From the Rhino Times:
"For about two hours Sunday night, real life and all of its headaches and hassles faded into the background, eclipsed by a collective effort from the Panthers that brought the team within one victory of keeping a promise owner Jerry Richardson made nine years ago. That’s when Richardson, fresh off being awarded an NFL franchise in Charlotte, said the Panthers would deliver a Super Bowl within 10 years.
Regardless of the outcome of the Big Game, I’d argue Richardson has already made good on his promise. Charlotte has its Super Bowl. Last Sunday’s win in Philadelphia has focused the national spotlight on Charlotte like no other event in recent memory. You can expect the attention to continue for the next two weeks, and my prediction is the Queen City will come out looking like the crown jewel of the South.
"A few years back, a friend from Cleveland who was an avid Browns fans paid me a visit and we caught a Panthers game. We were walking to the stadium when somebody commented that the NFL experience in Charlotte must have been a major let down from the vibe and feel of going to a game in tradition-laden Cleveland.
"Absolutely, my friend said, looking around at uptown’s skyline shinning under a Carolina blue sky: The city is clean, the buildings are new, and everybody is incredibly friendly.
“What’s the down side?” he asked with an incredulous shake of the head.
"Well, at the time, the down side was the Panthers were in the midst of a mediocre season with a record setting 1-15 disaster lurking on the horizon; and the gloom of Rae Carruth, the travails of Kerry Collins and the disappointment of Tim Biakabutuka still cast their shadows over the city.
"No doubt the national media will regurgitate that history, and likely even bring up the debacle that was the Hornets demise, in its onslaught of Super Bowl coverage of all things Charlotte. That’s OK; for every setback the city has experienced since Richardson brought the NFL to Charlotte, we’ve taken a giant leap forward.
"Which reminds me of another promise Richardson made when the Panthers fired former head coach George Seifert. It took place during a press conference after the Panthers were pummeled 38-6 by the Patriots in front of half-empty stadium.
“The energy has been sucked out of our organization and our fan base,” Richardson said at the time. And then he promised to reenergize that same fan base and bring prime-time excitement back to the stands and to the city.
"Panthers merchandise is flying off store shelves this week. Pictures of Panthers fans celebrating in the streets of uptown Charlotte are making headlines nationwide. The city looks like a champion and the best is yet to come – for both the team and for Charlotte.
"That’s a promise."