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Former Bucs Feel Welcomed, Loved

By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 20, 2008

TAMPA - Sunday night's halftime tribute to Mike Alstott capped a nostalgic week for a franchise that had been rather reluctant to embrace its past.

Alstott was saluted at halftime of the nationally televised game against the Seahawks as fans at Raymond James Stadium expressed their affection for the retired fullback.

On Wednesday, the Bucs revealed the introduction of a Ring of Honor beginning in 2009 to recognize distinguished figures from the franchise's 33-year history.

The club also will play at least one game next season in throwback orange uniforms.

Former Bucs outside linebacker David Lewis, attending Sunday's game, praised the Glazer family for changing the culture from the Hugh Culverhouse regime.

"The things the Glazers have done in the last five years are a whole lot more than Culverhouse did the whole time he owned the team," said Lewis, a four-year starter after being chosen in the second round of the 1977 draft out of Southern Cal. "They've done things for the retired players that Mr. Culverhouse never would have done."

With ex-Bucs quarterback Doug Williams in his fifth season as Tampa Bay's personnel executive, Lewis is impressed with the franchise's renewed sense of history.

"I feel welcomed and I feel loved," Lewis said. "They don't have to do all of this. Probably the biggest supporter we have is Coach Jon Gruden. He grew up with the Bucs, his father worked for the Bucs, and I know he wanted to re-establish things with our former players ... that was one of Jon's big missions."

Three decades after Lewis was posting more than 100 tackles each season, little has changed in terms of team identity.

"Tampa Bay is known for defense, period," he said. "It's something this franchise has been known for since Day One. We had a saying back then, 'Give us 10 points and we'll win.' Now, it's the young guys like Barrett Ruud, Jermaine Phillips, Tanard Jackson and Aqib Talib. It keeps going and going."

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