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First win of the season stirs hope among Bucs fans

Staff photo by SCOTT BUTHERUS

Even paper bags go retro during the game on Sunday.

By JOSÉ PATIÑO GIRONA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2009

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TAMPA - For one Sunday this season, the cynicism turned into euphoria for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fans.

It's guarded optimism. No one is saying they are unbeatable, no one is talking playoffs and no one is betting on a winning season.

But they are talking about rookie quarterback Josh Freeman and his three touchdowns in his NFL start. And they are talking about seeing hope for the team's future.

Ray Mergel has been a season-ticket holder for 10 years. He considered giving them up with this year's 0-7 start.

Sunday's 38-28 victory over the Green Bay Packers changed his mind.

"I saw progress," said Mergel of Port Richey. "I saw a rookie quarterback throw for three touchdowns. From what I saw today he's going to be a good quarterback.

"For a rookie, he looks poised and sharp in the pocket," said Mergel, 44. "Josh Freeman is going to win us football games."

Dressed in orange wigs and tops, Marie Lorino, one-half of the Throwback Twins with the Orange Wigs, said she never soured on the Bucs during the losing years and this year is no different.

But the win has given her and the Bucs nation a reason to look forward to Sundays again.

"I think it's the beginning of something good," said Lorino of Tampa. "It will definitely motivate them and give them some momentum."

Like most fans, she was impressed by rookie quarterback Freeman, the Bucs' No. 1 pick that left fans uncertain and wondering about the upcoming years.

"I think he's trying to prove himself, and he is doing a good job," Lorino said. "He has some work to do, but he is well on his way. He played with heart and we won it because he wanted it."

For Shawn and Julie McCray of Bradenton, the victory was a reminder of the formula the Bucs used to win in the late 1990s — eventually to win Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003.

"The defense set the tone on the two picks," said Shawn McCray. "Special teams on the kick returns and blocked punt. Then Freeman did what he had to do to win the game.

"It's one game, but they didn't quit. They haven't quit all season."

Clint and Lisa Milmine, came from Albuquerque, N.M., to witness the victory. Clint Milmine, 34, has been a fan since his childhood in Montana.

He follows the Bucs regularly and decided to attend his first game Sunday because he hates the Packers and hoped the weather here would be nice.

He scored, big time.

"It was a great game," Milmine said. "We hung in there for once. We didn't give it up in the third quarter like usual.

"It's a positive. It's great to see improvement. It's a positive going into next season."

Reporter José Patiño Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659.

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