Greatest Moments In Panthers Franchise History: Open Thread

by Disciple of Carolina on May 7, 2011 12:46 PM EDT

Recently, too much has been made about the lockout, the draft and possible trade rumors surrounding the team. I figured I would change it up a little bit and go with, in my humble opinion, what have been the top five greatest moments in the history of Panthers football. This is an open thread and I welcome feedback as well as opinions from the Panther faithful who feel there were other great moments that were overlooked in this post.

1). Carolina's inaugural season - For a 14 year old kid living in Spartanburg, SC when the Panthers opened up for their first season, this was a huge deal. Granted, I was a Falcons fan but in the southeast your options were pretty limited. I started rooting for both teams for about 6-7 years and soon after the Michael Vick debacle, I chose Carolina as my one and only team. I still respect the Falcons organization but I felt I needed to stay with the team that was close to home. The Panthers gave us a great first season going 7-9 (setting the league record for wins by an expansion team) and would find success early on--too bad it didn't last longer. Game of note: upset of the San Franciso 49ers 13-7. The Niners at the time were the defending Super Bowl champions.

We will dive further into the archives after the jump...

2). 1996 NFC West Champs -The Panthers set another record for being the fastest franchise to win their division and get to the playoffs in only their second season. The Panthers would go 12-4 and advance to the NFC title game where they would fall to the Green Bay Packers. Stat of note: After beginning the season at 5-4, the Panthers would win their last seven games to clinch the division and the number two seed in the playoffs. Dom Capers won NFC coach of the year and the AP NFL Coach of the Year.

3). Jake Delhomme leads comeback against Jacksonville -2003 opened up with Rodney Peete starting for Carolina which was met with disasterous results. Enter Delhomme in the second half and he engineered perhaps the greatest comeback in franchise history. If anything is remembered from this game, it has to be Delhomme hitting Ricky Prohel for the game winning touchdown. Delhomme remained the starter and as a result the team would go 11-5 on the season. Bringing up #4....

4). Panthers reach first and only Super Bowl -The regular season was amazing and the playoffs even more crazy. I probably should have the thrilling OT win against the St. Louis Rams at this spot but I felt this game would get an honorable mention. The Panthers met with the New England Patriots in what was probably one of the greatest games ever played in Super Bowl history. The game started out as a defensive struggle and then the scoreboard got lit up. The Panthers tied the game late in the 4th quarter but a botched kickoff by John Kasay would be the Panthers undoing as Tom Brady did what he does best and marched his team down the field to set up for the game winning field goal. Even though they lost, it was a great game against a very talented New England team.

5). DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart run wild in 2008 - If there was ever a reason to be excited as a fantasy owner in football, having one or both of these guys on the roster provided it. They became the first teammates to set a league record by rushing for over 1000 yards each. Game of note: the Panthers rushed for 264 yards against the Detroit Lions. D-Will rushed for 120 while then rookie Stewart amassed 130 yards on the ground. This game was especially sweet for me since I was in attendance that day and saw history in the making.

So there it is. My personal favorite five greatest moments. I am all ears as to other great moments that were overlooked. This is an open thread so let the comments flow!

Go Panthers!

Poll

Which moment was the Panthers greatest?

The inaugural season

1 votes

First playoff appearance

1 votes

Delhomme's comeback

7 votes

The Panthers Super Bowl appearance

80 votes

D-Will and Stewie running wild in 2008

4 votes

Other

2 votes

95 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

2008 was a fantastic year.

I was overseas at the time, and could only watch the prime time games, the others I had to find an online radio station to stream. I listened live to the San Diego game where Delhomme hit Rosario in the back of the endzone on the last play, the shutout against Kansas City where D-Will had his coming out party, the comeback against Arizona led by Smith, the shootout in Green Bay where Delhomme and Smith worked their magic, and again in the last week against New Orleans. I was watching live when we ran over (literally) Tampa Bay on MNF, and when we played New York for the #1 seed on Sunday night. I’m a very young fan, I only started following the team religiously during the 05 season, so 2008 definitely ranks as my top moment for this team.

Yes I'm a dude.

by Flowing Willow on May 7, 2011 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

I can relate to being overseas

I experienced the latter part of the 2003 season in Germany and watched the Panthers only Super Bowl appearance there after midnight. As for the opening game of 2008, I remember it well. I jumped out of my seat at Buffalo Wild Wings and was the lone guy cheering as Rosario caught the game winning TD.

by Disciple of Carolina on May 9, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I really enjoyed that game...

where we blocked an XP, and beat Tampa in OT like 12-9. That was one of the best regular season moments.

Flyers Hockey: Where Leino Can Go Drain-o At Any Time.

by chillicothe20 on May 7, 2011 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

I think we blocked a FG in that game as well...

