As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to try and win a Super Bowl this year, the franchise is also looking back in celebration of its 50th season.
History hasn't always been kind to the Bucs, which is why the good times hold such a special place in the hearts of fans. Mike Alstott is at the center of almost everyone's Venn diagram when it comes to looking at peaks in the franchise's history, something helped by the fact that he played during two of the team's most successful periods.
The A-Train rumbled into Tampa Bay back in 1996 and never left, spending all 12 years of his NFL career with the Buccaneers. He's a lifer who fans still adore, and he's right there with them as far as looking back on the past.
Mike Alstott explains the big difference between Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden
Alstott joined FanSided to talk about his involvement with USAA but also touched on what the key difference between playing for Dungy and Gruden was.
"Dungy taught us a lot as young Bucs. [He] molded us, created us, helped us become mature young men, responsible young men getting involved in the community. Not just X's and O's," Alstott said. "Jon [Gruden] was all about X's and O's."
This lines up with a lot of what we've learned about the two different eras over the years. While Dungy didn't win a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, the Bucs aren't in a position to do it in 2002 without him setting the foundation.
It was that foundation being so firmly in place that it only took Gruden a year to take the team across the finish line. What he lacked in culture building, Gruden excelled at football IQ.
"He was really good at it, and there's no question about it. He was very good at game planning, creating plays, and scheming. And it's not like Coach Dungy wasn't," Alstott said. "Coach Dungy wasn't an OC or a DC, he was the manager of his group. They both did a good job and were excited to play for."
Only one coach got a Super Bowl ring, but Dungy remains a spiritual member of that '02 team. His influence loomed large over the Bucs even after he was gone, and he's responsible for helping pull the franchise out of one ites darkest and most hopeless periods.
Dungy ended up getting his ring a few years later with the Indianapolis Colts, but as we look back on the last half century of Buccaneers history this year it's impossible to not have him among the most important figures to come through Tampa Bay.
Mike Alstott spoke on behalf of USAA's Official Salute to Service.
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