Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Jan. 14, 2004, edition 1 / Page 5
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5 CAMPUS FEA TURES Panther fans are ready for some Football MARGARET ANN COONEY Managing Editor Two miracles happened for the Carolina Panthers this past season. First, the team was able to actually win more games than lose and secondly, the team did it well enough to make it to the playoffs. It is hard to believe that in just over two years the Panthers have gone from a miserable 2001 record of 1 and 15 to their current reg* ular season record of 11 and 5. The Panthers have surprised everyone, espe cially with the win this past Saturday. That game against the Rams was more intense than words could describe, only to be decid ed by a 69-yard touchdown in the second overtime. This upcoming Sunday will be the Panthers second time at the NFC Championship. The team lost the 1996 game to the eventual Super Bowl Champions the Green Bay Packers. The team spirit that was alive then has fmally once again found its place back in the hearts of Carolinians. Being a native Charlottian, I fu-st hand have witnessed the change in attitude towards the Panthers over the years. Obviously, when tiie Carolinas first got the Panthers back in 1995, peo* pie were very pumped to see them play. The Panthers only furthered this enthusi asm by winning the most games ever by an expan sion team in their first year. It was very hard to fmd decent seats at Ericsson Stadium that did not cost a small fortune in the Panthers’ early years. However, that eventually changed, and as the Panthers started losing, a sea of empty seats could be seen as cameras zoomed across the stadium during games and tickets were practically being given away. With the Panther’s los ing streak and the contro versy over the loss of the Charlotte Hornets back in 2001, the Carolinas were lacking serious faith in their pro-sports teams. It was the success of the 2002 Carolina Hurricanes, our pro-hockey team that before 2002 not many peo ple knew we had, that brought the desire to win back to Carolina fans. Once the Panthers jumped on that winning path, the fans soon followed and now the Panthers are one game away firom the Super bowl. Charlotte has practically become an all-out party on Panthers game days. Parking lots are filled with fans pre-gaming, one group even bringing their own satellite dish and big screen to watch all the action from the lot. The Panthers have practically become fashion able, making anyplace where you can catch the Panther game, the place to be seen and heard. My own younger sister, the epitome of the influence of Britney Spears and the Olsen twins, is even willing to sport a Panthers hat to school. I must admit that I too am hooked. I know that I will be watching the Panthers play this upcoming Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. I have already warned people not to call me after 6:45, when the game starts, because my full attention will be on my home team. The Panthers have already lost to the Eagles once this season, making them the underdog. But never underestimate the underdog, history has shown that they find a way to win in the end. GO PANTHERS! Meredith Memories: From the College Archives 19^1-22 members the Curie Chemistry Club at Meredith. The club was the predecessor of the Barber Science Club» organized in 1929. Photo courtesy of Meredith Archives, Carlyle Campbell Library
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Jan. 14, 2004, edition 1
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