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Published on 10/08/2007 at Mon Oct 08 05:10.
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Paging Denver’s 12th Man

Posted Mon Oct 8th by

“If you’re going to be a Broncos fan, be a Broncos fan. Don’t boo us when we’re down–that’s bandwagon. When we start winning, then what? We make our mistakes and we’re going to lose… and you all stay in those seats. I love you all to death, but at the same time, that’s not first class. We win here. You guys know that we win, and you have your ups and downs in football.” — Brandon Marshall 10/7/07

When I was working in Tampa I helped premiere a little indie documentary that followed a few Tampa Bucs fans two years prior to their Super Bowl win. These are fans that believed in their team without a Super Bowl ring. These are fans that filled a stadium for 14 straight losing seasons. These are fans like I remember Denver fans to be back before our Super Bowls…

The scene from that film that will forever define being a fan for me happened after one terrible loss on the road. One fan left his house at 1am in the rain to go to the Buc’s headquaters to catch the team bus as it arrived from the airport. That fan stood in the pouring rain for over an hour so that he could hold up a hand-made sign that read “The 12th Man still believes!”

That, my friends, is a football fan.

If you truly only want to see your team win, you’re not a fan – you just like watching the game. If you can’t keep your seat and cheer for the home team even when they’re down (sometimes by a lot), you need to turn over your seats to people who will. If you want to boo and throw things, stay at home.

This team needs to see that it’s fans have not abandoned them. This team needs to have the moral support of fans that believe even in the ‘dark’ times. This team needs an upgrade at 12th Man.

For all you ‘fans’ that left this game in the third quarter… You have NO RIGHT to celebrate Denver’s next Super Bowl victory.

Shame on you.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Excellent post Jonathan – in fact, I was sitting down to work on one regarding the same subject when I saw it up. Obviously I couldn’t agree more.

    I don’t pretend to be any wiser than my age, and at that I’m just a young pup of 23. But I’ve read about the history of the Denver Broncos franchise. I’ve taken it upon myself to learn how the fans of the 1960’s rallied around a back to back to back to back losing franchise, continuously selling out games and standing by their team, win or lose. And much, much more often, lose.

    Without a doubt, those fans of that era would look upon yesterday’s 12th man with disgust and shame. Those fans “got” it – this isn’t some movie they’re attending, where if they don’t like it they have the right to leave.

    It’s an attitude like that that perfectly illustrates why so many dislike the new Mile High. These aren’t opera seats people. If you’re lucky enough to attend a Broncos game in Denver, you’re not going for the entertainment value (or at least you shouldn’t be). You should be going to show your Broncos pride. To support the team. To scare the living crap out of the opponent when they witness you among the sea of orange and blue.

    Give up on the team and they will surely give up on you.

  • http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

    Clearly all three of us are on the same page; I was planning to write something along these lines this week. I remember twenty years ago when the town went Orange and Blue for a team that wasn’t particularly good. And it had ups and it had downs, but even during the downs, the fans were still fans.

    People can say what they want about how the Broncos are sucking this year, but today’s fans are spoiled. I have this fear that todays Broncos have a very large pool of fair-weather fans.

    Mock us for our optimism the team will turn around, but even if they don’t, I am a Broncos’ fan, through thick and thin, through the good and the bad.

  • ChampSB3233

    Amen to all of that.

    Yesterday clearly was an embarrassment — from the players to the coaches to the fans. Are things rough right now? You bet. Did the weather get cold and wet? Sure did.

    But this is Denver, people. Home of the best home-field advantage in the sport. The altitude. The maniacs in the stands. The commitment to winning. The place where every game has sold out since before the merger.

    And while I can’t think of a more embarrassing time to be a Broncos fan, and that includes 55-10, I’m still a fan. Period. I still follow them religiously and have the faith and confidence things will turn around.

    But it’s got to start with the home field. It’s not as loud anymore. It’s not as passionate. I don’t know if it’s the two Super Bowl wins and we’re just a spoiled lot or what, but either be a fan or don’t be.

