Props to the 12th Man!

[JoeSixPat]

Maybe this should or shouldn't be it's own thread, but I think on a night like this, all those fans who braved the weather and made so much supportive noise and did their part to help support the team towards a first round bye, deserve a little love and respect from the majority of us watching the game next to a warm woodstove.

I know the rest of the country could see the rain coming down in the telecast, but I don't think they can appreciate how miserable it is out there - and having spent a good portion of the afternoon working outside in that cold, wet, dank crapfest of a weather pattern myself, you really gotta hand it to all those fans, not to mention the players.

Every now and then you'll see a thread critical (sometimes justified) of the support or lack thereof of the fans at the games.

I think on a night like, at the end of an exceptionally enjoyable season, the 12th man deserves some thanks and respect, for tonight and pretty much an entire season.

Keep up the good work in the playoffs folks!

 

[PATSNUTme]

Absolutely the fans should be praised for enduring that weather. But they did get rewarded by seeing live the performance that Blount put on, and the Patriots finishing 12-4.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Also they all looked like they were having a good time. I didn't notice anyone sitting there looking miserable.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Yes, well done. It's easy to beeyatch an d moan about the crowd while sitting at home; but this is the worst type of weather for being a fan at a game, and I salute those who were present and heard today. What memories you all will have.

 

[shmessy]

Maybe this should or shouldn't be it's own thread, but I think on a night like this, all those fans who braved the weather and made so much supportive noise and did their part to help support the team towards a first round bye, deserve a little love and respect from the majority of us watching the game next to a warm woodstove.

I know the rest of the country could see the rain coming down in the telecast, but I don't think they can appreciate how miserable it is out there - and having spent a good portion of the afternoon working outside in that cold, wet, dank crapfest of a weather pattern myself, you really gotta hand it to all those fans, not to mention the players.

Every now and then you'll see a thread critical (sometimes justified) of the support or lack thereof of the fans at the games.

I think on a night like, at the end of an exceptionally enjoyable season, the 12th man deserves some thanks and respect, for tonight and pretty much an entire season.

Keep up the good work in the playoffs folks!

Thanks, Joe. I and my son Jesse (as in "Jesse Shmessy") who FINALLY got to see his Pats in Gillette (and not on the road) occupied Section 311, row 22 seats 1 and 2 tonight and just got back to our vacation rental home in Plymouth. Our clothes are in the wash, just took two Motrin for the headache I'm suffering and no matter how dry we are now we may never actually FEEL dry for a couple of days.......

........and we can't wipe the smiles off our faces.

 

[shmessy]

Also they all looked like they were having a good time. I didn't notice anyone sitting there looking miserable.

Everybody WAS having a great time.

There were some very hearty sing-a-longs during the commercial breaks to CCR's "Who'll Stop the Rain", CCR's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and finally Gene Kelly's "Singin' In the Rain".

I'm guessing that was as close to the Snow Fountains game as I've ever experienced. The long walk down the ramps was the first time I actually felt the wind - - and it was strong over there - - not so much in our section, though.

 

[Tunescribe]

Thanks. I like weather games (but not quite as much as non-weather games). It's amazing how wet you still get in waterproof gear standing/sitting/walking in driving rain for four hours. I've been doing this for 20 years and still haven't found the perfect combination.

To their credit, the Bills came to play today. Our Patriots need the rest and fought hard to earn it. And how 'bout that Blount!!! :rocker::rocker::rocker:

 

[signbabybrady]

Also they all looked like they were having a good time. I didn't notice anyone sitting there looking miserable.

The product that we get to see makes it easy. I am in awe of this team. We are so lucky to have this team and I am so lucky to have FGS thanks for another great season pops and Pats! Playoff time!

 

[upstater1]

I will brave sub-zero temps for football (and have done so) but I will never again watch a 40 degree rainy weather game in my life. I saw one at Foxboro stadium against the Cowboys in 1987 (I believe Herschel Walker was a Cowboy at the time) and I contracted pneumonia. It was hell. Never again.

 

[Tunescribe]

I contracted pneumonia. It was hell. Never again.

What did you wear?

