People love football; probably more than I give them credit for.
Football season hasn’t officially begun, but how can I say that after attending the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s training camp? There was even an appearance by King Buc himself. You know it’s football season when the King arrives.
Fans came in droves to the training grounds of the Bucs, but they weren’t there to watch them play, they were there to watch them practice. It’s a surefire way to catch a glimpse of what the season has in store, but for these football-starved fans, it’s their time to come out of hibernation.
There’s no opposing teams and no referees, but what the training camp does not lack is competition.
The goal of camp is not only to get ready for the season, but to see who will even be playing on the team. It’s competition against themselves and against teammates. Coach Dirk Koetter said it himself.
“We’re evaluating players. Some of these guys get buried down in the depth charts,” Koetter said.
Fans are there to do the same and to maybe sneak a peak of their favorite superstars.
The gloomy weather held off just long enough to finish the day of training. Fans packed in the temporary bleachers set up around the training fields by the team and took in the sights while the men tried to prove themselves to their coach. And the fans got what they came for.
Drills to simulate games were showcased on the field, displaying big plays and even bigger defensive stops. Coach Koetter praised the defense after practice saying they “kicked butt”, but saw little offensive success. Well, Koetter, I know you’re new here, but welcome to the Bucs.
The competition shone brightly in between football drills. A fight amongst several players broke out during the morning workout that only highlighted the importance of making the team.
But the mood remained positive. Golf carts were scattered throughout the fields topped with PA speakers that blasted everyone’s favorite hits from the 70s and 80s. And there as even a “kid’s zone” where kids could try their hand in some football drills. Made me jealous considering I almost wasn’t granted media access after asking to join in the Bucs' training. Lucky little kids….
But I made it, and saw fans enjoy some of the most intimate moments of football. The up-close and personal aspect of the training camp has got to be the biggest reasons fans come out to watch. Nowhere else will you be able to see your football heroes in such close proximity. It makes them more human for the fans, who start calling at the players by their first names, knowing their tendencies, and watch them make mistakes they learn from in practice.
Practice makes perfect, right?
The real feast doesn’t begin until the Bucs' first home game of the regular season on September 25. In the meantime, the Bucs' faithful will have to get what they can. Training camp and preseason games it will be — just little snacks before the main course.
This article appears in Aug 25 – Sep 1, 2016.