Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Often condensed as the team Bucs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the professional football teams in America that is based in the city of Tampa, Florida. Currently, they serve as a southern division member of the NFC or National Football Conference in the league of national football.
The Bucs, together with the team Seattle Seahawks became NFL members in 1976 as expansion teams. Malcolm Glazer currently owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Jon Gruden serves as the head coach of the team.
When this franchise joined the league in the year 1976, the Pewter Pirates, as what they are also known for, lost 26 games. They had their brief winning moment during the late 70’s and early 80’s era yet after which, they experienced fourteen successive losing seasons.
Starting from 1996 up to 2005, the team revived and became a consistent playoff nominee where they bagged during the Super Bowl XXXVII during the 2002 season’s end. This was the period when they had their first appearance in the Super Bowl.
The team’s owner Malcolm Glazer also owns Mancherster United, the richest sports squad in the world. Manchester United is a famous football league based in England.
In 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became an NFL member. A year after, they were relocated to NFC central and the other teams belonging to the expansion squad, which is the Seattle Seahawks, swapped conferences with the team, Tampa Bay. Then, they joined the league of AFC West. This repositioning was ordered by the confederation being part of the 1976 expansion scheme. This was also done for both football team to play twice and once in every NFL franchise competition.
The early success of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began in 1979 up to 1982. There was a rapid improvement seen. For the team’s record, they won one league championship title, one super bowl championship title and one conference championship. They also bagged five division championships.
To cater the practice facilities of the team, they created a practice complex, enough for their needs. It was located near the international airport of Tampa and it was named One Buccaneer Place. While other teams of the NFL had their facilities upgrade, the Bucs coaches and players escalated their complaint regarding the cramped office, aircrat noise, run-down condition of the place and small lockers.
From 1976 to 1997, they hold their home games at Tampa Stadium and currently, Raymond James Stadium is their arena.
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo and uniforms, the team had their first team colors white, orange, green and red. Because the green color was closed to what the Miami Dolphins is using, they changed it. Orange was the substitute. The logo of the Bucs has a nickname, Skulls and Swords, on top of its script. It is also being attached to the team’s helmets.
The uniforms of the team were revamped in 1997. It included a mix of white or red jerseys and white or pewter pants. When 2003 came, the team launched their practice jersey featuring an orange piping. In the year 2004, pewter jerseys were used, having numerals in a falcon font. From that changes made in the year 1997, the team has never sported their old uniforms.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team also created their cheerleading squad. These Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders, which were renamed from Swash-Buc-Lers, grace the arena before any competitions start, joined by the Bucs.
Meanwhile, the present flagship radio station of the team includes WDAE 620 AM and WFUS 103.5 FM. Since 1989, Gene Deckerhoff has been the announcer. Deckerhoff, with Dave Moore are the analysts for season 2007.
The devotees of the team are also joined by the Bucs’ mascot, Captain Fear.