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EspañolTAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The 'Tampa Bay Buccaneers' (often shortened as the 'Bucs') are a
professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The team, along with the Seattle Seahawks, joined the NFL as 1976 expansion teams. The club is currently owned by Malcolm Glazer and coached by head coach Jon Gruden.
When the franchise entered the league in 1976, the Buccaneers lost their first 26 games. After a brief winning era in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the team suffered through fourteen consecutive losing seasons. From 1996 until 2005 they were consistent playoff contenders, and won Super Bowl XXXVII at the end of the 2002 season which, to this date, has been their only Super Bowl appearance.
The Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer is also the owner of the world's richest sports club, Manchester United, a football team in England.
Franchise history
Main articles: History of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers seasons
John McKay and hardships (1976-1978)
The Buccaneers joined the NFL as members of the AFC West in 1976. The following year, they were moved to the NFC Central, while the other 1976 expansion team, the Seattle Seahawks, switched conferences with Tampa Bay and joined the AFC West. This realignment was dictated by the league as part of the 1976 expansion plan, so that both teams could play each other twice and every other NFL franchise once during their first two seasons.
The Tampa Bay expansion franchise was originally awarded to Ted McCloskey, a construction company owner from Philadelphia. It soon became apparent that McCloskey had financial problems, so the NFL found a replacement in Hugh Culverhouse, a wealthy tax attorney from Jacksonville well known in NFL circles for brokering an unprecedented franchise swap between the Baltimore Colts and Los Angeles Rams. A name-the-team contest resulted in the nickname "Buccaneers", in honor of the yearly Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa. The team's first home was Tampa Stadium, which had recently been expanded to seat just over 72,000 fans.
Tampa Bay started the first two seasons winless with an overall 0-26 record before finally winning its first game in 1977 on the road against the New Orleans Saints. Saints Head Coach Hank Stram was fired after losing to the Buccaneers, but Tampa Bay went out the next week and won their first home game over the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1977 season finale.
Early success (1979-1982)
The Bucs' situation improved rapidly in 1979. With the maturation of quarterback Doug Williams, the first 1,000-yard rushing season from running back Ricky Bell, and a smothering, league-leading defense led by future NFL Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon, the Bucs kicked off the season with five consecutive victories, a stunning performance that landed them on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated.'' [1]
With four games left in the season, the Bucs needed to win only one of them to make the playoffs. In the first, STP was put all over the goal posts in Tampa to prevent the goalposts from being ripped down in the event of a celebration. Four blocked kicks later, the Bucs wasted the oily substance, falling to the Minnesota Vikings 23-22. STP was wasted again the following week as the Bucs were shut out 14-0 by the Chicago Bears, and in OJ Simpson's final home game in San Francisco, Tampa lost its third straight attempt to clinch a division title against a 49ers team which came in with a 1-13 record. Clinch they did, however, in their final contest at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, which was played in the worst downpour in Bucs history. Finishing with a 10-6 record, the Bucs had their first winning season in franchise history, and also won the Central Division in a tiebreaker over the Chicago Bears. In an upset, the Bucs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-17 in the divisional round of the playoffs[2]. Because the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the other NFC playoff game, the Bucs hosted the NFC Championship Game the following week in Tampa. The Bucs lost to the Rams 9-0, thanks to great defense by the Rams. In only their fourth season, the Bucs seemed on the verge of fulfilling McKay's five-year plan.
The Bucs made the playoffs again by winning their division in the 1981 season and entering the first round during the strike-shortened 1982 season. The 1981 season came down to a thrilling final game at Detroit. The winner would take the Central Division crown and the loser would miss the playoffs. The Lions had not lost at home all season. Although the Bucs trailed early, an 84-yard touchdown bomb from QB Williams to WR Kevin House and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by LB David Logan sealed the shocking win for the Bucs. The Dallas Cowboys rewarded the Bucs' efforts with a 38-0 blowout in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The 1982 season started just as poorly for the Bucs, as they went 0-3 before a player's strike shut down the NFL for seven weeks. When the league resumed play, the Bucs were nicknamed the "Cardiac Kids" for winning five of their next six games all in the final moments to go 5-4 and qualify for the expanded playoff slate. In the first round, the Bucs once again faced the Cowboys at home in Dallas, but the Bucs put up a much better fight, leading the game at the half. Tampa Bay lost 30-17.
