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January 07, 2009
Can home playoff crowd be TOO loud?
Panthers linebacker Jon Beason said a screaming crowd can make it tough for him to call defensive signals, but he'd rather have it than not.
Most players consider the home crowd a huge advantage, loving the noise that can often throw opposing offenses off their stride as they struggle to hear signals. Arizona's fans, for instance, came up big in last week's playoff game with Atlanta.
"They definitely had the crowd behind them," said Panthers linebacker Jon Beason.
But there's a lesser-known aspect to all that bedlam.
"It makes it tough on me playing defense, because I'm trying to communicate with the guy standing next to me and I can't hear him, or I can't get the call in my helmet," said Beason, who captains the defense at his middle linebacker spot and has a radio receiver in his helmet.
"It's so much easier (for the defense) to play on the road in terms of just communicating and doing your job."
Still, Beason considers it worth the trade-off.
"It makes it a lot easier when they're messing up too," he said, smiling. "So we're looking for the crowd to be a little extra-special Saturday night for us. They can't communicate either, so it works out well. On the road, Arizona hasn't been so great, so we know that 12th man's going to be with us Saturday night."
--Stan Olson
Posted by Observer Sports on January 7, 2009 at 12:09 PM | Permalink
Comments
My bet is that the Cards open their drive by attempting some huge pass plays to quickly quiet the crowd.
Posted by: ray | Jan 7, 2009 12:43:19 PM
I agree, watch out for the big play right off the bat. I am soooooo pumped for this game. Saturday can't get here soon enough!!!
Posted by: Dwayne | Jan 7, 2009 1:10:21 PM
Peter King did displayed his All-Pro team and according to Peter, Wes Welker is better then Steve Smith. Check it out at cnnsi.com. Not one Panther on the list.
Posted by: Steven | Jan 7, 2009 1:10:29 PM
Too funny that Carolina would worry about loud fans. Even Phil Simms said these were the worst fans in the league. They are quiet and you never know who will stay into the second half. I've had players tell me it's the strangest thing they have ever seen. Two years ago I went to see them play the Steelers and it looked like a home game.....in Pittsburgh.
Posted by: Cliff | Jan 7, 2009 1:16:43 PM
We get if Cliff, the Panthers suck and so do the fans. Maybe the Steelers fans are so great because there is nothing else to do in Western PA? Here is an idea, start following the Steelers.
Posted by: Steven | Jan 7, 2009 1:32:09 PM
How it should work:
1. When we are on offense, SHUT UP! Only once the play is over should we cheer, make noise, etc. The offense needs QUIET in order to work effectively, pre-snap and during the play.
2. When we are on defense, BEFORE THE SNAP, make all the noise you can. This disrupts the opposing team and makes it more likely that they will false start.
3. But as soon as the ball is snapped, everyone should be quiet until the play is over.
If everyone will just learn and follow these rules, we can make the most advantage of our home field advantage.
Posted by: Clayj | Jan 7, 2009 1:55:33 PM
Heh heh sounds like Cliff either couldn't afford to go to the game or nobody would sell him a ticket.....I've been to PA and now I know why all youze guyz came down here, boy that state is dismal!
See all the REAL fans at the game this Saturday!
Signed, REALLY LOUD Panthers Fan
Posted by: Candy | Jan 7, 2009 1:58:53 PM
Watch last years Steeler/Jaquars playoff game. Half way through the third quarter the so called Steelers fans were leaving because they were loosing. Empty seats were everywhere and that was in PA! Steeler fans are over-rated. I just wish so many of them didn't live here. Imbrace the home team or go home!
Posted by: pland67 | Jan 7, 2009 2:01:37 PM
i was at the panthers bucs game and the crowd got pretty damn loud but it seems like day games are pretty lame noise wise... i saw them play the saints last year and the jets the year before that and the crowd was pretty tame but i think it depends on the opponent and how the team is playing. but i'd bet my bottom dollar the crowd will be rockin' on sat night!
Posted by: matt s | Jan 7, 2009 2:19:53 PM
For once Charlotte and the Carolina fans need to come together and put the fear in a team before the game begins. here's my recipe for putting a lump in the Cardinal throat before and during the game.
ALL FANS BE IN YOUR SEATS 5-10 MINUTES PRIOR TO KICK-OFF. One side of the stadium rocks the place with DEFENSE, then the other side of the stadium rock the place with OFFENSE. Alternate back and forth til kick-off. Then for the rest of the game show the Nation how vocal Panthers Fans can be.
ROCK THE PLACE AND NEVER SEAT DOWN!!! Who goes to a playoff game to be quite!!!
Posted by: Gary | Jan 7, 2009 2:43:21 PM
I thought we were pretty loud at the Monday night Bucs game... then I went to the Sunday Night game at the Meadowlands.
Sorry, but there is just no comparison. The Giants fans were loud and in complete unison for every situation during the entire game. This was aided throughout the game in no small part by familiar organ rifs over the PA to get everybody going on the "Here We Go Giants" chants (instead of a squeaky-voiced chearleader only at the start of the game) and drum cadences to help everybody sync-up their DE-FENSE chants. It also didn't let down just because the Giants had fallen behind.
