Posted on 01/24/2005 6:26:36 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
The Eagles' faithful suffered through three consecutive losses in the conference championship game, and when their football team made it to the Super Bowl on Sunday for the first time in more than 20 years, they erupted in joy.
"I've been to all the championship games, and this, I can't explain," said Easton resident Felipe Garcia as he sniffed back tears. "It's priceless. We deserve it."
Garcia was one of about 200 Lehigh Valley residents who rode one of four Trans Bridge Lines buses to the landmark game at Lincoln Financial Field.
"This was history today," said Jack Trimble of Bethlehem Township. "It was long overdue."
Fans counted down the seconds as the game clock expired to a thunderous cheer. Strangers high-fived outside the stadium as cars blared their horns.
Bethlehem Township resident Pat Wagner was there. He hasn't missed a game in the past four years.
"Finally, we won something," Wagner said. "It was awesome. There isn't much else to say."
Snowfall from the previous day and a half didn't affect the bus tour. The group traveled in style. One busload consumed six pizzas and an unspecified number of cases of beer while watching a DVD of Super Bowl highlights.
Wagner is following the Eagles to Jacksonville, but he won't be traveling quite as luxuriously. He will be one of 40 people crammed into two recreational vehicles.
"It only sleeps about five, so I'll be sleeping on the kitchen counter," Wagner said. "Go Birds!"
Wagner's sister, Julie, was "sick as a dog" but braved the frigid temperatures and made the trip.
"I'm proud of them," Julie Wagner said of the Eagles. "Finally, they broke the curse, or whatever it was."
Fans wore layers of clothing to brace themselves from the fierce winds and low temperature.
"It was very cold, but the energy kept us warm," said Scott Wolbach of Walnutport. His 9-year-old son stood on his seat for the entire game and postgame celebration.
"There was all kinds of fireworks and confetti flying around," Scott Wolbach said.
What a change from the past two years.
"I didn't eat solid food for a week the first year," said Denny Snyder of Macungie, who was referring to his diet after the Eagles lost the NFC Championship Game to Tampa Bay in 2003.
Garcia said he was offered $1,000 for his pair of tickets, but he turned down the offer and has no regrets. The longtime fan in the green and white wig said he's going to frame one of the ticket stubs and hang it on the wall in his garage.
"I cried at halftime," Garcia said. "I cried at the end of the game. I had a great feeling inside me that they were going to win this game."
The Eagles chances of winning are inversely proportional to the number of winbags on FR who insist that they won't win.Are you sure you meant that?
Vegas sez by at least 7
You got me. No I didn't. I plead excessive Yuengling Lager.
Don't be ridiculous, Fans can be happy. Donovan looked to be very focused on the next task at the trophy ceremony. Several other Eagles players made the same point -- that this isn't over.
There they go again, doubting us just like the media doubts GW. It's great to be misunderestimated!
Yeah,...here's the Pats problem, Andy Reid always wins after a bye week. Look it up, it's a fact.
Both these teams are balanced, talented, and well coached. It will be a great game.
Andy Reid's Eagles have never lost a game after a bye-week. Can't say the same for Bill Belichick. See Week 10 in 2000, Week 8 in 2002. Even when Philly went 5-11 in 1999 in Reid and McNabb's first year, we won after our bye-week.
"...A well-deserved ping to the Philadelphia Eagles!..."
OK, 'bout time. Now they have to start prepping for the New England Patriots. Not exactly chipped beef. They are not the kind of team to get your FIRST Super Bowl championship banner off of. The next two weeks will certainly be entertaining.
However, I feel for the veterans that helped build the franchise that are were not part of the team this year; Duce Staley, Troy Vincent, and Bobby Taylor.
They will forever be Eagles in my heart of hearts.
I was thinking the exact same thing last night.
LOL
They are not the kind of team to get your FIRST Super Bowl championship banner off of.I'm a frothing-at-the-mouth Pats fan, but you could say the same thing about our first SB victory over the '01 Rams.
So many posters here at FR were predicting that Michael Vick was going to help the Falcons trounce the Eagles in an easy win. Where are those "experts" today....and BTW where was this "Michael Vick"....it seemed to us that he didn't really show-up at the game!!!!
I'm an Eagles fan and I remember last year the same thing. Carolina will be creamed, but they only lost by a field goal and gave New England a run for their money. I don't know if the Eagles will win but if they are beaten I think they will make New England work for it.
So many posters here at FR were predicting that Michael Vick was going to help the Falcons trounce the Eagles in an easy win.I was one who thought that Atlanta would be victorious.
Vick was AWFUL, proving that the pocket quarterbacks who can actually pass are better than running quarterbacks.
Second, the Falcons defense stunk. My conclusion, if the Falcons and Eagles are the two best teams, the rest must really stink.
I pinged those posters who were predicting an Eagles's defeat, and I'm waiting for them to show up!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.