A flood of green, white and black filled the Lincoln Financial Field parking lots last night, as tailgaters awaited the Philadelphia Eagles' first game in their new stadium. While the result against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was not what Eagles fans hoped for, there was fun to be had in the parking lot before the game.
While there were a number of Bucs jerseys scattered around, most of the T-shirts with Tampa Bay's logo on them read in bold green letters, "Bucs Suck."
Some fans, such as Todd Moyer, came as early as 1 p.m., eight hours before kickoff.
Moyer and his buddies -- all first-year season ticket holders -- played poker and grilled steaks.
"We've gotten our money's worth," Moyer said. "When we got here, there was only one other car here.
"Over there! That red truck!"
After parking problems arose during the Eagles' preseason games, many fans like Moyer came early to ensure they received parking.
Others, such as Chris Dumon, a medical resident at Penn, took the Orange Line on the subway to the game.
For Dumon, it was only his second football game, his first coming on Aug. 22 when he came to watch the Eagles face the New England Patriots in the preseason.
However, the majority of tailgaters were long-time season ticket holders.
James Casey, who graduated from Penn in 2001, came to the game with 2000 University graduates Jeff Miller and Ben Schmidt. Casey's family has had season tickets since 1962.
"We heard about the parking issues and decided not to drive," Miller said. "There's not enough parking.
"Until Veterans Stadium gets knocked down, there will be problems with parking."
But for those with reserved parking, there didn't seem to be any issues.
Art Merz, who has had season tickets since 1960, offered a simple solution to the parking problem.
"It's the way the country works -- if you pay, you get reserved parking," he said. "We thought it was worth it to pay, given the traffic around here."
Jack Mather, a Penn alumnus, also had reserved parking and had no trouble finding a space.
"We got here early," Mather said. "There was no problem whatsoever."
Mather has had season seats since 1959 -- "and I'm only 43 years old!" he joked.
Parking issues aside, the fans were excited for the season to start. However, some of the more prescient fans, as it turns out, weren't all that confident in the home team.
"It's going to be a close game," said Dave Brandt, season ticket holder since 1987. "I think the Eagles will go 9-7, maybe get the wild card."
"They won't be as good as last year," his wife Karen added.
Even long-time season ticket holders such as Mather mirrored the Brandt's sentiments.
"I think the Bucs are going to win," he said. "But nobody else seems to."
For fans such as Moyer, however, there is no such thing as doubting the Eagles.
"The Bucs suck, as do all of the Bucs fans that keep wandering by that we heckle," he said. "Fuck the Bucs.
"Quote me on that, I don't give a shit."
