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Orange and Loving It!

Nov 05, 2009 - On April 9, 1997, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers unveiled the red-and-pewter uniforms they have worn for the last 13 years, with the windswept flags on the helmet bearing an aggressive set of skull-and-crossed-swords.

Two days prior to that unveiling ceremony, the Buccaneers performed another ritual aboard the Bounty, a ship docked at the St. Petersburg Pier. In essence, the team made Bucco Bruce, the winking pirate that had served as their logo for 21 years, walk the plank, though a "pardon" from Florida Governor Lawton Chiles the week before kept Bruce from coming to any real harm.

In the end, a flag bearing the retiring logo was simply lowered to symbolize the end of an era. This was a bloodless coup that took down Bucco Bruce and his Florida orange style, but it wasn't without prejudice.

Let's just say there wasn't a huge movement to keep the original uniforms around. Two days later, the new togs were received to rave reviews from Buc fans, and merchandise flew off the shelves. The team's 10-6 record and first playoff win in 18 years that very season didn't hurt, and the uniform switch produced a pretty neat split between the struggles of 1983-96 and the postseason prosperity that followed.

Still, absence makes the heart grow fonder…eventually. Style trends cycle, nostalgia kicks in, kitsch becomes cool and longtime fans come to associate the old colors with whatever good memories they had of the "creamsicle" days. More importantly, as the Buccaneers' pool of history deepens, it becomes more important to recognize and remember all that has come before.

And so the Buccaneers will raise that orange-and-white flag again on Sunday, and do so happily.

"That was football to me. That was Tampa Bay football. I always knew that was Tampa Bay, I could see it from a mile away. To get an opportunity to come out and wear those same colors on Sunday is going to be exciting."

Tampa Bay's current logo and colors are far more popular than the old ones ever were, but there's room for both among Buccaneer fans…and, for a limited time at least, among the players as well. Buccaneer players have been wearing the Bucco Bruce helmets since last week, and it is no exaggeration to say there is genuine excitement at One Buccaneer Place about the uniforms that will be hanging in the players' lockers on Sunday.

“Oh yeah, I’m ready for that!" said second-year linebacker Geno Hayes, who as a child had figurines of John Lynch and Warren Sapp in the old uniforms. "Actually I haven't been able to play in a throwback game so this is going to be fun for me. It will add a little swagger to it. I’ll see what I can do with it.”

Buccaneer ownership painstakingly created the throwbacks, modeling them in minute detail on the version that was worn during the inaugural 1976 campaign. The Bucs actually wore white jerseys in almost every game that season, but this game will feature the home team in orange as the Bucs make the most of this opportunity to bring back their first signature color.

Good choice, says Head Coach Raheem Morris.

"I love the color," he said. "It looks pretty sweet. They weren't particularly liked, I guess, when they had to wear it but we like the orange, we like the creamsicles. Pretty colors, a nice uniform and we're fired up about Bucco Bruce, to be honest with you."

There may not be a Buccaneer more thrilled by the opportunity to wear the old uniforms than third-year wide receiver Brian Clark, who remembers the orange-and-white better than most. Clark was born in Jacksonville but he played his high school football in Tampa, starring at nearby Chamberlain. He has memories of various jersey-pants combinations the team used to wear.

“The white jerseys with the orange pants and the all-white [outfit]…it was just like, wow," said Clark. "That was football to me. That was Tampa Bay football. I always knew that was Tampa Bay, I could see it from a mile away. To get an opportunity to come out and wear those same colors on Sunday is going to be exciting.”

Even those in the locker room who were willing to admit during this nostalgic week that, on balance, they preferred the current logo and colors were intrigued by the chance to put on throwback uniforms. Center Jeff Faine, who hails from Orlando, wouldn't want to make the switch permanent but has enjoyed a couple weeks of the Bucco Bruce helmet hanging in his One Buc locker.

"I think they have improved the uniform," he said. "I really like the new uniforms and the new colors. I like the old helmet quite a bit, though. I think it’s great. The white helmet with the clean logo. It’s very cool. I just think the new color scheme is better.”

During halftime of the Throwback Game, the Bucs will also recognize some of the better times in orange-and-white, bringing the division-winning 1979 team onto the field and also inducting Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon into the team's new Ring of Honor. That should only enhance the experience of wearing orange and white for the current players, as they try to do right by their predecessors.

"I think it's going to be great," enthused defensive tackle Chris Hovan. "We're honoring the legendary Buc, the guy who started it off. Whatever uniform they put on us, we have to go out there and A) get the victory and B) represent the first day of honoring the Ring of Honor. There's a lot to play for. The fans are going to be great out there. Old school, new school — it will be a great gathering of Buccaneer fans on Sunday."