Those are the words Tony Dungy used to Lovie Smith after the first game of Dungy’s 1996 debut as Bucs head coach, when what could have been a simple 13-3 half time deficit was turned into a 24-3 instead which was too much for the Bucs to come back from. It was because of boneheaded plays and basically, the new Bucs acting like the old Bucs.
Fast Forward to 2014 and I’m sure Lovie Smith said the same thing to Hardy Nickerson, who was 
there for that opener against the Green Bay Packers in Dungy’s debut. Self Picked QB Josh McCown did exactly what he was brought here NOT to do, and players went down like they had little preseason playing time, oh wait, they didn’t.
So how long will it take for the Bucs to become winners? Probably less time than it took those Bucs who got wiped out by 
Green Bay over two decades ago. But its important to remember that just like a lot of players on that 1996 team were not a part of the turn around Bucs, so too will a great deal of guys in larger than normal War Flags on their helmets won’t be here for this turn around either.
Who will be a part of it, and who won’t, only time will tell the answer to that question. Rather than sit here and try to find the 2014 equivalent of Eric Curry or Trent Dilfer, it’s easier to look at the signs that were there that this team has what it takes to make Bucs football relevant again. Just like that 1996 team had it’s Oakland game, and it’s San Diego game (games that many consider to be the ‘moment’ the Bucs made the turn around), this bunch of Buccaneers will make fans proud to wear their Pewter gear once again.
As for when, well, maybe a little longer than we thought.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