1982 would be the last winning regular season under Culverhouse's ownership. Prior to the 1983 season, The Bucs lost Doug Williams to the United States Football League (USFL) and immediately bottomed out at 2-14, starting a string of 14 consecutive losing seasons (the first 13 of which they suffered at least 10 losses). Included in their misery was the drafting of Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson with the first pick in the 1986 draft. Jackson never suited up for the Bucs, instead deciding to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals. Jackson would later return for parts of football seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders.
New ownership, Tony Dungy, and a return to contention (1996-2001)
Despite the profitability of the Buccaneers in the 1980s, Culverhouse's death revealed a team close to bankruptcy, which surprised many observers. His son, Miami attorney Hugh Culverhouse, Jr., practically forced the trustees of his father's estate to sell the team, which cast doubt on the future of the franchise in Tampa. Interested parties included New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, the latter of whom publicly declared he would move the team to Baltimore, as the city did not have an NFL franchise at that time. However, in a last-minute surprise, Malcolm Glazer outbid both of them for $192 million, the highest sale price for a professional sports franchise up to that point. Glazer immediately placed his sons Bryan, Edward, and Joel in charge of the team's financial affairs, and the family's deep pockets and serious commitment to fielding a winning team--in Tampa--allowed the Bucs to finally become competitive. The team's performance dramatically improved when the Glazers hired Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Tony Dungy as head coach, jettisoned the old uniform designs (see below), and convinced Hillsborough County voters to raise sales taxes to partially fund the construction of Raymond James Stadium.
During Dungy's first season in 1996, the team continued to struggle, starting the season 1-8. But in the second half of the season they finished 5-2, primarily due to the performance of a defense ranked seventh in the NFL led by Hardy Nickerson and the maturing of Wyche's draftees Brooks, Lynch, and Sapp. Dungy, a devout Christian with an even-tempered personality, quickly brought balance and morale to the team, and his Cover 2 defensive scheme, sharpened to perfection by defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, became the foundation for Tampa Bay's future success, not to mention a blueprint copied by other teams in the NFL, including the Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Rams.
The 1997 season: Back to the playoffs
Everything finally came together in 1997 . The team started the season 5-0, picking up where they left off the previous year, and this quick start once again landed them on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated''--not once, but twice. [3][4] The Bucs went 10-6 for their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1982, as a wild-card team. In the Bucs' final home game at Houlihan's Stadium (formerly Tampa Stadium), the team defeated the Detroit Lions 20-10. They lost at Lambeau Field to the eventual NFC Champion Green Bay Packers 21-7. Still, there was reason for optimism, and the expectations were high for the following season.
The 1998 season, the first to be played in the newly constructed Raymond James Stadium, saw the Bucs lose several close games en route to a disappointing 8-8 record. The 1999 season brought much better fortune. On the strength of the NFL's number one overall defense and a surprising performance by rookie QB Shaun King, the Bucs finished the season with an 11-5 record and won their third NFC Central Division Championship. They edged the Washington Redskins 14-13 in the Divisional round, before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams in an unusually low-scoring NFC Championship Game, 11-6. The Bucs' loss was controversial, highlighted by the unusual reversal of a pass from King to WR Bert Emanuel, which ended the Bucs' chances at continuing their last-minute drive for a possible win. In league meetings later that year, NFL later changed the rules regarding what constituted an incomplete pass, which was considered a backhanded admission that the reversal was incorrect.
