“… the notorious stadium where passionate spectators have provided a deafening home-field advantage for the Eagles and a forbidding atmosphere for visiting teams …”
–The New York Times on the Philadelphia
Eagles’ Veterans Stadium, Jan. 16, ’03.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ No. 1-ranked defense forced key turnovers, and the squad’s offense exceeded expectations, but ultimately it was the lackluster effort by the Philadelphia Eagles’ fans that led to the Bucs’ 27-10 victory in the NFC championship game Sunday.
It was the final football game at the creaky, lice-infested, rabies-ridden, chemical-weapons-filled Veterans Stadium, and with their beloved Birds a victory away from the Super Bowl, Philly fans brought to the game a record number of homemade signs cheering their team and proclaiming their love for the Fox network.
Initially, the fans looked unstoppable. Thanks to their cheers of “Run! Run!” the Eagles’ Brian Mitchell was able to return the opening kickoff for 70 yards. Two plays later, fans arranged their lips to scream, “Pass it into the end zone, Donovan!” then quickly shifted back to the “Run! Run!” chant, faking out the Bucs’ defense and allowing running back Duce Staley an easy skip into the end zone.
That’s when the Philly faithful got cocky. Season-ticket holder Dennis Patterson, who had been so instrumental all year long at Section 347, Row 19, Seat 8, opted for the two-beer conversion. Minutes later, holding a hoagie in one hand, a beer in the other, and the second beer hanging from his mouth, Patterson bumped into Floyd Hampton, spilling all over both of their pants.
Hampton never returned to the stands. Patterson eventually did, wearing green-and-white zebra-striped pants from the souvenir stand. The Bucs, though, had taken advantage of his absence to score a field goal.
With Patterson shaken, Eagle fans tried to overcompensate. First-year fan Jethro Berkman may have been responsible for Eagle Bobby Taylor’s interception when he screamed, “Bobby, the ball’s coming right to you!” He then made the rookie mistake of yelling the same line on subsequent plays and with 1:50 left in the first quarter was completely hoarse. Seconds later, the Bucs’ Joe Jurevicius set up a touchdown with a 71-yard reception.
Eagles’ fans drank many beers during halftime (you would too if you had to watch Ja Rule and Ashanti) and suffered for it. “I’m so wasted, I’m seeing quadruple,” yelled Clem Peterson. He shouted, “Look, there are four Ronde Barbers!” not realizing he was seeing double, and that he had actually spotted Ronde’s identical twin, Tiki, on the sidelines. Ronde went on to have the game of his career.
Even the fans in the 700 level, where half of all Philadelphia homicides occur, were stymied. With the Eagles trailing 20-10 in the 4th quarter, Michael Butz passed out in Section 742, Row 9, Seats 3-10, leaving him unable to stop wife Gabby from wearing a foam “Go Eagles!” hand that was three inches larger than regulation. The Butzes were penalized 15 rows, setting the stage for a game-clinching interception and touchdown by Barber.
It was Philly fans’ last chance to affect a game, as the Eagles will play at Lincoln Financial Field next season. The crowds won’t be allowed to be rowdy at Lincoln because, unlike the Vet, which the Eagles shared with the Phillies, the team will share the new venue with a branch of the Philadelphia Public Library.
mebazer@yahoo.com
