Tampa...Rich in football history

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Tampa...Rich in football history
Tampa's rich football history began with the completion of Tampa Stadium in 1967. The Stadium, nicknamed The 'Big Sombrero' was an open-air stadium with a maximum capacity of 74,000.The first game ever played in the new stadium was November 4, 1967, when the University of Tampa Spartans played the # 3 ranked University of Tennessee Volunteers. While the Spartans lost that game 38-0, they would enjoy later success in their new home, Tampa Stadium. In 1971 the Spartans moved up to Division 1 and defeated numerous much larger established programs. The Spartans star quarterback, Freddie Solomon, was one of the best:When Tampa was awarded an NFL expansion franchise the University officials were unsure of continued community support. The football program ended after the 1974 season.  The Bucs began play in the NFL in 1976. Starting up with mostly player-rejects was a challenge. The new NFL franchise lost its first 26 regular season games. Tampa Stadium was demolished in 1999:Next up, September 20, 1998, the state-of-the-art Raymond James Stadium:In January of 2003 the Tampa Bay Bucs beat the Oakland Raiders 48/21 in Super Bowl 37. After that big win it was loosing season after loosing season. This had to stop, and STOP now!In 2019 general manager Jason Licht, talked respected coach Bruce Arians out of retirement to join the Bucs. This lead to the recruitment of one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game, Tom Brady. One of the best receivers Brady had ever targeted was Rob Gronkowski. Rob had retired; Brady wanted him back.Gronkowski stared for nine years with Brady for the New England Patriots. He is a four-time Super Bowl champion, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a four-time First team All-Pro selection. In 2010 Gronkowski was selected in the All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.Rob decided to take a look at what the Bucs had to offer. Gronkowski said, "I saw he players they had. I saw the talent. It was cool to see how much talent there was on the team, and they were ready to win." But to get to the biggest game of them all the Bucs must first beat three contenders, Washington, Saints, Packers. On September 13, the New Orleans Saints beat the Bucs 34/23, and again on November 8, 38/3.First up Washington. Final score, Bucs 31, Washington 23.Next, the New Orleans Saints. Final score, Bucs 30, Saints 20. To get to the Super Bowl the Bucs must beat the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay. Final score Bucs 31, Green Bay 26.On February 7, 2021 the Tampa Bay Bucs will play the Kansas City Chiefs for the most prestigious trophy of the all, the Lombardi Trophy.It will be the first time the home team has played the Super Bowl in their home stadium. The traditional flyover...From Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, the B-1 Lancer:From Whiteman AFB Missouri, the B-2 Spirit:From Minot AFB North Dakota, the Granddaddy of the all, the B-2 Stratofortross:The BIG game:Every time the Buccaneers needed Brady to deliver, he did. His first touchdown to Gronkowski capped a 75-yard drive. His second scoring throw to his former Patriots teammate proved to be the back breaker.In winning Super Bowl 55, thirty one to nine, Tom Brady was named Most Valuable Player. Tom said it was a , "Total Team Effort!"Credits:
United States Air Force
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