Our Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fan Guide covers a wide variety of topics including history, famous rivalries, talking points for the season, fantasy football names, and this year’s schedule.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fan Guide
In 1976, the NFL expanded to 28 teams, adding the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While this should have been an exciting time, things along the Gulf Coast of Florida weren’t so great. The Buccaneers lost their first 26 games over two seasons.
The Bucs suffered through 14-consecutive losing seasons from 1983 to 1996 and have only 11 winning seasons in 44 years. They won their lone Super Bowl appearance (SB XXXVII in 2002) but have since slid back into their losing ways, having missed the playoffs for 10-straight seasons.
The best stretch of success in franchise history came in the late 90s with the arrival of Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy and the development of the “Tampa 2” defensive system under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and linebackers coach Lovie Smith.
The emergence of defensive stalwarts Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks carried the team to a Super Bowl title in 2002. Enjoy our Buccaneers Fan Guide.
Top Traditions
Touchdown Cannon
The Bucs have a replica pirate ship behind the north end zone at Raymond James Stadium. This pirate ship comes complete with a replica cannon that gets fired at the start of the game, every time the team enters their opponents’ red zone, and once for every point the team scores.
Yo Ho (A Pirates’ Life for Me)
Appropriated from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the song plays at various times throughout a home game and signals to the patrons abroad the ship to toss various prizes into the crowd below. This segment is known by most fans as a “Mini Gasparilla.”
The One Bucs Cheer You need to Know
While some fans will sing along with the Disney song during a Mini Gasparilla, the real cheer you need to know when attending a game at Raymond James Stadium (aka the Ray-Jay) is the “Tampa…Bay” cheer. Before the kickoff of each home game, the stadium is bisected by fans. One side screams “Tampa” before the other side responds with “Bay.”
What to Order at a Bucs’ Game
You’ll find plenty of the classic stadium fare at the Ray-Jay, like burgers, dogs, nachos, etc. But you should forego all those and make your way over to one of the “Taste of Tampa” locations spread throughout the main concourse. There, you can order a Classic Cuban Sandwich with a side of Yuca fries that come with their signature “Boom” sauce. You won’t be disappointed.
You should also make your way over to the newly renovated portion of the stadium known as the East Stadium Club. It features an 8,000-square foot bar and restaurant, with over 35 beers on tap, including local craft brews that incorporate the flavors of Tampa Bay.
Best Bucs Twitter Accounts to Follow
Joe Bucs Fan: news and analysis
Best Tampa Bay Rivalries
Bucs vs Saints – These two teams have been in the same division since the NFL’s realignment in 2002. In the 51 all-time meetings, New Orleans holds a 32-19 advantage.
The biggest moment for the Bucs in this rivalry was in 1977 when Tampa Bay registered its first franchise win ever by beating the Saints in New Orleans 33-14, snapping a 26-game losing streak. Then Saints quarterback Archie Manning said it would be a “disgrace” to lose to the winless Bucs, but they did.
Bucs vs Panthers – Although there have only been 35 meetings between these two teams, it’s hard to find a more heated rivalry out there. Carolina holds 22-13 advantage, but what characterizes this rivalry is its physicality.
Chris Simms ruptured his spleen in 2006, and Kavika Pittman suffered a career-ending knee injury in 2010. There have been plenty of fisticuffs over the years, including in 2005, when a pair of Panthers cheerleaders were arrested at a Tampa-area bar.
Bucs vs. Packers – In what was once dubbed “The Bay of Pigs” by former ESPN personality Chris Berman, the Bucs and Packers rivalry goes back to the old NFC Central division. What characterized this rivalry the most was watching Warren Sapp chasing down Brett Farve in the 90s. Green Bay leads this rivalry 33-21-1.
Best Buccaneers Jerseys of All-time
55 Derrick Brooks, linebacker
99 Warren Sapp, defensive tackle
63 Lee Roy Selmon, defensive end
Talking Points
Can the Bucs snap a 10-year playoff drought? Losing has been the hallmark of this franchise, but things were supposed to be looking up. Many of the Bucs were picked by many to end their playoff drought last season but ended the season 5-11 instead. They missed out on the playoffs in 2016 because of a tiebreaker.
How will the new defensive front perform? – The Bucs went all-in on the defensive line this offseason. They acquired Jason Pierre-Paul, a local product who attended the University of South Florida, and former Eagles defensive end, Vinny Curry. These two will be paired with dominant defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and rookie first-round pick Vita Vea. They should be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Will the Bucs regret passing on Derwin James? Tampa Bay had the opportunity to address a major need in the first round of this year’s NFL draft when safety Derwin James, from nearby Florida State University, dropped to No. 12. Instead of filling an obvious hole, the Bucs elected to choose defensive tackle Vita Vea instead. It was an interesting decision, considering the Bucs have allowed the most yards-per-game passing over the last two seasons.
About that Buccaneers Logo
The Buccaneers are among the few NFL franchises to dramatically reimagine their colors and logo. The franchise started in the late 70s with a “creamsicle” orange palette and a comical mustachioed pirate clenching a dagger between his teeth logo. These original uniforms symbolized the losing nature of the franchise through its first 20 years of existence.
