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Bucs Unfurl Huge Flag

Cliff McBride / Tribune photo

A camera boom records footage of the new team flag that was raised for the first time today.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2007

Updated: 09/06/2007 04:25 pm

TAMPA - In the days of yore, the hoisting of the Jolly Roger instilled fear and loathing in the hearts of God-fearing folks. And the big red flag with a grinning skull and crossed swords sent up the 147.5-foot flagpole at One Buc Place on Thursday afternoon might do the same to some visiting football teams.

But the new 4,000-square-foot flag over the Tampa Bay Buccaneer's complex is causing more angst than fear among city of Tampa officials who scurried Thursday to make sure the 80-foot by 50-foot flag complies with the city code.

The city code? Since when does a marauding pirate trifle over city codes? Well, there's no need to ready the cannons now either.

The humongous flag on the towering pole is legal, although city officials, when told of the hoisting Thursday, scrambled to make sure there was no violation of any city ordinances.

"Usually," said Tampa City Attorney David Smith, "they (the Bucs) are pretty good about checking with us on things like this."

He had not heard about the flag-raising ceremony. An hour-and-a-half before the event, he was asking questions.

"Is it on a flagpole? Is it free standing?" Smith asked. If so, nothing in the city's sign ordinance addresses it. If it was a banner that hung down the side of a building, that would be another story, he said. But a free standing flagpole with a flag is legal, he said, no matter the size.

Tampa Code Enforcement Director Curtis Lane agreed that if the flag is flown on a pole, it is legal. He said he had not heard about the Bucs' flag, as of Thursday morning, and wasn't aware of any requests for variances or permits, if, in fact, one was needed.

"As long as it's not on a building …" he said. "If it was hanging on a building, it would draw our attention."

Julia Cole, senior assistant city attorney who knows the sign ordinance inside and out, said the flag was legal and there will be no skirmishes with the Bucs over it.

"If it's a flag, it's a flag," she said, "and flags under our sign code are allowable."

The Bucs unfurled the massive flag, which in the minds of a lot of football fans is the unofficial symbol of Tampa Bay, late Thursday afternoon. Players, coaches, front office people and the media were on hand to witness the spectacle. Bucs officials claimed it is the largest flying non-U.S. flag in the nation.

"It's a big flag," said Coach Jon Gruden after the sweltering afternoon practice. As the nylon flag crinkled and snapped in the breeze, Gruden admired it. "It's a beautiful flag," he said. "I'll be able to see that from my house. I think it's the biggest flag I've ever seen."

The Bucs wanted to make sure the flag was up next the team's headquarters before the season opener, which takes place 2,600 miles away in Seattle on Sunday afternoon. The Seahawks unfurled their own 3,000-square-foot flag Thursday as well, according to the team's Web site. The 12th Man Flag was flown over a fan luncheon in Seattle on Thursday afternoon, the site said.

Note: It's only a 3,000-square-foot flag.

So, will a faithful Buccaneer fan sitting on the top row of the Qwest Field, see the hometown flag with a big pair of binoculars? Likely not. But, it will be seen by anyone driving anywhere near the stadium.

And, that's the idea.

Buccaneer spokeswoman Lauren Van Lierop said the flag was made by ABC Flag & Pennant in Tampa. She didn't know how much it cost, but said it took 11 seamsters six weeks to stitch by hand.

"You can't fit that in any sewing machine," she said. The flag is made of the same material as parachutes, and fully complied with all the legal requirements.

"It's all up to code," she said.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or at kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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