Tampa Bay 1976

[totc]

Yesterday, the NFL Network ran a special on the 10 worst teams in NFL history. No. 1 were the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, losers of their first 26 games.

Part of the (lack of) appeal of the team were the Creamsicle jerseys. They showed the orange uniforms, the team wearing red mesh practice jerseys (not orange, interestingly), and the two varieties of white jersey that we all know and love. There was the variety with red numbers trimmed in orange, and the rarely-seen orange numerals trimmed in red (immortalized in some of the film showing the wry wit of John Mackay saying, "Some of our guys are almost gutless; and the ones that aren't that are brainless.").

But there was a drawing of a prototype white jersey with three very wide shoulder wedges -- orange, red, and orange -- with small white spaces in between them. Kind of like the Colts and Patriots striping on HGH. I don't have the frame, but I'm sure someone out there has a DVR of it.

[leedsunited]

Yesterday, the NFL Network ran a special on the 10 worst teams in NFL history. No. 1 were the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, losers of their first 26 games.

Part of the (lack of) appeal of the team were the Creamsicle jerseys. They showed the orange uniforms, the team wearing red mesh practice jerseys (not orange, interestingly), and the two varieties of white that we all know and love. There was the variety with red letters trimmed in orange, and the rarely-seen orange trimmed in red (immortalized in some of the wry wit of John Mackay saying, "Some of our guys are almost gutless; and the ones that aren't that are brainless.").

But there was a drawing of a prototype white jersey with three very wide shoulder wedges -- orange, red, and orange -- with small white spaces in between them. Kind of like the Colts and Patriots striping on HGH. I don't have the frame, but I'm sure someone out there has a DVR of it.

I always tear up when I see classic NFL Films footage of the creamsicle unis. What a distinctive, unique look. Probably the one uniform/logo I miss more than any other.

[Gothamite]

Hope that special's on their site.

Did they have the great "execution" line?

[powersurge]

I'm a HUGE fan of NFL films.

They just have the best editing in broadcast history.

Like when they would mention that the Buccaneers went winless at the very same moment as a ball would be hiked 90 ft over a punter's head. Brings home the point like nothing else can.

priceless.

I love you NFL Films.

[Hat Boy]

Hope that special's on their site.

Did they have the great "execution" line?

All that futility was worth it just to have Mckay's quotes. When asked why his tailback carried the ball over 30 times per game, Mckay replied, "Why not? It's not heavy and he doesn't belong to any union."

[totc]

Hope that special's on their site.

Did they have the great "execution" line?

Yeah, said by Ray Didinger.

Of course, there was the line, "Well, we didn't go a good job of blocking, and we made up for it by not tackling."

[BucsBoy02]

Reporter - "How do you feel about you teams execution?"

John McKay - "I'm All for it!"

[GeorgesL]

I guess they really didn't need to do a Top 10 on the NFL's worst teams, because it is quite obvious the 1976 Buccaneers were going to be #1 hands down.

They should probably fit the 2007 Dolphins in there somewhere.

[NJTank]

I guess they really didn't need to do a Top 10 on the NFL's worst teams, because it is quite obvious the 1976 Buccaneers were going to be #1 hands down.

They should probably fit the 2007 Dolphins in there somewhere.

I saw this show before on NFL Network it was made at the start of the season.

[TruColor]

...and the rarely-seen orange trimmed in red...

Remember, the 1976 Bucs White uniforms definitely had Florida Orange jerseys trimmed in Red...they changed to Red with Orange trim in '77.

(Too hard to read the numbers on TV or in the stands.)

[EJ_Barlik]

Ah, the good old days...days when a McKay was the coach, as opposed to running the front office. Of course, we all know Dungy was the reason Gruden won the Super Bowl. I miss those days...(the Super Bowl ones). But then, I am also glad they don't lose 10 games a season any more.

I think what I'd like to see next from the Bucs is for them to switch to a pewter-colored alternate jersey. It would be their best change yet...

I think it is safe to say the best thing about the Bucs back at the beginning was the logo.

[cheo25]

This McKay quote (or a paraphrase of it) was actually from '79 in the middle of a three-game losing streak that almost cost the Bucs the NFC Central crown:

"We will attempt to come back next Sunday at Tampa Stadium. We have now proven we can't win at home or on the road. So we would like to have a neutral site."

As for the unis themselves, what the Bucs wear now is much better, and I actually like orange as a color. But the Bucs' orange was too light for my tastes.

[BlueSky]

I remember one thing and one thing only about their 0-26 streak, and that's the day it ended.

On December 11, 1977, the Saints lost to the Bucs 33-14.

At home.

Of course, knowing the Saints, how else and where else would a streak like that have ended?

Some say I'm still bitter.

:cursing:

Decide that for yourself.

P.S. NFL Films' Lost Treasures is a gold mine of great uni shots. The color quality of the film is incredible. In one they actually show the Saints coming out for their first preseason game, and though it's at Los Angeles, the Saints were in their black jerseys. They're just beautiful. That original gold they used was so rich.

[seahawk9]

Never understood why people seemed to hate the light orange. The University of Tennessee wears the same color and no one complains. Always liked the light shade of orange and back in 1976 they never wore their orange jerseys except for 2 exhibition games that year. I wrote the team back then and asked why they never wor3e them and the reply I got said that fans sitting high in the stands could not make out the numbers clearly. It went on to say they "redesigned" their jerseys for the next year and the numbers looked clearer on the orange. Always wondered how they redesigned the orange jerseys. One thing I noticed is from their color team photo from the 76 season is the orange is much lighter than in later years. A more light yellowish orange. I believe they actually darkened the light orange slightly after the 1976 season and in addition changed to red numbers with orange trim on their white jerseys.

[B-Rich]

I remember one thing and one thing only about their 0-26 streak, and that's the day it ended.

On December 11, 1977, the Saints lost to the Bucs 33-14.

At home.

Of course, knowing the Saints, how else and where else would a streak like that have ended?

I remember that game, well, Skyaa; I was there (probably like you) as a 13-yr. old. I remember St. Aug did the halftime show.

Rather than being bitter, I was rather amused. The Saints were no great shakes back then either under Stram, so I wasn't upset, and I knew I was watching history being made.

But that started a trend: Need a first win? The Saints are always willing to help in the Superdome. Three examples come to mind:

1999 - "New" Cleveland Browns, 0-7, 1st regular season win -- against the Saints, in the Superdome, on a hail mary pass.

2002 - Houston Texans get their 1st ever (pre-season) win against the Saints 13-10 at the Louisiana Superdome.

2007 - 0-8 St. Louis Rams come into Superdome and beat the Saints.

I made a bet with a friend back in 1993, when the Panthers and Jaguars enterted the league, that ONE of those two teams would get a "first win" (first ever/pre-season or first regular season) against the Saints. In 1995 I missed winning the bet by one week and one game; the Panthers beat the Jets one week before they beat the Saints for their second-ever regualr-season win.

[FiddySicks]

I remember watching something about the 76 Bucs from NFL Films awhile back. The best part was seeing the equipment manager slap a decal on the side of one of the helmets.

[CZzyzx41]

I think a good thing to know would be...when and against whom did the Bucs get their first win in a regular season game against a quality opponent meaning: the team they beat either made the playoffs that year or had made the playoffs in the year before and/or after AND had a winning season in the season they lost to the Bucs.

Quick answer would be week 3 of the following season when they shocked the Minnesota Vikings IN Minneapolis 16-10. Vikings would still go on to win the NFC Central eventually losing to the Rams in the first game of the playoffs.