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Sad Fans Can Only Look To 2008

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

TAMPA - While thousands streamed from Raymond James Stadium in the waning moments of Tampa Bay's 24-14 playoff loss to the New York Giants today, Buccaneers tailgaters Herb Jacobs and Glen Hatchett relaxed under a makeshift tent in a nearby parking lot.

The south Tampa residents, who consumed shish-ka-bob, jambalaya, ribs, beer and liquor and watched the game on television under the tent, seemed resigned to their team's fate.

''I'm a Seminoles fan,'' Jacobs said. ''I can relate to losing.''

John Jung of St. Petersburg, who left the stadium frowning, said the Buccaneers had no offense today and desperately need more playmakers.

''We just got manhandled,'' he said. ''Their whole defense manhandled us.''

Despite missing quarterback Jeff Garcia for part of the season and facing health issues with the team's running back corps, the Bucs finished the season 9-8, a drastic improvement from last year's 4-12 record.

But the team lost four of its final five games, and it hasn't won a playoff game since capturing the Vince Lombardi Trophy in January 2003.

It was eerily quiet outside the stadium today as Bucs fans trudged back to their cars.

''I feel like we need a receiver – another impact offensive player,'' fan Alex Bleichner of Palm Harbor said. ''On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give us a 7 this season.''

Jacobs, the tailgater, said the Bucs had an up-and-down season and simply didn't play well enough today to win.

''New York was just hungrier,'' he said. ''They wanted it more.''

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