“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.” This is what Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke had to say about new beginnings. But in this case, doesn’t it feel like we have been here before?
With Training Camp upon us, we can smell the start of a new football season. This in itself marks the return of one of the most popular sports in the country, if not the world. The start of a new season indicates a new beginning, a fresh start for all, and in the case of the Carolina Panthers, it is yet another new beginning…again. I mean, we have to admit that the atmosphere this year feels different, right?
Fortunately, or unfortunately, that’s the part that I haven’t figured out yet. I would like to think that we have been through much worse though.
Let’s look at some offseason facts:
We have ‘something’ in Dave Canales. I get it, he was not on the radar for a lot of fans (he wasn’t even on mine), but Dave Canales has taken up a mantle that everyone around the league deemed as poisonous. Not only that, but his level of confidence in this current roster and his confidence in his ability to turn this franchise around has been contagious. He has taken each position back to the basics with the belief that ‘the fundamentals’ are the best foundation to success.
They believe in Bryce Young! From the investment in the O-line and wide receiver positions, Dave came in with a plan already built around Bryce. Dave was quoted saying, ‘We are going to become what Bryce is great at.’ Carolina invested heavily in the O-Line with Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and made some unique moves in the wide receiver room through free agency and the 2024 draft. This O-Line has dramatically improved and I for one am here for it! Does that mean that it is now up to Bryce to perform?
Culture is at an all-time low. Whether the powers that be are willing to admit it or not, they have messed up repeatedly since taking over and have done nothing to help repair the already fractured Panthers’ culture in this community. The transition from 2019 to 2020 gave us all whiplash. From the firing of Ron Rivera to the unnecessary splitting up of the team's big-name players. And for what reason? There is seemingly no (good) reason for any of the drastic changes around that time to have taken place. It takes time to build a culture and it should be stated that you can never do away with history, no matter how hard we try. We use the tools from history to help us analyze and explain the problems of the past so that they are not repeated. Getting the fans to buy in again is going to be tough.
So where does this leave us? Training Camp begins on July 24th, and this is the 30th season here in the Carolinas. This year, training camp will be held in the Queen City! This year’s training camp will be mixed with club-led fan events and open practices. The Panthers will be holding a ‘Back Together Saturday’ event on July 27th filled with live NFL coverage, food, music, and more! Tepper Sports & Entertainment were just recently given the green light for a new practice facility which will include an indoor fieldhouse, outdoor fields, and a viewing deck for fans. We have been told that enhancements to the fields–which do not require rezoning–have already started and should be ready for training camp.
If training camp is stirring up a lot of different emotions for you, you’re not alone. That’s if we’re being honest! Coach Brad Idzik stated in an interview with ‘The Panthers Huddle’ that they spent the off-season and minicamp installing a new offense; the goal for training camp was to build on that confidence and highlight the areas where they did well. Defensive-back, Shaq Thompson said in a presser that there was ‘lots of good energy in the building.’ And Dave Canales has been quoted as saying that the team is ‘in pursuit of being great!’ These are all things that should have one thrilled and bursting at the seams, but as Panthers fans, we approach these situations with cautious optimism…and rightfully so!
So, with this year’s camp approaching we as fans have questions. Is this the new fresh beginning that was once foretold and promised to us? Will Shaq and Jaycee stay healthy? Will this be Bryce Young’s breakout year? Is Dave Canales the answer to the Carolina Panthers’ needs? How many more breweries will Charlotte open? No one knows! But what I do know is that you can see the time and effort that went into the offseason moves and investments. If it will be enough and if those were the right moves remains to be seen, however. But as a fan base that takes pride in this team, I believe that we owe it to ourselves and the team to see these new changes through. Dave Canales is a lot to be excited about. The added players to this year’s roster are a lot to be excited about!
I feel the spirit of the Carolinas is strong! Each year we keep coming back, we keep putting on our jerseys, and we keep pounding! Our culture is that of resilience, it always has been. From Sam Mills to Mark Fields. Resilience is defined as the capacity to withstand. Withstand what? The hardships and the obstacles in one’s way. Why? Because it helps us to tap into our strength to overcome those challenges.
General Manager Dan Morgan says that the mission is to make other teams fear the logo once again! We have been on the doorstep of the league’s highest honor twice in franchise history, but we have not been to the playoffs since 2017. So, let’s give THIS team and THIS particular set of players/coaches a chance to bring us back to our glory days. And when all the cards are on the table and it seems like we may have nothing more to give, we will Keep Pounding!
Que ‘Sweet Caroline!’ Let’s get this season started!
Dan Morgan and Dave Canales Introductory Press Conference. (2024, February 1). Www.Youtube.Com/@CarolinaPanthers. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NUAQJB4jRY.
Carolina Panthers. (2024, June 14). The Panthers Huddle: Mini-Camp Special [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ3ZhCKm60c
Carolina Panthers. (2024a, June 12). Shaq Thompson: “I feel amazing” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBj964PNjWA
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