 

[thenepatsrule]

I know the rest of the country could see the rain coming down in the telecast, but I don't think they can appreciate how miserable it is out there - and having spent a good portion of the afternoon working outside in that cold, wet, dank crapfest of a weather pattern myself, you really gotta hand it to all those fans, not to mention the players.

 

[supafly]

Yeah, I have to give respect to the fans too. It seems like the weather is just one more challenge that we've had to deal with on a regular basis more than the usual norm this season.

That said, I didn't realize that we had a "12th man."

I assumed that it would be called something a bit more sophisticated, like version 12.0, or possibly something related to grade point average, taxable income per fiscal year, or a specific vintage year of wine or something.

We could be the "87,545 average salary per family of 4-- man," or something catchy like that. Start printing up the t-shirts now.

 

[Tunescribe]

Yeah, I have to give respect to the fans too. It seems like the weather is just one more challenge that we've had to deal with on a regular basis more than the usual norm this season.

That said, I didn't realize that we had a "12th man."

I assumed that it would be called something a bit more sophisticated, like version 12.0, or possibly something related to grade point average, taxable income per fiscal year, or a specific vintage year of wine or something.

We could be the "87,545 average salary per family of 4-- man," or something catchy like that. Start printing up the t-shirts now.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Our crowd noise has been higher than it has been in years past....finally

 

[oldrover]

Great thread! Hurrah for the 12th man! And man, that rain was serious! Last weather game I was at was the Snow Fountain game. But THAT weather happened BEFORE the game, not during.

This must have been like a four hour shower... shared with 70,000 strangers. LOL

 

[upstater1]

What did you wear?

I wore winter clothes but not a rain slicker. I was soaked through.

 

[shmessy]

I wore winter clothes but not a rain slicker. I was soaked through.

My son and I bought the grey and blue Patriot ponchos the day before at the Pro Shop for $19.95 and they worked great. Unfortunately our non-water resistant gloves, sneakers and sleeves did not....

We truly had it reinforced yesterday that if you're in a cold, rainy situation for 5+ hours (he HAD to get into the stadium right when they opened the gates - ugh!) then you cannot have one inch not water resistant. Water will find that weakest link - - it's like an NFL team's bottom of the roster - - most don't think about it and early on you can get away with finessing it, but after awhile late in the season, it becomes the determinant.

So, Sealver Siliga is like water proof gloves.

......BTW, props to the Gillette sound system. That's a FAR better PA and music sound system than in years past.

 

[FalconHeavy]

the first half was bearable as there was no wind and I was able to get away with a poncho and my socks were dry enough. but man, that second half was nasty as everything below the poncho level was soaking wet and the wind kinda picked up. good thing was the temps were holding in 40+ through out the game.

it felt so good to get back to the car and remove all wet things and change in to dry clothes.

fun game

 

[Tunescribe]

My son and I bought the grey and blue Patriot ponchos the day before at the Pro Shop for $19.95 and they worked great. Unfortunately our non-water resistant gloves, sneakers and sleeves did not.... We truly had it reinforced yesterday that if you're in a cold, rainy situation for 5+ hours (he HAD to get into the stadium right when they opened the gates - ugh!) then you cannot have one inch not water resistant. Water will find that weakest link - - it's like an NFL team's bottom of the roster - - most don't think about it and early on you can get away with finessing it, but after awhile late in the season, it becomes the determinant.

At games like that I always see tons of young twentysomethings walking into the stadium wearing bluejeans, sneakers and cotton hoodies with those flimsy flyaway $1 rain ponchos over the top. I just shake my head.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Also they all looked like they were having a good time. I didn't notice anyone sitting there looking miserable.

The Bills fan in section 125 was looking pretty miserable as he was being escorted to the door.

I actually felt a little bad for him, but only a little. He was being obnoxious all game and someone finally chucked a beer at him in the 4th which of course pissed him off and eventually led to him getting tossed, but I don't think the beer thrower was caught so it wasn't really fair.

From my perspective it looked like most people stayed until the bitter end, we headed for the doors after Buffalo failed to convert the 4th and 2 with less than 2 minuets left and it seemed like most of the people were still there and doing the same thing.