Offensive woes
In spite of Dungy's success at coaching Tampa Bay into a winner, one of the consistent criticisms from the media and from fans--and later, from players including Warren Sapp--was that the defense was expected to shoulder too much of the responsibility for winning games. Beyond fullback Mike Alstott and running back Warrick Dunn--who served as a one-two punch ground attack--and wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, the team was otherwise underwhelming on offense. Despite the ongoing criticism, Dungy remained staunchly loyal to his coaching staff, but at the conclusion of the 1999 season, general manager Rich McKay forced Dungy to fire offensive coordinator Mike Shula. He was replaced by former Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Les Steckel in 2000, and the result was the Bucs' highest-scoring season ever, another 10-6 record, and another trip to the playoffs as a wild card. Despite his transformation of the team's offense, Steckel's drill sergeant approach to coaching (he was a colonel in the Marines) was a poor fit for the franchise. He was fired at the end of the season, after the Bucs lost 21-3 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rather than choose from the pool of strong offensive coordinators available at the end of the 2000 campaign (including former Redskins coach Norv Turner), Dungy decided to elevate his receivers coach Clyde Christiensen to the position. It can be argued that this controversial decision was the final nail in the coffin for Dungy's tenure. Although the team achieved a 9-7 winning record in 2001, they barely made it into the playoffs as the lowest-seeded wild card. To add insult to injury, the Bucs were once again blown out by the Eagles--this time, 31-9.
Frustrated with the team's inability to reach the Super Bowl despite a league-dominating defense, Malcolm Glazer fired Dungy the following day--a decision that created more controversy among devoted players and fans. Despite whatever weaknesses that may have been ascribed to him, Dungy was highly respected around the league as a man of solid character and a coach to whom players were fiercely loyal. Dungy went on to coach the Colts to the Super Bowl XLI championship against the Chicago Bears, in the process becoming the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl.
Jon Gruden, the Super Bowl, and beyond (2002-present)
Dungy was soon hired as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, while the Bucs mounted a prolonged and much-maligned search for his replacement. Several potential candidates were offered the job, including University of Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells, and Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Spurrier jumped to the Redskins when he was offered the most lucrative salary package ever offered to an NFL head coach, and Parcells eventually passed on the Bucs' offer--the second time he had done so in the history of the franchise. Bucs general manager Rich McKay threw his support behind Lewis. The Glazer brothers were so displeased with the selection of yet another defensive-minded coach that they overruled McKay and took control of the candidate search themselves. They made it clear that their top choice was Jon Gruden. The problem was that he was still under contract to the Oakland Raiders.
While talks with the Raiders were secretly under way, the Glazers publicly pursued another respected offensive mind, San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci. Just when initial reports indicated that Mariucci had agreed to become both the Bucs' head coach and their general manager, Raiders owner Al Davis agreed to release Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay.
The Glazers' shrewd move eventually paid off in acquiring Gruden, but it cost the team dearly. The team hired Gruden away from the Raiders on February 20, 2002, but the price was four draft picks, including the Bucs' first and second round picks in 2002, their first round pick in 2003, and their second round selection in 2004, along with $8 million in cash; the league as a result prohibited any further trading of draft picks for coaches. Gruden, who was frustrated by the limitation of his coaching authority by Davis, was more than pleased to return to Tampa Bay, as his parents lived nearby, and he had spent part of his childhood in Tampa in the early 1980s when his father had worked as a Bucs running back coach and director of player personnel.
Recent seasons
Main articles: Tampa Bay Buccaneers seasons
===2002: Super Bowl champions===
Upon his arrival in Tampa, Gruden immediately went to work, retooling a sluggish offense. The league's sweeping realignment sent the Bucs to the new NFC South Division, along with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.
Led by the league's top defense, the 2002 campaign was the Buccaneers' most successful season to date. They won the NFC South title with the team's best ever record, 12-4, and went on to rout Gruden's former team, the Oakland Raiders, by a score of 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.
===2003: Front office tensions===
Soon after the Super Bowl victory, a growing number of press reports indicated Gruden's lack of patience with general manager McKay. McKay was a major architect of the Bucs rebuilding effort over the previous ten years, and he, like Gruden, had long-established ties to the Tampa Bay area. However, during the 2003 season, the Gruden-McKay relationship deteriorated as the Bucs struggled on the field. In November, Keyshawn Johnson was deactivated by the team ten games into the season for his conduct, which included sideline arguments with Bucs coaches and players. Johnson was eventually traded to the Dallas Cowboys for wide receiver Joey Galloway.
