Panthers recall '03 slide

Panthers recall '03 slide
Team slumped after fast start

Panthers fullback Brad Hoover remembers that 2003 showed 'that you can be 8-2 and still go in the tank.'
Charlotte Observer Photo by David T. Foster Iii


CHARLOTTE - The Carolina Panthers, winners of eight of their first 10 games this season, have been here once before.
In 2003, after beating the Washington Redskins 20-17 at Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers' record also improved to 8-2.

Then something bad happened to the Panthers: They lost three consecutive games.

But then something good happened: They won their next six -- including three in the playoffs -- and advanced to the Super Bowl, the peak moment in franchise history.

Is there a lesson there for this season's Panthers?

"Sure," said fullback Brad Hoover, one of six starters this season who played on the 2003 team. "It shows that you can be 8-2 and still go in the tank."

The 2003 and 2008 editions of the Panthers got to 8-2 in different ways. In '03, the Panthers won their first five games, which remains the fastest start in franchise history. They went 6-5 the rest of the regular season -- including consecutive losses to Dallas (24-20), Philadelphia (25-16) and Atlanta 20-14 in overtime) -- to finish 11-5.

This season's Panthers are riding a four-game winning streak (after starting 4-2) to reach this point.

There are other similarities -- aside from the fact that the Panthers still rely on players such as quarterback Jake Delhomme, Hoover, offensive tackle Jordan Gross, receivers Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad and defensive end Julius Peppers.

"We hope to avoid that by learning from it," Hoover said. "We lost our consistency then and we've still got to find it this season. I wouldn't say we thought the season was slipping away. We knew we'd jump out of it. And when we did we clinched the division.

"It's tough, though. As easy as it is to go 4-0, you can easily have four go in the 'L' column."

Cornerback Ken Lucas wasn't with the Panthers in 2003.

He played with the Seattle Seahawks then, his third season in the league. He's aware now of the Panthers' midyear problems of that season.

"I assume they lost some of the fire and edge that got them to that point," Lucas said. "This team can learn from that."

Panthers coach John Fox doesn't see any similarities.

"Every year has a new personality," Fox said. "The team is different, the coaching staff is different. I don't think that will come to too many of these players' minds."

I hope we don't skid like that but it does look really possible.

We better not lose that fire.

I think if we go on a losing skid it will be because of the level of competition....not complacency. This team knows what they have to do and they realize that they are playing for playoffs, first round bye, and homefield. They'll be geeked to play....I think the question will be "Can they execute?".