I could be mistaken but I know that there were a couple of games that had the Panthers blocking both XPs and FGs. I know its been awhile but I’m still peeved about that Dallas game where they called a roughing the kicker penalty on Peppers when he clearly made contact with the ball. If I’m not mistaken that played not only cost us the game but the division title as well. But I smile anyway, knowing that Carolina has owned the Cowboys in the postseason.

by Disciple of Carolina on May 9, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

the two best plays

Jake to Moose 85 yards in the superbowl, longest play from scrimmage in SB history.

Deshaun Foster breaks a 43 yard TD run in the SB, longest against the Pats that year.

by usana_gaines on May 8, 2011 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

Jake to Moose...

Yes. +1000.

That, right there, is the greatest moment of Panther Football in my opinion. I watch it on Youtube every so often, just for the chills.

Nothing was ever defended successfully. There is only attack, attack, attack, and attack some more. ~Patton

by BlkShmrk on May 9, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems alot of the best moments came with Jake at the helm

You look at the comebacks, the productivity by both Smith and Moose were due in part because of him. He should have stayed on at least long enough to groom a franchise QB but given how everyone was enchanted by the success of Matt Moore the front office felt it was safe to cut ties. I would like to see him return and even if its for a one day contract so he can retire as a Panther.

by Disciple of Carolina on May 8, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

For me the 2003 season

provided the best memories… I was working as a cook at a Hooters around Charlotte I couldn’t see the game but when we blocked the third kick I heard the place erupt like it had never before. We then won it of coarse. We had a great regular season that year with all the OT wins (I might be wrong be didn’t we beat Peyton at Indy that year too?) and then our playoff run has my two absolute favorite Panther moments ever… the Delhomme to Smitty gamewinning TD against STL (Best play in Panther history IMO) and then DeShaun’s 1 yd TD run against Philly. Toughest 1 yd TD run ever. Well those are my 3 favorite moments, I hope Cam can provide plenty of new ones.

by DimebagCody on May 9, 2011 2:04 AM EDT reply actions

Yep we did beat Indy...

23-20 in OT…probably one of the sweetest victories in franchise history. The Panthers went 5-0 on the season as a result. Sadly, we lost to Tennessee the following week. The Delhomme toss to Smitty against the Rams is fresh in my mind and it helps that I have a tape of that game so if I ever get a VCR I can watch it again and again.

by Disciple of Carolina on May 9, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm the only voter for the first playoff appearance...

Maybe it isn’t the greatest moment, but I think it is definitely the most important moment. With a new franchise built in a city full of skeptical individuals due to George Schinn, it was going to be an uphill battle to solidify a core fanbase for the team. The 96 playoff run solidified the initial fanbase that supported the franchise through the down years, until Delhomme teased us with the promised land. I think, lacking the early success of the franchise, we could be in the same situation as TB or the Jags, struggling to fill the stadium and a constant bullet point in team movement talks.

Without the 96 playoff run, our early team history is a forgettable footnote of the franchise. It was the thing that solidified me as a Panther fan, as well as many of my fellow young brethren growing up in Charlotte in the 90’s. That booster shot created many lifelong fans out of Carolina kids, and now they are at the age where they’re about to bring a new generation into the world that’s likely to follow in their fandom footsteps. The fanbase would not be what it is today without that spark to show us what the team can and will become.

by ppalm on May 9, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by Disciple of Carolina on May 9, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Given first playoff appearance make that....

+10000000

by Disciple of Carolina on May 9, 2011 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

For me it was the game against Jacksonville.

You could just feel it when Jake led the comeback. There was something special about that Cajun and his team.

God help us all.

by BusyBeingAwesome on May 10, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I look back and love all the games with Delhomme and Smitty

Those two really made Panther football fun to watch. With Delhomme gone and Smitty demanding a trade. Not to mention Hoov, Moose, and Peppers all gone away, it just doesn’t seem the same. I am and always will be a Panther fan but I just can’t help but look back at those times as the Good Ol’ Days. The Cardiac Cats, The Good Jake Bad Jake games, The unlikely playoff runs, the constant disrespect from the experts just so we could shove it down their throats. I miss all those times and wish for them back all the time.

But, Now I look froward to Cam and the boys bringing a ton of Good New Days. But they will have a hard time filling the shoes of the guys that came before.

IT AIN'T SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT BUT THE SIZE OF THE FIGHT IN THE DOG

by BlackCatFan on May 10, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

Granted

The new blood of the franchise will have very big shoes to fill. However, it is interesting to note that the same experts are already writing them off so in time we can once again shove it down their collective throats. I miss the old teams with the established veterans of Jake, Moose, Hoov and Pep but even last year, despite the 2-14 record, I felt they had a talented roster of young players. I really feel there are good things yet to come for the Carolina area.

by Disciple of Carolina on May 10, 2011 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

To everyone who offered their comments and opinions about the greatest moments of the franchise. I’m hoping that over the next 15 years there are more great moments to talk about that not only involve game changing plays but many divisional and conference titles to include a Super Bowl championship or two.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained...sometimes you have to go against the grain.

by Disciple of Carolina on May 15, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions