I started this post wanting to show off the kitties towel I got from Carolina in 2004. But then I realized that this will be my fourth Packer-Kitties faceoff, but only my first in Lambeau. In fact I have only missed one (a gold package 17-14 win that included a Bubba Franks TD pass to Donald Driver ) since a 28-7 come from behind win on Sunday September 30th 2001. After throwing two interceptions in the 1st half (one to Doug Evans), and me almost getting thrown out for yelling “lot o ball game left”, Favre closed the second half out with three touchdowns. I will never forget walking out of then Ericcson Stadium with my facepaint intact…kudos to Carolina fans for not kicking my butt, my dad was sure they were going to.
Made the journey to Charlotte again for this all Ahman Green, 24-14 Packer win. Vic Carucci opened his game summary with ” Maybe Brett Favre isn’t the elite Quarterback he once was.” Wow. How much of a moron does he look like right now? Can I just say that Jerry Richardson is a cool guy, he was really nice to us Cheeseheads. Here he is with my brother-in-law.
Besides being Rachel’s first ever Packer game, I will never forget hearing “number 71 is an eligible receiver” about 20 times. Kevin Barry in the JUMBO package has got be my all-time favorite formation. What’s better than hearing “number 71 is an eligible receiver”, yell “JUMBO!” really loud, watch their fans groan as they know it’s going to be a run and there is nothing they can do, and then watch us get yet another rushing first down. It’s such an “inevitable feeling formation”, sort of what I hope BIG FIVE turns into.
What really sucks is that we lost the last time we played them. You want the Packers to not look ahead? Look no further than this debacle on Monday Night, October 3rd 2005. I brought the kitties towel (pictured above) to this one, but it was all in vain. The last time we played the Panthers, we left Bank of America Stadium 0-4, closer to learning that Robert Ferguson and Ahmad Carroll’s days were needing to be numbered.
So, this Sunday I will be there, tailgating with my cousins Dennis & Julie, sitting in my Grandpa Behnke’s seats, behind the Packers bench, 16 rows up on the 50 yard line (thank you Wilbert & Mary Behnke, RIP). Thanks to them as well as my aunt & uncle, my family has sat in those seats since the stadium was first built. It will be Rachel’s first game @ Lambeau Field, and you can bet your sweet you know what I am bringing my towel. Go Pack.
