Who Was A Fan During The Dark Years

[goheels22002]

Rust was an outstanding defensive coach, who had the respect of his players.

We all went to Schaeffer/Sullivan/Foxboro Stadium, and we all had to deal with less then first class amenities. I loved every game I went to there and wouldn't trade them for the world.

People in Detroit, Cleveland, New Orleans, Tampa Bay etc. will laugh hysterically at us complaining about a twenty-eight month stretch where the team struggled on the field in an old stadium, amidst some ownership uncertainty.

Are you celebrating the time the Sullivans owned the Patriots and Eddie Andelman owned the parking lot?

Victor Kiam must have been a bummer.

 

[RayClay]

Ray the "turtling" started AFTER he set a league record by getting sacked SIXTY times in 84.

Not denying that. Just stating the facts. I'm not suiting up to hang in against the 85 Bears either.

As far as passing talent, he was much better than Grogan. Not sure his demeanor didn't lead to some sacks too, though he wasn't as good a runner as Grogan.

 

[RayClay]

Sorry, Clay, but some of those Patriot teams in the early 70s were as bad as anything ever - until the '76 Tampa Bay Bucs came along. Some times were so bad, if they won, they seemed more surprised than anyone.

The Boston papers played right along with the caricature, spending the first 3 days after a game knocking them down, then spending the next 3 days building them back up. For the longest time, of course, the Herald refused to send it's top reporters to cover Pats' games, instead preferring to give coverage to the Giants.

Me? I heard a radio blurb in the late summer of '59 saying Boston was going to get an AFL franchise, and I determined I was going to be a fan!

I still remember staying at my sister's apartment, listening to Friday night games against LA (Chargers). Boy, them's were the days!

I was furious when they traded Bouniconti to Miami for Kim Hammond! All in an apparent effort to sign first round pick Ron Sellers (who turned out to be not-so-hot).

But in the end, it all worked out. And then some.

Sorry. Posted this in a different thread, thought it was in this one
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Pats 5th most winningest team in NFL history

[35-17-3 between 1961-1964 and 8-4 in 1966 [Nance]

Parilli gone, then Clive Rush insanity sent them into a tailspin until Fairbanks fourth year in 1976.]
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Of course, you're right. I posted this in a similar thread and thought it was here. They were gawd awful from the late 60's until Fairbanks first winning season in 76. Things were so messed up, including the Duane Thomas, Steve Kiner and Clive Rush incidents or eras. That was also the time they accidentally made the whole team free agents.

It was a hard partying era, so I looked on it partly as comedy.

 

[RayClay]

Sorry, Clay, but some of those Patriot teams in the early 70s were as bad as anything ever - until the '76 Tampa Bay Bucs came along. Some times were so bad, if they won, they seemed more surprised than anyone.

The Boston papers played right along with the caricature, spending the first 3 days after a game knocking them down, then spending the next 3 days building them back up. For the longest time, of course, the Herald refused to send it's top reporters to cover Pats' games, instead preferring to give coverage to the Giants.

Me? I heard a radio blurb in the late summer of '59 saying Boston was going to get an AFL franchise, and I determined I was going to be a fan!

I still remember staying at my sister's apartment, listening to Friday night games against LA (Chargers). Boy, them's were the days!

I was furious when they traded Bouniconti to Miami for Kim Hammond! All in an apparent effort to sign first round pick Ron Sellers (who turned out to be not-so-hot).

But in the end, it all worked out. And then some.

I was very young when they started and don't remember anything before 1961. I remember them not being on TV at all, is my memory correct? My earliest memory was checking Larry Garron's box score in the Globe as a way to follow the team.

Your recollection of their early TV history, including blackouts, would be appreciated.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Are you celebrating the time the Sullivans owned the Patriots and Eddie Andelman owned the parking lot?

Victor Kiam must have been a bummer.

Billy Sullivan was not a great owner, but he had lots of company in the four major pro sports and he was not Whitey Bulger. He wasn't involved in racist activity like the Red Sox.

On the field, where is counts, which is the point, almost everybody who came here (obviously Duane Thomas doesn't count, and Aaron Hernandez is an exception) overcame ownership deficiencies to play well, and contribute to some great teams. They made fans of us. Then. I don't give a crap if Three Rivers Stadium and Texas Stadium and Candlestick Park and Lambeau Field were better venues. The Dolphins could keep the Orange Bowl and the Raiders could keep their accursed Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

You're God damned right I celebrate being a Patriots fan every day.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I was. I even attended games. I fondly remember those underachieving teams and solid players that were stuck here. Tim Goad. Jon Stephens. 1-15 season. Visitors' side PACKED with Bills fans in the 90's. Sullivan Stadium. I have our bench from that place. Loved that stadium. I was nearly trampled to death in the mad rush to get Steelers playoff tickets in 1997. Good times

I watched intently from '90-'92. I'm a Patriots fan. I care about them. I'm interested in them. And it was nothing compared to the Clive Rush days. I'd seen us struggle and then get good several times before, with no salary cap. I'd casually follow the rest of the league, but I despise the Giants, Redskins, Cowboys etc., and yes they're our AFL brethren but I don't like the Bills, or anybody else who isn't the Patriots.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I was very young when they started and don't remember anything before 1961. I remember them not being on TV at all, is my memory correct? My earliest memory was checking Larry Garron's box score in the Globe as a way to follow the team.

Your recollection of their early TV history, including blackouts, would be appreciated.

I was pissed when I could only listen to some games on the radio; but I would rather hear our games through scratchy static-laced AM reception than see some other team in 3D high def in a plush couch. Yeah, I love the Pats. And nobody else.