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Glum Fans Bid Season Adieu

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By JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 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 Sunday, tailgaters Herb Jacobs and Glen Hatchett relaxed under a makeshift tent in a nearby parking lot.

The South Tampa residents enjoyed shish kebab, jambalaya, ribs, beer and liquor while watching the game on TV under the tent and 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 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, including Sunday's loss, 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 Sunday as Bucs fans trudged back to their cars.

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

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

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

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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