Fan psyches are fragile in exciting times

Psychologists (fans themselves) say no matter what the outcome, Bucs followers are going to be dealing with a boatload of emotions.

By BRUCE LOWITT, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2003

Gerson is a sports psychologist and marketing consultant in Clearwater and, like much of Tampa Bay's population, he admittedly and understandably is claiming the Bucs as his own.

"I think the feeling of excitement and the vicarious living that people do through the Bucs, that's really powerful," he said. "It has such a positive impact on the community right now, a feeling of unity and pride.

"Think about the community effect just getting to the Super Bowl has had," Gerson said. "And when they win -- how's that for positive thinking -- I think the pride in this community might blow the lid off the place."

If you were here, or even if you weren't but you were an NFL fan or watched the Tonight Show every evening, you probably remember how different it was 27 years ago. And 26, and 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 ... (Gerson, by the way, is a neophyte; he didn't get here until 1986.)

Those first two seasons, 1976-77, and, after a few trips to the playoffs, 13 more were enough to make almost anyone in the Tampa Bay area live in a state of denial. They had to cringe at the jokes, wince at the slams and suffer through loss after loss after loss.

Which is why fans are pouring out of the woodwork to reestablish their claim to the team.

"That's one reason people are so into the Bucs, because for so long we've had to live with going to games and rooting for a team that (stinks)," said Linda Musante, chairwoman of the psychology department at the University of Tampa. She was here in 1976 and after graduate school returned in 1981. She qualifies as a survivor.

"When people link themselves to the success of a team and it keeps losing, they may find themselves feeling like losers as well. That's why when the team is a loser they disassociate themselves from it," Musante said.

"This week it's, "We won. We're going to the Super Bowl.' It's basking in the reflected glory of the Bucs. But all those other years, when they (stunk), it was, "They lost.' When the Bucs lose it's very easy to separate from them, to maintain your self-image. But when they're doing well, they're yours."

That, she said, is one reason Bucs T-shirts, hats, jerseys and whatnot are flying off the shelves, "because now everyone can feel good. It's that much more significant for Bucs fans, because it's been so long and everyone wants to be a part of it."

It was fascinating, Musante said, to see so many fans running around in old orange-and-white Bucs shirts. People in red, black and pewter? How many of them jumped on the bandwagon the past few seasons?

"It was like, "Look at me; I've been through all of it,' " Musante said. "They're proud of taking out their old Bucs stuff to show that they really have suffered so long."

Without intent, Musante then validated her analysis.

"We want them to win, of course," she said. "When (coach Jon) Gruden got here, it was to take us us to the Super Bowl. They didn't say, " ... to win the Super Bowl.' Well, he got us there. He's done that."

We ... us.

"If they lose -- not that it's even worth talking about because we're not going to lose -- I don't think people will be all that disappointed. Maybe I'm wrong."

They.

There will, of course, be residual effects, no matter the outcome.

"If they win the game Sunday," Gerson said, "the attitude at Gasparilla next week is going to be totally different than it's ever been before. I think it's going be much more enthusiastic even if they lose. Of course, they're not going to lose."

And if people feel much better about themselves and are proud to be part of the Tampa Bay community, he said, it might be reflected in a more positive attitude when it comes to doing business.

"People are more inclined to shop and do business with happier people," Gerson said. "If they lose there may be a cloud hanging over Tampa Bay, in which case Gasparilla coming a week later may be a good thing to pick us back up."

Three more potential after-effects of a Super Bowl victory:

-- Postgame riots. It happened in Columbus after Ohio State beat Miami for the national championship. It has happened elsewhere, too. Negative publicity from fires, smashed windows and other violence likely would outweigh whatever good comes from winning.

-- Unrealistic expectations. They probably will be enormous. There are 32 NFL teams; 15 have won a Super Bowl; nine have won more than one; six have won two in a row (Green Bay, Miami, San Francisco, Dallas, Denver and Pittsburgh twice). The odds that the Bucs will win Sunday: 2-1. The odds (disregarding coaching, talent, strength of schedule, etc.) the Bucs will win it again a year from now: 32-1.

-- Understandably faulty memories: The Bucs distributed 2,000 Super Bowl tickets. Double that (generously) to include tour-package buyers, scalped-ticket buyers and so on. By 2013, perhaps 30,000 Tampa Bay area Bucs fans will swear they were in Qualcomm Stadium Sunday. The number will increase year by year. Gene Sarazen says about a dozen people saw him hit his double eagle at the 1935 Masters; he also says thousands have told him they were there.

Until this season, many fans focused a lot on all the losing teams in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, and on the two first-round losses at Philadelphia after the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Painful memories, psychologists say, are far more likely to surface in times of stress and depression, and they're far more vivid.

But with Sunday's victory over the Eagles, Musante said, "Things are good and it's easy to forgive. Anything that's associated with that good thing becomes good."

The Glazers, for example.

"Look at all the stuff about the attitude toward them," Gerson said of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer and his sons. "Right now they're on top of the world. They're everybody's owner of the year, whether we win the Super Bowl or not.

"Was the deal for Gruden a good deal? Financially, no. Should a coach be worth that much? No. Did everybody want a new coach to replace Tony Dungy? No. But you know what? All is forgiven because Gruden got us where we've never gotten before. And if we win Sunday, when we win Sunday, Dale Mabry Highway may become Jon Gruden Highway."