Buccaneers: “Stick Carriers” make presence felt at training camp

A rabid faction of the Buccaneers’ fan base – known as the “Stick Carriers” – took One Buc Place by storm Saturday.

Many of you know them, some of you don’t. Whether you’re a card carrying member rocking a “Speak Softly” t-shirt or just a quiet observer, there is no doubt that the Stick Carriers took over One Buc Place on Saturday during their Training Camp Takeover day.

A movement that started with a post-game quote by head coach Dirk Koetter, then popularized by former radio host and current podcaster for JoeBucsFan Justin Pawlowski, made it’s way inside training camp Saturday to show their support to the Bucs in this new era of Bucs fandom.

And good heavens, was their voice heard.

It doesn’t matter if you love them, hate them, or are indifferent, there is no denying what Saturday’s turn out did for the Bucs’ organization as well as the fan base. They simply made a statement that this is the fan base the team deserves and will receive each and every home game in 2017 and beyond. This is the new Arrowhead. This is the new 12th man. This is the new Dawg Pound. This is going to be a place where opposing teams hate to play because the fans are, well, completely insane.

And the Buccaneers have taken notice.

https://twitter.com/TBBuccaneers/status/893810319214161921

What Pawlowski and his movement accomplished today is deserving of the attention it has received. The term “Stick Carrier” can mean different things to different people. It can mean listening to Pawlowski’s podcast and sending in your uncensored “Bucs Take” as he calls them. It can mean tailgating with your friends and family but making sure you’re in your seats before kickoff. It could mean a season ticket holder that can’t make it to a game sells their tickets to a Bucs fan, not some random person online who may be showing up in a Cam Newton jersey.

“The crowd was fantastic. Are you kidding me? That was a lot of fun, and hats off to the ‘Stick Carriers.’ They did an awesome job today.” -Dirk Koetter

It’s uniting a fan base that is so rabid, so loud, so passionate that 31 other teams look at their schedule and think “Oh crap…we gotta go to Tampa”.

Even if his podcast – “Bucs Uncensored” – isn’t your thing (because it is most certainly uncensored) that doesn’t mean that this kind of energy and support can’t be accomplished by every single fan in that stadium.

I mean, that’s the ultimate goal anyway, right?

How many of you have attended a Bucs game just to see more opposing jerseys than Bucs jerseys? How many have been irritated by the fact that the opposing team’s fans are louder than our own? That’s what this movement is all about. This is the Warren Sapp “this s— ends now” moment for the fans.

Ray Jay is our house. Don’t you dare think you’re gonna waltz in and act like it’s a home game for the visiting team. No more sitting down when the Bucs’ defense is on the field. Stand up, get loud, make Ray Jay shake with noise. Force those false starts by the opposing offense.

Make it a living hell for every team that sets foot on the field.

We’re all excited about the way this team has come together. From hiring Dirk Koetter to drafting Jameis Winston, to signing DeSean Jackson. This team is what we as fans have been waiting and waiting and waiting for for over a decade. The team has the talent, the drive, and the leadership.

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Time to give them the fans they deserve.

Time to turn Ray Jay into the home of the Buccaneers and their Stick Carriers.