  • Crosshare

    Don’t quite agree with you all but that’s ok. Johnathan, I feel really bad for you having that be your first home game and all, what a terrible performance. I was one of those “fans” that left at the start of the 4th qtr. I am not, and I will yell this as loud as I can, AM NOT A BANDWAGON JUMPER. The mass exodus of fans was a protest to the team. If you’re not going to show up and put your best effort on the field, we’re going to let you know. I personally didn’t see the point of watching San Diego score 10 more points. Because I didn’t feel like watching that makes me a bandwagon jumper? No, no it doesn’t. I will be there in 2 weeks to watch them play Pittsburgh and yell just as loud as I did Sunday. I will go fight it out and see them play Green Bay only to go to work the next day on 3hrs or sleep. I do agree though, the fire Shannahan nonsense needs to stop. I am still proud of my team, I just don’t think they had it yesterday, and I didn’t want to witness anymore of it. One thing you won’t see from yesterday on tv is this… Guess which part of the stadium was cleared out half way though the 2nd qtr, when it was still a game? The club level, this is where your opera crowd was. The rest of us, we were just disgusted and will pick it up again next week and come yelling just as hard.

  • Bill Berger

    Shame on you is right! I live in Seattle and would pay a lot of money to see the Broncos live 6-7 Sundays a year. Nevermind the Broncos getting beat by the Chargers, nevermind that the run defense is struggling, but seeing the stadium empty in the middle of the 3rd quarter, that is terrible, I was stunned seeing that on espn. You are acting like Seattle fans; excited when they win, booing when they lose. I hope the Broncos get the support they deserve against the Steelers this Sunday. Somebody send me some money I will be there and stay the whole damn game even if its 42-0. Broncos for life!!!!

  • hercules rockefeller

    I hate to be the dick in the room, but…

    I don’t blame anyone for leaving that game early. Hell, you won’t find a bigger fan than me, and I quit watching it 5 minutes in to the second half. I think asking fans to hang around just so they can fully experience the worst home battering in over four decades is a little much.

    A loss is one thing. Yesterday was something else entirely.

    Brandon Marshall is cluless: “dont boo us when we’re down, that’s bandwagon.” You were being booed because you deserved to be booed, plain and simple. There are higher expectations around here and rightly so. This is a winning team and has been for the last 25 years. We won’t suffer what happened yesterday with a smile and an “aw shucks, that’s ok boys, you sure tried your best.”

    If New England or Indy came out next week and got beat by 38 in their building they’d get booed too.

    I think a better quote was from Tommy Nails: “Can’t blame them”

  • http://BoltTalk,com Curtis E

    I can understand the frustration in Bronco Land. I expected the Chargers running game to have a big impact, but the success Rivers had in passing pleasantly surprised me.

    Best of luck on the remainder of the season.

  • TustinBronco

    Hercules you are right on. I have been a Bronco fan since 1977. Shit, that is 30 years. (Freaks me out actually). Anyone who calls me a bandwagon fan because I refuse to watch/support the garbage the Broncos put on the field this past week (and for most of this season for that matter) can lick my sweaty sack.

    All I want is the Broncos to give it all they have, have a stout “D” and not be laughing with your opponents during the last few minutes of a game where you are getting blown up (check the tapes – Brandon Marshall was laughing on the last couple of drives).

    I support the Broncos. I do NOT support the horrid product they are producing right now.

    PERIOD.

  • BroncoFan

    I am huge fan but yesterdays game was painful. If you watched yesterdays game and did not feel the pain, that would make you not a fan. Have you ever had a child suffer an injury and be unable to be there holding their hand while the doctor set the broken bone or stitches the wound? Do you not love your child if you can’t bear to watch or have to plug your ears to not hear the screams? Yesterday the Broncos were whailing I couldn’t bear to watch. Can they turn it around? Maybe. Can they make the playoffs? Maybe. Am I not a fan because I say maybe instead of yes? No. I’m glad the fans made a statement at the stadium yesterday. The Broncos can not continue to pitch this – we are doing what we need to win Super Bowls – every off season and then put this product on the field. Shanahan has hired these coaches, signed these players, blown several drafts, and been completely unimaginative in his game plans. I, as a fan, have a right to be pissed off and demand better for my dollar. Would I care if this was a rebuilding year and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel? NO! I’d stand by and enjoy watching the team grow and develop no matter the record but this team (used loosely) was billed as a contender. Spare me your drama of standing in the rain to hold the 12th man sign. I’ll walk 100 miles in the snow up hill both ways if it would wake Bowlen up and make him realize Shananhan can not build a team, only take someone elses good team over for short term success. Say what you want, I can hear you pathetic losers bashing me now. You are probably the same guys that are in denial that your women are cheating on you or whatever. OPEN YOUR EYES and you can still be fan. Go Broncos!! Prove me wrong Mike!! I’ll wear my Cutler jersey proudly around town today (CA) but will not deny our team has some issues that need to be addressed quickly.

  • broncobilly32

    I see your point Tustin, I saw that too (Marshal laughing). I sure as hell don’t want to lick your sack, so I am not calling you a bandwagon guy.

    I do think the fans walking out was lame, but I agree that Shanny has some serious ‘spalaing to do. Who is this “genius” d-coordinator? How is he better than Coyer? And why do we get 2 strike pot heads for running backs?

    Broncos for life.

  • John Berry

    Im a long time bronco fan and always will be. But when your team is losing 41-3 and the entire bench is hanging their heads, what does that show the crowd? it shows that they have given up, that they know they arent going to pull out a win. once they were down by a ton, i didnt expect them to pull out a win, but would at least like to see them put forth a better effort!! as far as marshall’s comment, that guy needs to re-think what he said!! the rockies stadium hasnt been filled consistently for the past 12 yrs. the only time that stadium is filled is when a big name in the MLB comes to town, aka yankees,red sox, cubs. other then that, that place never sells out. NOW, look at the broncos attendance, sell out wk after wk regardless if they win or lose. so when marshall is comparing bronco fans to the rockies, that guy has no EFFIN’ CLUE!!! he lived in the shoes of the rockies for 1 quarter. try living in the shoes of any of the rockies players for 12 years. then tell me about being a fan and how we should act, your paid millions to play a sport. the FANS pay an extensive amount of money to go watch and support the team! but when you mouth off like that to the FANS, you should expect the attendance to drop cause no one likes to hear that type of BS from the players. maybe he should sit with JOHN LYNCH and see how a professional speaks and acts after and embarrassment like that. so i’ll tell you, im one of those fans who left b4 the 4th quarter started, as well as the 14 other people i was with cause our team gave up on us, 1 by showing that they wouldnt put forth an extra effort and 2 by hanging their heads. not a great IMAGE to show your fans. i know you have ups and down in fball and thats apart of the game. I know after the bye week, i’ll still be there supporting them but BRANDON MARSHALL needs to PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE TO THE FANS FOR HIS COMMENT. Mike Shannahan should go to the “pay per performance” method and then maybe you would have classier players then what marshall showed the 4.7 million people of colorado.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    At least Marshall showed me something few others on the Broncos roster have shown – passion. Fire. Heart. He’s outwardly frustrated at our loss, and in his frustration he called out the fans for leaving the game.

    At least he cares. Some of these guys, I’m not so sure.

  • TustinBronco

    Kyle,

    Go back and watch the game. Tell me which Denver Broncos receiver was LAUGHING and SMILING during the 4th quarter while he was on the playing field?

    I think you’ll come to regret your post.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Real quick, Tustin, love this healthy debate we’ve got going on. Nothing better than two Broncos fans butting heads after a loss, seriously. I appreciate your opinions and hope you know you’re always welcome to post them here.

    Re: Marshall laughing, I didn’t see it (CBS dropped game coverage), but I’ve heard about it. You’re right. And I had forgotten I’d heard about that. Absolutely garbage of him to be laughing on the sidelines.

    Don’t get me wrong, I blame the players/coaches 100X more than the fans for yesterday’s loss (the fans weren’t playing out there, after all). The performance the players put out there… the criticism pretty much goes without saying.

    But I’m not giving the fans a pass out there either. Fans leaving in the middle of the third quarter? C’mon… there’s still a lot of football left to be played, and there’s just no hope for a comeback without a home crowd to cheer you on.

  • John

    I am a long time Bronco fan. I have stuck with the Broncos through thick and thin. But let me tell you, I have never seen a Broncos team with so little fight in them. That’s what was embarrassing. That’s what the players should be ashamed of. That is why fans don’t have to sit in their seats (that they payed good money for) to watch a team play with no heart. I don’t have a problem with the Broncos losing a game…It’s the fashion in which they lost…hanging their heads and giving up. I just hope when I go see the next games that they put forth a better effort, win or lose.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I would like to start by saying that I appreciate your comments as well. The thing I find most interesting is the divide between remote fans and home town fans. It seems like us out-of-towners look at being at these games as such a special thing to attend (because we don’t get to see them very often – if ever). The three families I met in the airport yesterday morning that flew in for the game ALL stayed until the end (as did I).
    On the other hand, many of the die-hard fans (and regulars on our blog) who live in Denver and can attend games more regularly seem to have less of an issue with fans that left.

    I’m not judging anyone in this observation, I’m just pointing it out. I think this conversation we’re having is a great way to discuss what being a fan is about. As that is not a set definition, but one that varies for every person.

    I’m also not giving a blanket pass for the masses of fans that left that game, but I think comments like Broncofan’s about how it was just too painful make me understand better why some fans left.

  • TustinBronco

    Kyle,

    All right, it is Tuesday and I can finally come up for air after that horrendous loss.

    While I am truly not supportive of people leaving the game early, last Sunday was an unusual circumstance (41-3 and all). I was not at the game and I am not sure how I would have reacted. I might have left early, I might have not. But, regardless, the product currently on the field sucks. Plain and simple. We, as fans of the greatest football team on earth, should be demanding more from ownership on down.

    However, I took great offense to the suggestion made by some on this board that somehow I am a bandwagon fan because I am PISSED about this season so far (I know you did not make this suggestion).

    Finally, I support the team. I don’t support Shanahan, Bowlen or Cutler. I support the Broncos. The team is greater than any one individual. Therefore, I believe that if someone is not not acting in a way that makes the team better, they need to go posthaste.

    Brandan Marshall is a wonderful receiver. His laughing in the 4th quarter broke something for me. Elway or TD would not have been laughing during such a loss.

    I apologize if I was being snarky before. It is not my intent to be disrespectful but man, the Broncos are putrid and I am not happy. They could easily be (and some would say should be) 0-5 right now.

  • BroncoFan

    Just one more thing about “the Master” and his coaching prowess at Denver (courtesy of the Rocky Mountain News):
    Notice only 4 times in 12 years have the Broncos had a better winning percentage after the bye than they did before it . . . that puts Denver on pace (on average) to finish with a record of 6 – 10.
    Year Record at bye Record at finish
    1995 4-4 8-8
    1996 5-1 13-3
    1997 6-0 12-4
    1998 6-0 14-2
    1999 4-7 6-10
    2000 4-4 11-5
    2001 *7-7 8-8
    2002 6-2 9-7
    2003 5-4 10-6
    2004 6-3 10-6
    2005 6-2 13-3
    2006 2-1 9-7
    *Sept. 16 Game Postponed After Terrorist Attacks And Bye Did Not Come Until Dec. 23.

  • http://bmnw-stop.blogspot.com Hallux Valgus

    I absolutely support the fans leaving. I would have as well. Brandon Marshall absolutely, positively QUIT. If there’s one person who has no right to call out the fans, it’s Brandon Marshall. I don’t care how good he gets- I’ll always remember it. Not only was he laughing, but he was jogging through his routes and making half assed attempts at passes. It was pathetic. Brandon Marshall can go screw.

  • BroncoFan

    Very nicely put HalVal.