TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

City By The Bay Hasn't Been Good Historically For Bucs

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

TAMPA - The record tells you just about everything you need to know. At 1-10 it is proof that trips to San Francisco to face the 49ers have seldom been enjoyable experiences for the Bucs.

Not even Coach Jon Gruden has found success in the City by the Bay.

His Bucs teams are 0-2 there.

Gruden says he has tried everything to break up the West Coast losing streak, from changing hotels to altering departure dates out of Tampa. Nothing has worked. History suggests nothing will.

No matter what it has been called, be it Candlestick Park, 3Com Park or Monster Park, the home of the 49ers has played host to not only a lot of losses but also some of the wackiest moments in Bucs history. In 1979, for example, a Bucs team looking to clinch its first-ever playoff berth lost to a then 1-13 49ers team, which inspired then Coach John McKay to quip: "We have now proven we can't win at home or on the road. What we would like is a neutral site."

In 1983, an allergic reaction forced Bucs LB Hugh Green to play the game with one eye swollen shut. Green still recorded 10 tackles, but with Joe Montana running the 49ers offense the Bucs wound up losing 35-21.

In 2003, the Bucs' meltdown following their 2002 Super Bowl run got into full swing when Gruden sarcastically asked WR Keyshawn Johnson near the end of a 24-7 pasting if he'd like to go in and pad his stats. Johnson responded by flying back to Tampa on his own, through Los Angeles. Gruden later responded back by deactivating Johnson for the rest of the season.

Finally, in 2005, DE Simeon Rice failed to show up for a Saturday night team meeting at the team hotel. When he showed up at the stadium the next day he was handed a plane ticket and told to go home. As it turns out, the Bucs could have used Rice. They lost that game 15-10.

One last thing about the Bucs games in San Francisco: In the 10 losses they've accumulated there they have never held a lead.

BODY WORKS: Bucs rookie S Tanard Jackson has played more football this year than ever before. The football he's played, meanwhile, has been some of the most physically taxing he's ever experienced.

As he prepares for the playoffs, though, Jackson says his body remains fresh and fit, in part because he decided weeks ago to start getting regular massages to help work the kinks out.

"Being in the new position I'm in at safety, I'm just not used to all the banging," the former Syracuse cornerback said. "It's really been different for me but the massages have definitely helped me out.

"I'm sure everyone who plays a lot of snaps gets them because it really helps. It's one of those things I've kind of learned from listening to the vets and what they do to keep their bodies right this time of year."

ERROR-FREE OBJECTIVE: Winning nine of their 14 games has allowed the Bucs to build a lot of confidence. It has also left the Bucs believing the only thing that can beat them is their own mistakes.

That at least is how FB B.J. Askew sees it. Askew suggested this week the Bucs are good enough to beat any team in the league, as long as they play error-free football.

"When we've lost this year, it's not because of what other teams have done to us," Askew said. "It's been silly mistakes on our part - not taking care of the football, penalties that stop drives, things like that.

"That's what has killed us at times, so if we really want to make it to the Super Bowl we all have to look at ourselves and say, 'I'm not going to be the guy that makes that mistake.'"

BUCS BITS: With 10 rushing touchdowns already this season, Bucs RB Earnest Graham needs just three more to tie the franchise record set by James Wilder in 1984 for most in a season. ... With two games to play, the Bucs offense is on pace to have its best rushing season in terms of average yards gained per rush. The Bucs average 4.26 yards per carry this year. The Bucs' best per-rush average prior to this year was established in 2000, when they averaged 4.22 per carry. ... WR Joey Galloway needs 15 receiving yards to become the first player in franchise history to have three 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Galloway's other 1,000-yard seasons were in 2005 and 2006.

Roy Cummings, Joey Johnston

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT