Remembering Colt Fever, 33 years later. Were any of you there?

[BackinJax05]

^^ Didnt know that.

I was only 7 at the time, but I remember hearing the owner, Fran Monaco, ran the Sharks into the ground, so to speak.

[I-10east]

trolling "u mad"

Nah, just having a lil' fun. 

[BackinJax05]

I am to young to remember this, I do remember the Bulls. :-)

I remember the Bulls, too. The best game was where owner Fred Bullard came on the field to argue with officials over a blown call.

Are you referencing the game where the New Jersey Generals won by 3 when the referee slipped and said the General's field goal was good, and it was a little wide of the upright?

It might have been. I only remember Mr. Bullard on the field. He was MAD

What I DO remember is the USFL had really lousy officials.

[marksjax]

Ahh Colt Fever, guess it has been 33 years. Wow!

I was there along with a bunch of co-workers from Sawgrass where I was working at the time (not sure but we may have closed the restaurants in order to go). Thinking it was a Wednesday perhaps.

It was a very surreal experience and a heck of a turnout to show Bob Irsay we were serious. Probably got us on the NFL radar even way back then. Jake Godbold pulled it off. Not sure we have the chutzpah anymore to do something like that again (this made national news remember).

Trying to leave was an event in itself. I remember finding my school bus was too full and they wouldn't let anyone else on, so I got a boost and climbed thru the little bus window head first as the bus started to leave. This got a cheer from the crowd and added to the 'ambiance'. There may have been alcohol and other chemical substances involved but I can't remember everything.

To those that only know me as who I am today I assure you that I used to be much more fun, lol! 

Cheers!
Mark

[urbanlibertarian]

I was there in the stadium and had also sent in a check for season tickets in the end zone.  Seems like it was only like $140.  I got my money back minus a handling charge.

[I-10east]

People talk about Jacksonville, but Indianapolis is probably the luckiest city to get a NFL team. Irsay really wanted to move the Colts to Phoenix, but for whatever reason, the city of Phoenix botched up the deal, so Irsay hastily settled for the second option Indy. In Jax's case Wayne Weaver wanted the team here in Jax through, and through. The supposed 'ironclad STL Stallions deal' apparently wasn't so ironclad afterall.

Even though I can care less about Baltimore, I highly recommend watching the HBO documentary "The Band that Wouldn't Die" the story about the B-More Colts marching band; It gives great accounts concerning on what happened during Irsay's move to Indy, and the other cities (like Jax) that was in the race for the Colts.

[Wacca Pilatka]

People talk about Jacksonville, but Indianapolis is probably the luckiest city to get a NFL team. Irsay really wanted to move the Colts to Phoenix, but for whatever reason, the city of Phoenix botched up the deal, so Irsay hastily settled for the second option Indy. In Jax's case Wayne Weaver wanted the team here in Jax through, and through. The supposed 'ironclad STL Stallions deal' apparently wasn't so ironclad afterall.

Irsay seemed to have serious flirtations with Memphis too (though Phoenix surely was his first choice).  Then Phoenix nearly nabbed the Eagles before it got the Cardinals to move.

Irsay's choice of Indianapolis was borne not only of haste (the Maryland legislature basically forced his hand because it was deliberating seizing the Colts by eminent domain) but of a bizarre and overwhelming love for domed stadia.  He was obsessed with the idea that Baltimore needed to build him a dome, and one was in fact proposed as a new home for both the Colts and Orioles at one point.  The Indianapolis mayor said that Irsay fell in love with the Hoosier Dome and you could see him "mentally making the move" to Indianapolis while touring it.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Even though I can care less about Baltimore, I highly recommend watching the HBO documentary "The Band that Wouldn't Die" the story about the B-More Colts marching band; It gives great accounts concerning on what happened during Irsay's move to Indy, and the other cities (like Jax) that was in the race for the Colts.

I saw that and thought it was really entertaining, and a fascinating story.  But I didn't like the wanton insults of Jacksonville in the discussion of the 1993 expansion race, and I especially didn't like the completely uncritical portrayal of Baltimoreans' celebrating stealing a team from Cleveland after they had spent the first hour and a half of the movie moaning about how terrible it is to have a team stolen from your city.

Baltimoreans seem to really have a hang-up about Jacksonville.  Whenever the teams encounter each other the Baltimore Sun runs some whining about the 1993 expansion derby or (occasionally) Colt Fever.  When we beat them in the Monday night game last year, all the visiting fans had an epic "Jaguars to L.A." meltdown.  The irony of their having had a team taken away from them seemed entirely lost on them.

It really makes me glad that Jacksonville got its team via expansion rather than poaching another city's team.

[I-10east]

^^^Well said Wacca, I agree 100 percent. It's funny that two cities that lost the bid for the 93' expansion teams, Baltimore, and St Louis; Both of those cities since then have got a NFL team from other cities; Both of those cities have won championships since then in those cities (1999 Rams, and the 2000 Ravens) Only one of those cities STILL bitches, moans and complains about the Jags 'stealing the team that was supposed to be in B-More'. I never heard a Rams fan complain about the Jags existence; STL was actually in the race, unlike B-More.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Good point.  St. Louis columnists did some whining in the immediate aftermath of the expansion derby (I believe it was Bernie Miklasz who asked "Do they have cable TV in Jacksonville yet?"), but they haven't clung to bitterness the way Baltimore has by any means.

[fsujax]

How about when Charlotte was all over us when they were awarded the Panthers and we had to wait.

[danno]

I was there with my dad... I remember Mayor Jake hyping it up... Come on doen for the free hot dogs and cold dranks.

[Ocklawaha]

This was before my time, but I do know the history. Knowing him, I highly doubt Jake had bought Irsay's line. He used the situation to let the league know Jacksonville was serious, and clearly it paid off.

I'm with you on this on Tacachale. Perhaps I can shed a bit more light on this subject and open a can of speculation.

The Date, about 1984. A close friend of mine (remember I was all over the city government selling the streetcar idea through the agency of the DDA which adopted the project) came to my house for dinner with our wives. My friend was highly placed in the Chamber of Commerce and city government at that time. In the course of after meal discussions on rebuilding our city, I tossed out the remark in an offhanded way, 'Hey --- do you REALLY think we'll ever get an NFL team here in Jacksonville?' Suddenly ---'s mood changed, he seemed uneasy, reminiscent of the ridiculous 'Have you ever seen an F-5 tornado,' scene in the movie twister, he leaned forward and quietly said, 'Bob, it's a done deal,' that's all I can tell you.

I moved on the following year to Orlando, OKC, Valdosta and ultimately Colombia, I lost track of my old friend though I have heard his name mentioned from time to time. Now that I'm back home, I have no idea what was REALLY taking place, but your assumption that Jake played Irsay, seems to fit the story as I know it.

'Bob, it's a done deal...' Imagine that.

[BackinJax05]

Even though I can care less about Baltimore, I highly recommend watching the HBO documentary "The Band that Wouldn't Die" the story about the B-More Colts marching band; It gives great accounts concerning on what happened during Irsay's move to Indy, and the other cities (like Jax) that was in the race for the Colts.

I saw that and thought it was really entertaining, and a fascinating story.  But I didn't like the wanton insults of Jacksonville in the discussion of the 1993 expansion race, and I especially didn't like the completely uncritical portrayal of Baltimoreans' celebrating stealing a team from Cleveland after they had spent the first hour and a half of the movie moaning about how terrible it is to have a team stolen from your city.

Baltimoreans seem to really have a hang-up about Jacksonville.  Whenever the teams encounter each other the Baltimore Sun runs some whining about the 1993 expansion derby or (occasionally) Colt Fever.  When we beat them in the Monday night game last year, all the visiting fans had an epic "Jaguars to L.A." meltdown.  The irony of their having had a team taken away from them seemed entirely lost on them.

It really makes me glad that Jacksonville got its team via expansion rather than poaching another city's team.

I love the way Baltimore bashes us. They should really look in the mirror. Baltimore is one of the filthiest cesspools on the eastern seaboard. Dirty, run-down, and graffiti EVERYWHERE. No wonder they're so quick to bitch in Baltimore: they're jealous of us!

Sure, Jacksonville has its problems - but at least it isnt Baltimore!   I have family in rural Maryland. They dont like Baltimore, either. As for me, I have nothing against the state of Maryland. Its beautiful, and they have one of the most interesting state flags of the 50 states. I only dislike filthy, disgusting Baltimore - and have felt that way long before Colt Fever.

[Wacca Pilatka]

^ I'm from Maryland and believe me, I hear you.