By RICK STROUD, JOANNE KORTH and ROGER MILLS
Published September 13, 2003
TAMPA - The Bucs have checked their homework. That's why Jon Gruden is nervous about Sunday's opener at Raymond James Stadium against the Panthers.
A year ago, in Gruden's coaching debut with Tampa Bay, his team rallied to tie then lost to the Saints in the home opener.
"What we don't want to do is have a big win on the road and come back flat the next week," Gruden said. "Certainly our opening game last year at home there were great expectations, people were looking forward to it and there was a loud thud, if you ask me. I remember it vividly. I had a hard time going to my coffee shop and getting coffee in the morning that whole week following the game. We have to play much better than we did. We can't turn the ball over. We have to get off to a quick start, get our crowd into the game or we're in for a long day.
"We like to think there's an advantage, but at the same time, if you don't play at a certain level, all the help you can get from your fans doesn't matter. We're going to get as much help as the people can give us. They've proven that for a long time. We've just got to back up their enthusiasm with that of our own and play a great football game. If we're not, we've seen what can happen against Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Nobody is invincible if you're not on top of your game."
Something else will be different when the Bucs take the field at 4 p.m. - it still will be daylight. Eight of their past 11 games, including the postseason and preseason, have been at night.
The Bucs' last day game was the Super Bowl, and they last played in daylight at home in the divisional playoff against the 49ers. Gruden plans to substitute frequently because of the heat.
"We'll have to substitute, perhaps more so than later in the season or during an evening game," Gruden said. "If Tampa wants to blow the hot weather at you, man, it doesn't matter whether you play at 1, 4 or 7. I know this, John Wade and Brad Johnson, that's the No.1 sweat battery in the NFL."
SNEAK PREVIEW: When you write a book, some juicy stuff comes out. In Gruden's soon-to-be-released Do You Love Football? Winning with Heart, Passion and Not Much Sleep, written by Vic Carucci, Gruden recalls his time working for Raiders owner Al Davis.
"Al wore distinctive cologne that I can smell to this day," Gruden said in the book. "I knew he was coming down the hall before he ever got to my office. Al called me by a nickname, too, but it wasn't "Chucky.' It was "Butch,' although I never knew why.
"He'd say, "Butch, did you see the right corner on this play?' I'd fast-forward the tape and watch the play with him to see what the cornerback was doing, or not doing, that bothered him. Or he'd ask, "Butch, did you watch the left wing on the punt team? We're going to get every punt blocked."'
Gruden admitted his first reaction to Davis' involvement wasn't favorable, but that changed.
"At first I looked at such comments maybe negatively, like he was questioning every single thing we were doing," Gruden said. "Then I started looking at it as if I was Al and I owned the team and it was all I cared about. I started thinking I'd probably be the same way."
PUT ME IN COACH: With defensive tackle Warren Sapp playing on offense, and considering defensive tackle Anthony McFarland and cornerback Ronde Barber took snaps with it in training camp, the two-way player is an intriguing possibility.
Aside from them, are there any other Bucs who want to play on the other side of the ball?
"I have a tough enough time just doing my job, so I don't want to play anybody else's position," left tackle Roman Oben said. "Maybe I could play on the kickoff return hands team."
It is members of the defense who usually play offense. But cornerback Brian Kelly, who said he could play split end if needed, volunteered one player.
"Keyshawn (Johnson) played a little safety for us at USC," Kelly said. "He came in on suicide plays. I don't know if he wants to hit anybody."
DON'T BE LATE: The Bucs are asking fans to arrive early because of security procedures and a special pregame presentation commemorating the Super Bowl season.
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats no later than 3:30 p.m. for the pregame festivities, which include several video presentations and a military flyover.
INJURIES: Defensive tackle Ellis Wyms, who has not played in three weeks because of a sprained ankle, practiced Friday and should be active for Sunday's game. Fullback Darian Barnes, who was questionable with a knee sprain this week, has practiced the past two days and should play. Defensive end Greg Spires (groin sprain) will play, Gruden said.