In December, the Glazers allowed McKay to leave the Bucs before the end of the regular season, and he promptly joined the Falcons as president and general manager. Thus, McKay watched his first game as a Falcons executive sitting next to owner Arthur Blank in a Raymond James Stadium skybox. The Falcons defeated the Bucs 30-28. Despite opening the season with a Monday night win over the Eagles in Philadelphia's new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, the Bucs finished the season 7-9. Combined with the Raiders' dismal 4-12 performance, neither Super Bowl team reached the playoffs that year.
===2004===
For 2004, Bruce Allen was hired as general manager. After Allen's arrival, both John Lynch and Warren Sapp were released, stunning many Bucs fans. The distracted Bucs began the 2004 season with a 1-5 record, their worst start since under Gruden. The fading accuracy of kicker Martin Gramatica did not help matters, as the team lost many close games en route to a 5-11 record.
===2005: Another division crown===
The replay of the controversial 2-Point Conversion was deemed inconclusive. This proved to be the turning point of their season.
In the 2005 season, the Buccaneers celebrated their 30th season in the league, and returned to their winning ways. The Bucs selected Carnell "Cadillac" Williams in the first round of the 2005 draft, and the rookie would provide a running game the Buccaneers had not possessed since the days of James Wilder in the 1980s.
After starting 5-1, the team entered a mid-season midseason slump hampered by a season-ending injury to starting QB Brian Griese. Replacement starter Chris Simms struggled early, but came into his own leading to the team to a last-minute win over the Redskins. The Bucs won the NFC South Division finishing 11-5. The season ended abruptly, however, with a 17-10 loss in the Wild Card round, in a rematch with the Redskins.
===2006===
After winning the division in 2005, the Bucs suffered through an abysmal 2006 season. The season was plagued by injuries, with starters such as G Dan Buenning, WR Michael Clayton, RB Carnell Williams, DE Simeon Rice, CB Brian Kelly, and QB Chris Simms all being placed on injured reserve at some point in the season. The season also saw a lot of rookies starting for the Bucs, such as QB Bruce Gradkowski, T Jeremy Trueblood, and G Davin Joseph.
The Bucs started off the season 0-3, with QB Chris Simms throwing only 1 touchdown to 7 interceptions. In the third game of the season, a last-minute loss to the Panthers, Simms's spleen was ruptured, and he was placed on injured reserve for the balance of the season. After their bye week, the Bucs elected to start rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, a 6th-round pick from Toledo. After nearly beating the Saints, Gradkowski lead the team to last-minute wins over the Bengals and Eagles. The success was short-lived, however, and the Bucs lost five of the next six games. Tim Rattay replaced Gradkowski as quartback late in the season, and the team finished 4-12. The overall defense was ranked in the low 20's, the first time time a Tampa defense was not ranked in the top ten since 1996.
===2007===
After a disappointing 4-12 effort in 2006, the Bucs for the first time in a long time had money to spend in free agency. They brought in quarterback Jeff Garcia, offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, defensive end Kevin Carter, and linebacker Cato June. On the first day of free agency in March, the Bucs made a trade with the Denver Broncos to send a conditional draft pick for veteran quarterback Jake Plummer; Plummer told reporters that he would retire instead of playing in Tampa Bay. To this day Plummer has yet to send in retirement papers to the NFL, meaning he is still on the Bucs' roster. At the start of training camp, Plummer was placed on the team's Reserve/Did Not Report list. On April 28, the Buccaneers drafted Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams with the 4th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. After the draft the Buccaneers picked up tight end Jerramy Stevens and defensive tackle Ryan Sims. Before training camp, defensive end Simeon Rice was cut due to injury problems and Rice not wanting to take a pay cut.
Team facilities
In 1975, the Buccaneers built a small practice complex with offices near Tampa International Airport called One Buccaneer Place. As other NFL teams upgraded their facilities, Bucs players and coaches stepped up their complaints about the aircraft noise, cramped offices, small locker rooms and run-down condition of One Buc Place. Even head coach Jon Gruden has sarcastically referred to the facility as "The Woodshed." For much of the team's existence, the Bucs held training camp on the University of Tampa campus. However, since 2002, the team has held training camp in Orlando at the expansive and better-equipped Disney's Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World.