Also, every fan in the stadium stood on their feet non-stop from halfway through the 3rd period till the end of overtime.
We have been better lately but we still have much room for improvement - starting Saturday night, I hope!
Posted by: joe c | Jan 7, 2009 2:50:57 PM
Tell your friends and neighbors to not only show up, but bring a noise maker with them. At the TB game, I went through 4 airhorns that I got at K-Mart. Bring whistles, cowbells, megaphones, and go get some of those airhorns! They're disruptive! (just ask the dude that sat in front of me).
Oh, and by the way, don't get quiet once Warner walks to the line of scrimage; that's we he is trying to change the play. That is the time to be the loudest!
Posted by: O B X | Jan 7, 2009 2:53:20 PM
Noise makers are not allowed in the stadium. I was at the TB game and I never heard a airhorn either. You're not trying to get someone in trouble now are you?
Posted by: pland67 | Jan 7, 2009 3:10:41 PM
it's all in how you disguise it!
Posted by: O B X | Jan 7, 2009 3:19:31 PM
The crowds this year have by far been the best in all the years I have been going to Panther games. The Monday night Tampa game was the loudest in memory. I have a strong feeling that this Saturday will be the loudest yet. To be honest we haven't had all that much to cheer about at home the last few years.
Posted by: J Thomas | Jan 7, 2009 3:21:51 PM
I think the Panther's fans are a joke, it's not until they make the playoffs or have a good season that anyone even acts like they care. I went to a game when I first moved here, it was even a pivotal Monday night game and on 3rd down when my husband and I got on our feet to get as loud as possible-we were told to sit down from people behind us! Are you kidding???
Posted by: Jenn | Jan 7, 2009 3:24:33 PM
Jenn, I hear what you're saying, but hopefully, those days are behind us now.
GET LOUD
Posted by: O B X | Jan 7, 2009 3:42:34 PM
It is supposed to rain Saturday it will be hard for the grey seats to make noise when they are sitting inside.
Posted by: david | Jan 7, 2009 3:46:42 PM
Please, just please, do NOT start doing the wave while we're on offense. That noisemaker should always be reserved for when we're on defense! Every time the section to our left starts a wave while we have the ball, I just cringe. It truly makes me wonder about the fans' knowledge of football.
Posted by: sophie | Jan 7, 2009 4:19:19 PM
Anyone who has been to the last half dozen games realizes that we are now for real and are into the games as much as anyone in the country. The rest of the country will see this, bad weather or not!
Posted by: jodyf | Jan 7, 2009 4:56:33 PM
What we really need is a good team song that will rock the stadium, kinda like the eagles. I don't know about you but that pumps me up when I see 70 thousand plus singing in perfect drunken harmony to celebrate a score. The old song we origanly came up with "nothing could be finer" was a joke we need a real song. If someone from the Charlotte Observer is reading this then please make it a challange in the paper for the Panther Fans to create a respectable team song. Who else agrees with me?
Posted by: Keith | Jan 7, 2009 4:59:05 PM
Jenn-
Just because one jerk asked you to sit down doesn't mean Panther fans are a joke. I have been asked to sit down too while standing in support of my Panthers. Considering I paid $7k to have my seats I politely told the gentleman, "Bite me". Plus the whole section in front of me was standing up so it wouldn't have done him any good if I had.
Posted by: pland67 | Jan 7, 2009 5:02:06 PM
I like the fact that the cheerleader tries TO get everyone to say 'LET'S GO PANTHERS" but she is kinda cheesee
But what we need is for Ric Flair to be allowed to be on the field before the kickoff. He would say "TO BE THE MAN YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE MAN" STYLIN AND PROFILIN
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The panthers used to have a recording of him doing a rant and letting out a whooooo
but then he had a legal issue with his wife and the panthers took away the whoooooooo the following game and has never returned it.
Another idea I like is the way Minnesota has the Viking ride his motorcycle out onto the field and rev it up.
We should have the guys that run with the flags from each corner ride loud motorcycles during the pregame and after each score.
Let's get more creative than the Bojangle, VIC CARD, ALL STATE, commercials between each play. That sure kills the mood, always has and always will.
There used to be a guy from Charlotte who sang the national anthem at the hornet playoff games. Man he was good, when he said bombs bursting in air there would be fire works going off.
Posted by: jason | Jan 7, 2009 7:27:41 PM
I had a Atlanta Falcon fan tell me to sit down once. I believe he was the same guy that got tripped down the steps while he was walking out of the stadium.
We should beat these Cards fairly easily.
Posted by: Revshawn | Jan 7, 2009 7:53:36 PM
pland67-
More sad than the PEOPLE(not one guy) telling us to sit down, is we were the only ones in the section standing...do the fans not understand how to act at a game? Maybe these fans need to visit a real football game with devoted fans. When I told this story at work, I was told I was in the "wine and cheese section", seriously? There shouldn't be a section like that, it's the NFL! I was listening on the radio(THIS SEASON) to a game and the announcer even said, the Panther's need to score so the fans will come to their seats and cheer. That's a joke.
Posted by: Jenn | Jan 8, 2009 10:29:43 AM
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