The sportsmanship this past Sunday..

[Shields17]

This game was going to be a battle. Everyone knew it. This newly minted rivalry was sure to include borderline hits, missed calls, flaring tempers, and over-emotional plays..

Except, it didn't.

Lost among the greater story of the comeback that wasn't, or the blown-game that wasn't, there was a smaller story: The textbook sportsmanship that was.

You see, we've witnessed a lot of boneheaded emotionally fueled mistakes over the past season. Whether it came from our team, came from our opponents, or came from another game altogether (The Bengals / Steelers being a prime example.). Let's make no mistake, the Panthers and the Seahawks are both hard fighting, emotional teams with chips on their shoulders.

The Seahawks wanted to avenge the loss at Century Link earlier in the year, a loss that for all intents and purposes, they blew when it mattered most.

The Panthers came into this game with a large portion of the nation viewing Seattle as the favorite. The Panthers were the product of an easy schedule, and the Seahawks were the team that was going to finally expose them in the place the Panthers have faultered before: The Playoffs.

Yet as this game went on, I started noticing something pretty cool: Panthers players helping Seahawks players up off the ground. Seahawks players giving friendly pats to Panthers players after hard fought plays. No extracurricular activity after plays. Just hard fought football, topped off with good sportsmanship.

If these two teams do blossom into a fierce rivalry in the upcoming years, this will be the template that every other rivalry should base their play on. There was no "Get the fug off my field", there was no "Helmet to helmet targetting."  Just solid football. 

[t96]

Weren't the Hawks fuging with the ball when we were kneeling? Kinda like they were trying to fight the Pats when they were kneeling at the end of the Super Bowl.

[Squirrel]

4 minutes ago, Shields17 said:

is game was going to be a battle. Everyone knew it. This newly minted rivalry was sure to include borderline hits, missed calls, flaring tempers, and over-emotional plays..

Except, it didn't.

Lost among the greater story of the comeback that wasn't, or the blown-game that wasn't, there was a smaller story: The textbook sportsmanship that was.

You see, we've witnessed a lot of boneheaded emotionally fueled mistakes over the past season. Whether it came from our team, came from our opponents, or came from another game altogether (The Bengals / Steelers being a prime example.). Let's make no mistake, the Panthers and the Seahawks are both hard fighting, emotional teams with chips on their shoulders.

The Seahawks wanted to avenge the loss at Century Link earlier in the year, a loss that for all intents and purposes, they blew when it mattered most.

The Panthers came into this game with a large portion of the nation viewing Seattle as the favorite. The Panthers were the product of an easy schedule, and the Seahawks were the team that was going to finally expose them in the place the Panthers have faultered before: The Playoffs.

Yet as this game went on, I started noticing something pretty cool: Panthers players helping Seahawks players up off the ground. Seahawks players giving friendly pats to Panthers players after hard fought plays. No extracurricular activity after plays. Just hard fought football, topped off with good sportsmanship.

If these two teams do blossom into a fierce rivalry in the upcoming years, this will be the template that every other rivalry should base their play on. There was no "Get the fug off my field", there was no "Helmet to helmet targetting."  Just soli

These two teams mutually respect each other. It was great to see. 

[Jangler]

Good and well coached teams don't take the play on the field personally. yeah, I'm talking to you OBJ. Even after the Sherman holding onto Olsen's ball too long. warm comfort is my only guess. 

[Anybodyhome]

6 minutes ago, Jangler said:

 Even after the Sherman holding onto Olsen's ball too long. warm comfort is my only guess. 

It was cold, they were spooning and Sherman grabbed a handful, only to realize he was admittedly impressed with what he found. 

[CarolinaSamurai]

I agree. Even before the game they were friendly. Great respect between the two. 

[PanthersATL]

And the same should be done in the stands when fans get together.  If the players on the field can act civilized towards one another when on opposite sides of the ball, fans can cheer for their respective teams without beating each other up over it

 

[ecu88]

20 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

It was cold, they were spooning and Sherman grabbed a handful, only to realize he was admittedly impressed with what he found. 

Ah Thor's hammer, it's mighty indeed.

[SportsCrazie4172]

During one of the timeouts Josh Norman and Locket were off to themselves shaking each other's hands and laughing. They were having a private conversation while both teams were in a huddle. Its almost like they forgot they were playing. I thought that was pretty cool.

[CarolinaSunday]

I read on Twitter that several Seahawks players told our guys to go win it all. 

[BANE]

29 minutes ago, PanthersATL said:

And the same should be done in the stands when fans get together.  If the players on the field can act civilized towards one another when on opposite sides of the ball, fans can cheer for their respective teams without beating each other up over it

 

F**k that. Opposing fans can stay the hell at home. They aren't welcome in BoA and should be reminded of that at every possible moment. 

[Khyber53]

They were the NFC champs, they should be classy. We should be, too.

 

[rippadonn]

No reason to hate your beautiful cousin.

[Skydivingcows]

1 hour ago, Shields17 said:

If these two teams do blossom into a fierce rivalry in the upcoming years, this will be the template that every other rivalry should base their play on. There was no "Get the fug off my field", there was no "Helmet to helmet targetting."  Just solid football. 

Yeah, I talked with several Seahawk fans while walking out and we both bided each other an until next year and many more...  This is a good rivalry.  We could very well be seeing the beginning of the next  "Brady Manning" rivalry developing under our own noses.