In August 2006, the Bucs unveiled their new training facility, which had been under construction for the better part of a year. Conveniently located across the street from Raymond James Stadium on the former site of Tampa Bay Center, a large mall that the Glazers purchased in 2002 and later demolished in 2005, this state-of-the-art complex is now the largest for any team in the NFL. Featuring expansive new offices and meeting rooms, two natural grass practice fields, a theatre designed for both team meetings and press conferences, an expanded weight training room, a giant kitchen, a rehabilitation center with three separate pools and a locker room twice the size of the existing one at One Buc Place, the Glazers told building contractors that "money was no object" in the construction of the facility[5]. To that end, plasma televisions are featured throughout--primarily in the offices of the coaching staff--and head coach Jon Gruden's corner office even features a shower with a view of the practice fields. The building is capped off with a giant five-story glass and steel football as a key design element. A third practice field, featuring artificial turf, will be added in the future.
Practices at the currently-unnamed facility will remain closed to the public, although the existing mall parking on the west side of the property is still available for use on game days. The facility is still referred to as ''One Buc Place''.
Logo and uniforms
Bucs logo (1976-1996)
Bucs logo (1997-current), nicknamed "Skulls and Swords" above script
Bucs helmet logo (1997-current), nicknamed "Skulls and Swords"
Bucs alternate logo (1997-current), with "Skulls and Swords" aboard pirate ship
When the team began play in 1976, Culverhouse initially picked team colors of red, green, orange and white. However, the shade of green was too close to that used by the Miami Dolphins. A medium shade of "Creamsicle" orange was substituted for green, resulting in the garish uniforms that were often the butt of jokes throughout the league, even during brief glory years. Home uniforms included orange jerseys with white numbers outlined in red. Road white jerseys originally had orange numbers outlined in red, but these colors were reversed for year two and beyond. The color swap to red numbers with orange trim gave better visibility.
Long-time Tampa Tribune cartoonist Lamar Sparkman designed the first team logo. Faced with the difficulty of designing a logo that didn't look too much like that of the other "pirates" in the league, the Oakland Raiders, Sparkman came up with a pirate in a plumed hat and a cutlass in his mouth. The pirate appeared to be winking. He came to be known as "Buccaneer Bruce" or "Bucco Bruce". Sports writer/commentator Nick Bakay once noted it "struck fear in the hearts of no one."
In 1992, the Bucs introduced orange pants to be worn with the white jerseys. Prior to the team's season finale in 1995 against the Detroit Lions, lame-duck coach Sam Wyche suggested that the Bucs wear the orange pants with their orange jerseys, but the idea was vetoed by, among others, Pro Bowl linebacker Hardy Nickerson.
For the 1997 season, the Glazers worked with the NFL to develop a more marketable and intimidating look in order to improve the team's image, and success on the field coincidentally followed this change. The Bucs changed their team colors to red, pewter, black and orange. "Bucco Bruce" was replaced by a red flag displaying a white pirate skull and crossed sabres which is a modified Jolly Roger. The flag was mounted on another sabre. The "Buccaneers" team name was written in a new font, ''Totally Gothic'', and was either red with shadows of gray, or red and white. Orange was used on the uniform to maintain a visual link to the old logo. The football in the new logo is orange, and orange stripes appear on the pants and numerals. Chris Berman nicknamed them "the pirates in pewter pants", a play on the Gilbert and Sullivan opera ''The Pirates of Penzance''. The Bucs planned to stage a ceremony in which Bucco Bruce was to walk the plank of a pirate ship in Tampa Bay, but he was pardoned at the last minute by Governor Lawton Chiles.
The team's uniform was also redesigned in 1997 to include a combination of either red or white jerseys, and either pewter or white pants. In 2003, the Bucs introduced a practice jersey that featured orange piping. In 2004, a pewter practice jersey was used, with numerals in the romulan falcon font. Since the change in 1997, the Buccaneers have never worn the old uniform again, even during league-sponsored "throwback" weekends.
