What do the Panthers mean for you?

[exactlyzack]

So I’ve been sitting here trying to recover from Covid, and a thought popped in my mind. After the first game, and even way before then, there’s been a lot of negative emotions and thoughts about the Panthers, and honestly rightfully so. We suck and have sucked for a while. That being said I was just curious.

What does the Panthers mean to you? I know I’ve seen people say they’re checked out, and again totallly understandable. But is there a personal story or connection to your Panther fandom?

Just trying to change things up a little bit.

For me, the Panthers are a living connection to my oldest brother who passed away in 2015.  Me and him would watch every single game together we could, and we would cheer   When they did good and cuss them out when they did poor, but we still loved them.  Honestly if it wasn’t for my brother and the Panthers I probably wouldn’t be into sports like I am today.

The year my brother died, was the year we went 15-1 , and that season helped me get through a lot. Of course when we couldn’t get to the final prize, I was devastated, but still proud of our team. We’ve had alot of terrible moments sense then, and right now things are pretty bleak with our current coach, but, no matter what, ima still cheer em on every week. Even in losses it helps me connect to my brother, and for that I am super thankful. That’s probably why I get so dang pissed whenever I see Rhule on the field .  Sorry for the long post. I just like hearing peoples stories.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

For me currently, people say "laughter is the best medicine".

I now watch every Sunday to get a good laugh 

[OriginalPD]

Long story short…was supposed to move to Charlotte at same time Panthers were named newest NFL team. Never did move but I still fell for the team hook, line and (mostly) sinker. Live in Richmond, but my heart is in BOA Stadium on Sundays. And occasionally my ass is too when I can get down there. 

[ECUPantherFan]

The Panthers got me interested in the NFL. I moved to Winston-Salem from New York when I was 6 years old, and neither of my parents were football fans, really.  I was a big Wake Forest basketball fan since my dad played there back in the 70’s, but football?  Not so much.

I was 11 when the Panthers were formed, and I watched a few games the first year.  Then, from ‘96 until now, I’ve watched most every game.  When I lived in Charlotte from ‘08-‘10, I went to every home game.

Apathy is a hell of a thing.  The past several years have been hard to watch, and now with 2 kids, I find even less of a reason to tune in every week to watch us lose.  My kids, despite the sucking, are Panthers fans - so there’s that.  I really hope we can turn it around, because I really miss being super passionate about the Panthers.  It just seems like Tepper doesn’t care.. and if he of all people doesn’t care, why should I?

 

 

[TheCasillas]

Panthers are the longest relationship I have ever been in (27 years). I have made folllowing them a hobby and is part of my everyday life. Whether we suck or we are great, I have never changed routine. It's most likely never going to change, and will be passed down to my children, as long as they are interested. 

Edited September 14, 2022 by TheCasillas

[rayzor]

in gif form

should be so much more pleasant than it is.

[Icege]

It's a part of my home. I had lived all of my life in the Carolinas, with the exception of middle + high school when we moved to NJ + MD, but as soon as I graduated I came right back down. I remember hating the Falcons, and that was the team most of the folks in the upstate at the time followed. I followed the 49ers until Montana was traded to Kansas City, but the Panthers had been announced then as well so I only had 2 seasons of watching the Chiefs + 49ers until the inaugural 1995 season.

During a really tough point in my life when I didn't have access to much, the team went to their first Super Bowl and my family sans me went. It stings to this day, but in 2015 I had the best year of my life. Got married, had our son, and then the Panthers went 15-1 + to the Super Bowl! While I didn't get to go to this one either, I also didn't get left behind like I did the first go around.

It's... idk, it's just a constant in my life now that I enjoy diving into as a relief from the hustle and bustle of the every day.

EDIT: Also worth mentioning that when my wife and I had first reconnected (we had known each other in HS but never seemed to be single at the same time), I was on my way back from a Panthers game. Our first date was when we beat the dog poo out of her Giants when David Wilson out of VT iirc was their RB (looks like she's getting her revenge yet again this year). I was a season ticket holder during that time and we made it a point to go to as many games as we could. Got to see the MNF game where Cam beat Brady live (after almost getting arrested before kick-off ), the Seahawks playoff win, the Cardinals beating, and more.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Icege

[RJK]

[Riverboat Ron]

I’m a masochist so being a Panthers fan fuels my jollies.

[The Huddler]

ive emotionally disconnected myself from the panthers for a while now. will be optimistic and hope for wins

 

of it actually tears you up, that problem is with you. 

[Snake]

They will always be my team but that doesn't mean I will always like their direction. 

[TheCasillas]

34 minutes ago, RJK said:

Now are you saying this in character as Dennis, who in this case Panthers would mean everything but he wont admit it, or you are just using the text from this gif to say that it means nothing to you?

Edited September 14, 2022 by TheCasillas

[thefuzz]

Used to be the only team that I really dug into.  Knew all the players, their contracts, FO staff, how the players liked to spend their time.  Watched every game at least once, most times once more during the week.

Now?  I come on here to make sure they haven't moved to St. Louis after ever loss.

Still want them to do well, but have decided that I don't want to care enough to even have it put a frown on my face on Sunday at 4.  I have much bigger fish to fry now, and outside of fairly trying to get in front of a TB on Sunday, I couldn't care less any longer.

I'm sick of supporting bad actors, so I no longer will.

@RoaringRiot still gets my money tho.

[Hugor Hill]

I was 15 the first year the Panthers played. Before that, I was a Redskins fan because my dad was. I was a Vikings fan because of my brother. I was a Packers fan because of my older cousins. When the Panthers came about, my dad started keeping up with them. About that same time, I was going into 9th grade, and starting to drive and interested in playing sports. He actually took me to the game at Kenan when the Redskins played the Falcons when the NFL  tested the market for football in the Carolinas. Anyways, me and him started watching them religiously. It was a father/son bonding experience. Us watching Collins, Lathan, Mills, Walls, Biakabutuka, Moose, Jake, Foster, Morgan, Smitty, Peppers, Williams, Stewart, Cam, Kuechly, JJ Jansen was as much a part of Sundays as going to church was. We never missed anything. We occasionally would find time to go to a preseason game here and there. Ive never actually been to a reg season game inside of BOA. Been to multiple preseason ones though. I guess to me, the Panthers to me mean spending time with dad, whether it involves winning yells, or absolutely yelling/cussing the dog poo out of Rhule. Hopefully when son gets older, it'll mean the same to him......sans the cussing cause Rhule will be long gone by then...and also if I haven't completely given up on the Tepper run Panthers Era......which is really, really, really hard to do.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Hugor Hill