I’m just a fan. Not a fanatic, but a fan.

Raised in a family of football lovers, I have grown up with the game as many of us have. I have seen the rise of legends, and their downfalls. Names come and go. Offensive and defensive schemes change. Even the rules change, but the song remains the same. It’s Football, straight and true. It’s eleven versus eleven. When I became a Buccaneers fan, I was just an eight year old who thought pirates looked cool. The image of Bucco Bruce, with the cutlass in his teeth, it was just plain cool to look at. I watched the games, yet they meant nothing to me. I didn’t understand what a blitz was, or if intentional grounding was just something parents did to punish their children. But as the years wore on, I learned more and more of the game. And with each passing season, I rushed ahead with greater anticipation.

             I fondly recall the days when Tony Dungy was the figurehead of what many NFL enthusiasts still call “one of the greatest defenses of all-time.” Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Rhonde Barber, John Lynch, Mike Alstott, Warrick Dunn, and yes, Trent Dilfer. Any Bucs fan ought to recognize these names. These were the names I grew up with. I have countless drawings depicting these players. I had even aspired to become a Buccaneer myself. Of course, such was the delusion of a child.

            In those days, the Buccaneers weren’t the biggest team on the block, but they weren’t a pushover either. Sure, they closest they may have ever gotten was the NFC Championship game, but the drive was there. Finally, they hit it big in 2002. They smashed the Oakland Raiders in San Diego, marking the first Super Bowl victory for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise. Ironically, I remember speaking to a friend of mine in high school. He was a Raiders fan and I was a Bucs fan. I had remarked that it would be “cool” if the Raiders and Bucs faced off in the upcoming Super Bowl. Alas, I digress. Still, many fans still cry foul in regards to the nature of the victory. Was Jon Gruden really the coach who brought our team all the way, or did he just pick up the pieces? The evidence, albeit very convincing, can still be left for questioning. Nevertheless, few will dispute that the road since Super Bowl XXXVII was a bumpy one.

            In the years following, there have been a few gains, and many losses. With the addition of General Manager Bruce Allen, Warren Sapp and John Lynch were dismissed; a decision that still unnerves Bucs fans to this day. Carnell “Cadillac” Williams was acquired, and for a time, it was good. But as of today, Cadillac still has a difficult road ahead of him. Michael Clayton was a wonderful breakout performance, but had faded in the eyes of many Bucs fans. Inconsistencies at the quarterback position had left the offensive side of the ball in near shambles, leaving the defense to try and carry the weight.

            Jeff Garcia provided us with a nice change of pace, but even that was not enough. So what was it, then? Was it Jon Gruden’s playbook? Was it Bruce Allen? Both? Whatever the case may have been, it was more than apparent that something was missing in the Buccaneers’ core. And then the Great Change occurred: Monte left, Gruden and Allen were fired, and a myriad of Bucs cornerstones were dropped. Fans’ voices cried aloud at the absurdity of it all. Such became a defining moment in Buccaneers history. In the past few months, many changes have come to pass at One Buc Place. Some have been puzzling, even difficult for fans to even begin to encompass. But that’s how it is. Change is rarely easy to stomach.

            When you’ve been a fan for such a long time, seeing such a shift could be devastating. Understandably, if something works, don’t fix it. That’s a mentality that’s been shared with an innumerable count of people. But who are we to decide? We cannot force the pen that signs the contract. We cannot decide who’s drafted and who’s waived. And surely, we cannot choose who wins and who loses. We, as fans, are but spectators to this magnificent sport. We can cheer loudly and proudly, or we can boo with profanities and sneers. But other than that, the best we can do, as fans, is lend our support. Yes, we cannot decide, but at least our voices can be heard.

            For the “Nay-Sayers” of Bucs fan base, have hope. In the end, it’s the only thing us fans have. If you’ve been with the team for this long, why cast your doubts here? You must’ve been around when the Bucs suffered dismal seasons in the past. People have even doubted, then. I know I have. I was on the brink of changing to the Seattle Seahawks because I was so perturbed by the team’s performance. But like a fan, I hung in there. I still do. So with the draft acquisition, the off-season moves, and the new coordinators, don’t despair. It’s okay to be a little wary of the choices that have been made, but have hope. That’s the true test of a fan. Will you stay when the going gets rough, or will you leave it to the winds?

            Like I said, I’m just a fan. Not a fanatic, but a fan.

P.S. – As a side note, I truly believe that the Bucs can be great this coming season. If you’ve noticed, they’ve been relatively moving under the radar since the early off-season action. We have no indication of how the team will turn out this season, but I have a feeling that it’ll be a good one. I have a good feeling about Josh Freeman. Then again, I’ve been wrong before. But I’ll still hold out for this one. We may not have the standout names, but it’s not so much about the names as it is about the core. One man doesn’t make the team, although some might think so.

I’m a long-time reader, first time caller. I just wanted to say something, that’s all. I’m not as statistics heavy as some of our more esteemed writers are. So if any of you wanted to bash me with lowbrow remarks, at least do it with a correct grammar structure. Thanks for your time.

- Zeke