The Bucs sometimes wore their red jerseys and white jerseys with white pants. Although they still occasionally wear them with the white jerseys, the red-white look has not appeared since 2002.
Like many other NFL teams located in subtropical climates, the Bucs traditionally wear their white jerseys at home during the first half of the season — forcing opponents to suffer in the darker colors during the hot summers and autumns in Tampa. Additionally, the visitors' bench of Raymond James Stadium is located on the east side of the stadium, which is in direct sunlight for 1:00 games. The west sideline is in the shade.
The Bucs' 1997 uniform change prompted a 2003 lawsuit by the Raiders, who claimed that the NFL and the Buccaneers had infringed upon key trademark elements of the Raiders' brand, including the Raiders' pirate logo. In the same suit, the Raiders challenged the Carolina Panthers' color scheme, which included silver and black. The Raiders wanted the courts to bar the Buccaneers and Panthers from wearing their uniforms while playing in California. However, since the lawsuit was filed in a state California court, the lawsuit was tossed out because only federal courts have jurisdiction on intellectual property issues[6]. The Raiders have yet to appeal the ruling.
Facts and records
Losing streaks
The 1976 Buccaneers lost all 14 games during the regular season. They stand as the only NFL team in the modern era to experience a winless regular season. In 1978, the season expanded to 16 games, however, no team has managed to finish 0-16. The Baltimore Colts went 0-8-1 in the strike-shortened 1982 season. A twenty-game road losing streak against AFC teams finally ended with a 17-10 victory over the Denver Broncos on December 26, 1993. In 1980 (against the Bengals at Riverfront Stadium), the Buccaneers began a 27-game losing steak of games played outdoors on AstroTurf. It was not broken until 1995 when the team defeated the Eagles at Veterans Stadium. From their inception, they lost 20 consecutive games in which the temperature at kickoff was below 40°F (4°C). The streak was ended in the final week of the 2002 regular season, when they beat the Bears at Champaign. The only dubious streak which remains as of 2006 is the fact that the Buccaneers are the only team in the NFL without a kickoff return for a touchdown. Before the start of the 2007 football season, the number of regular season kickoff returns stood at 1,851. The Buccaneers have scored touchdowns on five kickoff returns during preseason games, however.
Records
★ Matt Bryant's 62-yard, game-winning field goal against the Eagles in 2006 tied him for the third-longest field goal in NFL history. It also marked the second-longest game-winning field goal in NFL history.
★ The Buccaneers are the first post-merger expansion team to win a division title, win a playoff game, and to host and play in a conference championship game. This was accomplished during the 1979 season.
★ The Buccaneers are the first expansion team created since the AFL-NFL Merger to win a Super Bowl.
Distinctions
★ The Buccaneers are the first team to win a Super Bowl in each of the following circumstances:
★
★ after having lost at home on opening day (the Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints in overtime)
★
★ after having gained less than 100 yards rushing per game during the regular season
★
★ after having been eliminated in the wild-card round of the prior season's playoffs
★
★ having three interceptions returned for touchdowns
★ The Buccaneers are the only team in the NFC South to have won a Super Bowl.
★ Due to the long-term success of the Buccaneers in running the Cover 2 defense, it has become well known as the "Tampa 2".
★ The Buccaneers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in both the final pro-football game played at Veterans Stadium, the Eagles' old facility, as well as the first regular season NFL game played in the Eagles' new facility, Lincoln Financial Field. The former was accomplished in the 2002 NFC Championship Game and the latter on the first MNF game of the 2003 season. Coincidentally, both games were won by 17 points.
★ No team that has lost to the Buccaneers during the regular season has gone on to win the Super Bowl, often referred to as the Tampa Bay Curse.