In 1997, the Bucs redesigned their logo, uniforms, and colors to be more marketable with an intimidating look. They adopted pewter and black to pair with orange and red. They also dropped “Bucco Bruce,” the pirate, for a red wind-swept flag with a skull, cross sabers, and football. The Oakland Raiders tried to sue the Bucs in 2003 (a year after the Bucs dominated them in Super Bowl XXXVII) for copyright infringement, but the case was dismissed.
Names from Tampa Bay’s Past You Should Know
The Bucs have only a handful of names enshrined in Pro Football’s Hall of Fame, and of those, only three are typically associated with Tampa Bay. They do lay claim to Steve Young, who spent two seasons with the Bucs before trading Young to the 49ers. Young went 3-14 as a starter in Tampa Bay.
Lee Roy Selmon – The first dominant defender in franchise history, Selmon played his entire nine-year career with the Bucs. A six-time Pro Bowler, Selmon was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and was the first name enshrined in the Bucs’ Ring of Honor.
Derrick Brooks – The franchise’s turnout coincided with the drafting of Brooks, as well as safety John Lynch and defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Brooks played his college ball at nearby Florida State University and helped lead the franchise to its only Super Bowl championship. An eleven-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro, Brooks was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Hall of Fame Fantasy Football Team Names Video
Buc Stars
Warren Sapp – The other major piece of the “Tampa 2” defense was Warren Sapp, from the University of Miami. His 96.5 career sacks (100 with playoffs included) are the second-most sacks for a defensive tackle. His 77 sacks with the Bucs are the second-most in team history to Selmon (78.5). He was the second Buc to have his jersey retired and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Tony Dungy – Coach Dungy wasn’t around to see the Super Bowl victory in 2002, but he navigated the franchise from its hapless waters to winning in the late 90s. Dungy’s famous “Tampa 2” defense, created in part with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and linebacker coach Lovie Smith, revolutionized football in the late 90s and early 00s.
Buc Players to Watch Now
Jameis Winston – Everything for this franchise hinges on the play of Jameis Winston. Entering his fourth season, the questions about whether or not Winston is a franchise QB still pester the pewter pirates. He’ll need to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2017 season if the Bucs are going to snap their playoff drought.
Mike Evans – Entering his fifth season, Evans has proven to be one of the elite wideouts in the NFL. He’s already rewriting the Bucs record books for receivers and earned a big payday this offseason. Evans will need to continue to justify his worth now that he signed a 5-year $82.5 million contract back in March.
Gerald McCoy – The nine-year pro has been named to six consecutive Pro Bowls. He’s lining up this year with several new names along the defensive line, including fellow Pro Bowlers Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry. McCoy will mention the first-round pick Vita Vea from the defensive interior, and he should be able to lead a ferocious pass rush.
Tampa Bay’s Head Coach: Dirk Koetter
Dirk Koetter is entering his third year with the franchise and is looking for a bounce-back season in 2018. After missing out on the playoffs because of a tiebreaker, Koetter might see himself on the hot-seat if the Bucs’ playoff drought stretches into the 11th season. Koetter is 14-18 as head coach of the Bucs.
The Buccaneers Owner
The Glazer Family owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the patriarch Malcolm Glazer bought the club in 1995. Glazer ushered in the only winning stretch in the franchise’s history at that point, but he passed away in 2014. The Glazer Family also owns a controlling interest in Manchester United.
Fantasy Football Team Names for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As it is with most clubs, the best Buccaneers fantasy football names feature a play on words. Here are a few:
Almost Jameis.
Knockin’ on Evans Door.
Stairway to Evans.
Jameis’ Crab Shack.
Also, check out our Fantasy Football Team Names – Main Page.
Bucs Quotes
The best quotes in franchise history come from the team’s original coach, John McKay, who had to deal with 26 consecutive losses before notching his first win. Here are some of his classic lines:
“I think it’s a good idea.” – when asked about the Buccaneers’ execution
“Every time I look up, it seems we’re punting.” –on the early years of the team
“We didn’t tackle well today but we made up for it by not blocking.”
See other great football quotes.
Best Bucs Joke
Q: What’s the difference between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a dollar bill?
A: You can still get four quarters out of a dollar bill.
See more funny football jokes.
Bucs Newspapers
The Bucs are covered locally by the Tampa Bay Times. Top beat writers include Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD on Twitter) and Greg Auman (@gregauman). Online, the PewterReport.com covers the team with beat writer Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre).
2018-2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Schedule
Preseason Buccaneers Games
8/9 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins
8/18 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans
8/24 Detroit Lions at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
8/30 Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
Regular Season Buccaneers Games
September
9/9 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
9/16 Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
9/24 Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
9/30 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears
October
10/14 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
10/21 Cleveland Browns at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
10/28 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals
November
11/4 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
11/11 Washington Redskins at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
11/18 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants
11/25 San Francisco 49ers at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
December
12/2 Carolina Panthers at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
12/9 New Orleans Saints at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
12/16 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Baltimore Ravens
12/23 Tampa-Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
12/30 Atlanta Falcons at Tampa-Bay Buccaneers
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