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Here's something you can believe in

By GARY SHELTON

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 3, 1998

believe.

Repeat after me, brethren. I believe. Say it strongly. Say it with conviction of a convert. Say it about the Bucs.

I believe. The words come hard for some of you, don’t they? For so many seasons, we have been a community of heretics, a place where a fan’s only protection has come in being a non-believer. When it came to the new coach or the new draft pick or the new season, we were agnostics. It was safer to disbelieve. Smarter, too.

Ah, but this is different. When a team is no longer faceless, the fans no longer must be faithless. When national publications mention the Bucs these days, the words that accompany them are “Super” and “Bowl” and “Contender.” The result is that fans feel a raw, burning, desperate desire they have not felt. They want to believe.

Surprise, surprise. I believe, too.

I believe in Tony Dungy’s calm. There is no more waiting, no more wanting, for the man to yell into a face that needs it. I believe in Dungy’s approach. More important, so do the players.

I believe we can finally stop making fun of the ticket scalpers along Dale Mabry.

I believe 100 percent that Trent Dilfer will have a good season. I believe 23 percent of fans will recognize it.

I believe the opening of Raymond James Stadium, on a game day with no dress rehearsal, is going to be a disaster of national proportions. I believe the Glazers gleefully will apply for national relief funds.

I believe Warren Sapp will like his seats just fine – on top of the quarterback.

I believe Bert Emanuel will catch eight touchdown passes. I do not believe he will turn into Alvin Harper along the way.

I believe jersey No. 80 is cursed. Usually by the home fans.

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows. I believe if those flowers are sold, the Glazers get the first $2-million off the top.

I believe if Bobby Beathard wants to offer another No. 1 draft pick for next year’s third-rounder, Rich McKay should pick up the phone.

I believe Mike Shula has enough tools on offense, finally, to make those cannons in the end zone sound like a drummer playing Wipeout.

I believe I will make Derrick Brooks the early line favorite for team MVP.

That said, I believe Hardy Nickerson continues to be the most important player on this defense. And I believe more players than just Hardy believe it, too.

I believe in magic. Which is to say, Warrick Dunn’s feet.

I believe they will discover those wedge-shape cheesehead hats are made from old insulation and cause the loss of IQ points. I believe Packer fans have enough of a sense of humor to laugh at that, but I could be wrong.

I believe John Lynch’s family will be nervous at the next family reunion. I believe they better be.

I believe Mike Alstott’s hip will be fine despite the weight of his wallet.

I believe the Bucs will begin a ring of honor. I believe it will be a small circle.

I believe Viking fans will take up the chant “No Mas.” I believe they will be talking about the old coach, not the new receiver.

I believe the Bucs will return a kickoff for a touchdown. Although I believe, with this defense, they won’t get as many chances as most teams.

I believe you’re about to see a lot of Bucs in locally produced commercials. I believe someone should introduce Dilfer to Cy Spurlin.

I believe that if the WWF is paying attention, Frank Middleton could handle Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone.

I believe Chidi Ahanotu will re-sign with the Bucs. Maybe his signing bonus can come in the form of club seats.

I believe if a Bucs rookie hits the wall this year, no one may hear the impact. Who counts on rookies anymore?

I believe if Anthony Parker played a little more off the ball, he would be in the 727 area code.

I believe the Chicago Bears are going to change coaches this year. Since they are so intent on becoming the old Bucs, I believe they will interview Sam Wyche for the job.

I believe Brad Culpepper would look great in dreadlocks.

I believe Jimmy Johnson will miss the playoffs with the Dolphins. I believe he’ll blame Don Shula again.

I believe Lorenzo Neal will be the most loved man in the locker room because of all the dirty work he is willing to do. That includes spackling the stadium.

I believe Paul Gruber is going to the Pro Bowl. I believe it’s about time.

I believe when the kinks are worked out, RayJay will be such a great stadium the Glazers won’t ask for another for six, maybe seven years.

I believe 11-5 sounds about right.

I believe the Bucs are going to beat the Packers this year. But not in the playoffs, where they will lose 21-17 in the NFC title game to Green Bay.

I believe in one more year they will reach the Super Bowl.