★ As of January 23, 2007, four members from Tony Dungy's coaching staff are head coaches of other NFL teams:[7]
★
★ Herman Edwards for the Kansas City Chiefs (Assistant head coach under Dungy at Tampa Bay)
★
★ Lovie Smith for the Chicago Bears (Linebackers coach under Dungy at Tampa Bay)
★
★ Rod Marinelli for the Detroit Lions (Defensive line coach under Dungy at Tampa Bay)
★
★ Mike Tomlin for the Pittsburgh Steelers (Defensive backs coach under Dungy at Tampa Bay)
Players of note
Current roster
Pro Football Hall of Famers
★ 63 Lee Roy Selmon DE
Retired numbers
★ 63 Lee Roy Selmon, DE
Other notable alumni
All-time first-round draft picks
Main articles: List of Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round draft picks
Coaches of note
Head coaches
| Coach | Years | W-L |
|---|---|---|
| John McKay | (1976-1984) | 45-91-1 |
| Leeman Bennett | (1985-1986) | 4-28 |
| Ray Perkins | (1987-1990) | 19-41 |
| Richard Williamson | (1990-1991) | 4-15 |
| Sam Wyche | (1992-1995) | 23-41 |
| Tony Dungy | (1996-2001) | 56-46 |
| Jon Gruden | (2002-current) | 42-42 |
Current staff
Cheerleaders
★ The Bucs created an official cheerleading squad in their first season, called the "Swash-Buc-Lers." In 1999, they were renamed as the "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders." [8]
Radio and television
The Buccaneers' current flagship radio stations are WFUS 103.5 FM and WDAE 620 AM. The play-by-play announcer since 1989 has been Gene Deckerhoff. Former Bucs tight end Dave Moore joined Deckerhoff as analyst for the 2007 season. T. J. Rives works as the sideline reporter.
Broadcast legend and former Green Bay Packers' announcer Ray Scott was the play-by-play man for the Bucs' inaguaral season of 1976, and from 1977 to 1988 Mark Champion, who is now the voice of the Detroit Lions, held that poasition with the Bucs.
Former Buccaneer Hardy Nickerson served as color commentator for one season in 2006, until he signed with the Bears as a linebackers coach on February 23, 2007. Nickerson had replaced Scot Brantley, who was the commentator from 1999 through 2005. Jesse Ventura, the famous professional wrestler, actor, and former governor of Minnesota, was Deckerhoff's partner on the Bucs radio broadcasts for one year, 1990, and former Buc David Logan held that position after Ventura until his death after the 1998 season. Dave Kocerek and Fran Curci were also color commentors for the Buccaneers during their earlier years.
Ronnie Lane previously worked as a sideline reporter[9].
The Bucs have broadcast on FM radio since signing with Top 40 station WRBQ in 1992. The team moved to WQYK, in 1994, then to WFUS in 2004.
While regular season and post-season games in the NFL are all broadcast by national television contracts on CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network, the television broadcasts are for the most part handled by the individual teams. Preseason games not picked up for national broadcast are seen on WFLA Channel 8, where they have been televised since 2003. WFTV Channel 9 simulcasts the broadcast in the Orlando area. Chris Myers is the play-by-play announcer with Charles Davis as color commentator. Both Myers and Davis work nationally with FOX Sports. Ron Jaworski previously served as color commentator, until he signed with ''MNF'' for 2007.
WTOG-TV Channel 44 was the previous home to Buccaneer preseason games for many years, ending in 2002. Former CBS play-by-play and ESPN golf broadcaster Jim Kelly was the play-by-play announcer for many of those games in the 1980s, and Joe Namath was a commentator. In the early years of the franchise, WTVT-13, then a CBS affiliate, broadcast some Buccaneer preseason games. Sports anchor Andy Hardy handled the play-by-play, and for one game in 1978, his broadcast partner was his friend, Florida State alumni and movie actor Burt Reynolds.
Notes and references
1. [1]
2. [2]
3. [3]
4. [4]
5. [5]
6. [6]
7. Tony Dungy's Family Tree Roy Cummings
8. [7]
9. [8]
External links
★ www.buccaneers.com Tampa Bay Buccaneers official web site
★ Buccaneers team history page Pro Football Hall of Fame
★ 1976 NFL expansion history page Pro Football Hall of Fame
★ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Historical Moments" E-Cyclopedia.com
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