The Battle of the Bays just ain’t what it used to be: Buccaneers host Packers

November 8, 12:06 PMTampa Bay Sports ExaminerTed Fleming

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Buccaneer Bruce
Tampa Bay's old helmet logo

It’s déjà vu all over again. Buccaneer Bruce makes a return to Tampa Bay for the first time since 1997 when the team changed their colors from orange and white to pewter and red and it will be for a good reason.

Arguably the greatest player in Tampa Bay history, Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon will be the first inductee into the Buccaneers’ Ring of Honor. Raymond James Stadium is decked out in the old colors and players will don throwback uniforms.

The end zones are stamped TAMPA BAY in white outlined in orange, the walls devoid of the usual tributes to active players and their respective charities because Bruce and the words Tampa Bay Buccaneers rim the seating area. Outside, orange is the color of the day with many fans decked out in old jerseys and faded tees from an era gone by, all to show their appreciation for the only Bucs’ player enshrined at Canton.

It’s been a quarter-century since Selmon pulled off the uniform for the last time and since then he has devoted time and money into the Tampa Bay community which includes serving as president of the University of South Florida Foundation Partnership for Athletics, a fundraising arm of the university involved in upgrading the school's athletic facilities.

Selmon’s name is still recognized around these parts and many travelers see his name on a daily basis as a highway leading from Gandy Boulevard across to Interstate 75 is named the Selmon Crosstown Expressway.

Since Raymond James Stadium opened there has been little reference to the “good old days” with nary a tribute to the old teams and colors. With throwbacks becoming more and more fashionable throughout sports, most especially this season in the NFL as they commemorate 50 Years of the American Football League, the Buccaneers have now joined in and what better way to do it than to celebrate the life and career of one of its most outstanding gentlemen. It is the first game of its kind in franchise history.

His #63 has been retired for years, first donning the number for the expansion Buccaneers in 1979 as their #1 pick in the draft and was named National Football League's Defensive Player of the Year in 1979, the first time the team made the playoffs. They advanced to the championship game that year. But it is their Bucs’ first year in the league most people remember as they made losing an art form finishing with a donut in the win column dropping all 14 contests. It was not until 2008 the record was wiped out as the Lions did them two better finishing 0-16.

It’s as if the football gods had this plan once the Buccaneers named the date to honor Selmon because the Packers are in town. For those who remember back then, there were more Green Bay fans in the stands than those rooting for the home team. Today it will be another throwback of sorts because the green and gold will have a large presence because there were plenty of available tickets for their fans to get their hands on.

But win or lose, the day will be remembered for welcoming the old uniforms and, for good or bad, tradition back into the fold. Now that the door has been opened maybe their first coach, John McKay, will be the next to get his reward – posthumously. He passed away in 2001.

THE TAKEAWAY:

INJURY REPORT: WR Antonio Bryant (knee), WR Michael Clayton (wrist) and CB Elbert Mack (ankle) are questionable. CB Aqib Talib (ankle) and G Jeremy Zuttah (shoulder) are probable.

INACTIVES: QB Byron Leftwich, WR Yamon Figurs, CB Mike Mickens, FB Chris Pressley, G Shawn Murphy, T James Lee, WR Antonio Bryant and DT Dre Moore.

LINEUP CHANGE: None on defense. On offense, WR Maurice Stovall starts in place of Antonio Bryant.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 51st regular season meeting between the Buccaneers and Packers with Green Bay holding a 29-20-1 advantage, however, in games played at Raymond James, Tampa Bay is 6-1 against Green Bay. Overall the Bucs have won six of the last nine meetings including the last two including a 30-21 victory on 9/28/08.

WHAT 2 LOOK 4: The next time Antonio Bryant plays it will mark his 100th career game. He is also two touchdown receptions from reaching 30 ….. Michael Clayton needs 83 receiving yards to surpass Bruce Hill (2,942 from 1987-91) for eighth on the team’s all time list. To reach 3,000 for his career he is 140-yards short ….. Earnest Graham is one rushing touchdown short of tying Lars Tate (1988-89) for seventh on the Bucs’ list with 15 ….. Clifton Smith has 1,467 return yards for the Buccaneers and needs just 45 to surpass Gary Anderson (1990-93) for sixth. Anderson has 1,511. Smith would need 201 punt return yards to reach sixth in that department. Bobby Futrell had 639 from1986-1990.