team. Even though sales were through the rough, the team was suffering severe financial hardships, bordering bankruptcy. Malcolm Glazer purchased the Buccaneers, this same year, for over 190-million dollars. Glazer’s goal was to turn the Buccaneers into a winning franchise – financially and on the field.

The 2008 season was a decent one, for the team, until Monte Kiffin – defensive coordinator – announced that he was leaving the team and moving on to Tennessee that December. This news broke the team and caused them to lose their last four games of the season, ruining their chance at the playoffs. The 2009 season; however, is already looking up. Loose ends have been tied up and the team is ready to play and get their name printed on a championship title.