How I Became a Carolina Panthers Fan

I’m a North Carolina boy, born and raised.

I grew up between two NFL teams—Washington and Atlanta. Most people in my neighborhood were Redskins fans, so I became one. I loathed the Cowboys and loved Joe Gibbs. I bled burgundy and gold.

I remember exactly where I was when Lawrence Taylor broke Joe Theismann’s leg (1985). I know exactly where I was when John Riggins said, “Loosen up, Sandy baby. You’re too tight!” to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (1985). I know exactly where I was when Timmy Smith broke the Super Bowl rushing record (Super Bowl XXII, 1988).

My allegiances changed in 1993. I left Wake Forest University that year and started my radio/television career in Selma, NC at WBZB 1090AM. There had been rumblings for years about North Carolina or South Carolina trying to get an expansion NFL team. I think I first heard about Jerry Richardson in the late '80s, probably 1986-87.

I was fairly excited about that, because I had only seen one NFL game in person during my 22 years of life (Washington vs. Atlanta, Nov. 3, 1985, at now imploded Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium).

Stardate: Oct. 26, 1993. The rumblings became fact. The NFL voted for Charlotte to receive the 29th NFL franchise—the Carolina Panthers. I was stoked!

I can remember reading everything I could get my hands on about the franchise. I was less happy that their first season was played in Clemson, S.C. I was a long distance fan and proud of it.

My first Carolina Panthers clothing purchase was a Lamar Lathon No. 57 black jersey. I still have it—somewhere in the vacuum called my closet. (Ask my friend Jon Nelson about my closet if you ever get the chance. Stuff goes in and never comes out.)

I was working at WNCN Channel 17 (formerly WYED) in Raleigh, NC, in 1996. Our station got some tickets to the first football game to be played at Ericsson Stadium (now known as Bank of America Stadium). The Panthers vs. the Chicago Bears—Aug. 3, 1996.

We were up in one of the luxury boxes, and I remember the Top Cat cheerleaders coming around to visit us. I have photographic proof. They also gave us commemorative coins to mark the occasion.

I have my coin still locked in a keepsake box on my dresser, along with my Baltimore Orioles rally towel—signed by Cal Ripken Jr. Anyway, I digress.

Ever since then, my heart has been split. The Deadskins (not a typo) still have a part of my heart; I’m not going to lie. Since I moved back to North Carolina in 2003, the Panthers have replaced them in my fandom hierarchy.

Dom Capers. Bill Goldberg (for you WWE fans, Goldberg was the first player ever cut by the Panthers. I guess the Big Cat told him, “You’re next!”). Kevin Greene. Tim Biakabutuka. The bronze panthers outside Bank of America Stadium. Sam Mills (his son is now a defensive coach for the Panthers). Hundreds of others.

I can’t forget about John Kasay, who is the only original Panther still on the roster.

However, there hasn’t been one individual player that made me a Panthers fan. I think the whole team (with the exception of Rae Carruth’s conviction and a drunken Kerry Collins spouting racial slurs about Muhsin Muhammad) has won my heart.

There’s something about the black and blue colors that fire me up. Always has. Seeing Jake “Ragin’ Cajun” Delhomme fire a bullet to Steve Smith down the sideline gives me tingles. The anticipation of “Double Trouble” (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart) makes me envision the Super Bowl. They are one of the best running back tandems in the NFL.

This team is on the cusp. They went to the NFC Championship game in their second season (along with fellow expansion team Jacksonville in the AFC). That would have been wild—an all-expansion Super Bowl. Cool.

Panther fans are incredible. The Big Cat is a great owner. John Fox is a perfect fit in Charlotte.

Washington—I’ll always love you, but my attention is now permanently rooted in the NFC South.

In my mind, I’m goin’ to Carolina...