Where, oh where, have all the fans gone?
Though the Jacksonville Jaguars are faced with disloyal and disenchanted fans due to a season of losses, some die-hard 'Jagmaniacs' will never leave their team's side
Andrew Pantazi
Issue date: 11/11/08 Section: Sports
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Sanders is one of only a few loyal fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguar fan base has a bad reputation as being one of the most disloyal fan bases around.
According to most loyal fans, they feel that they are in a separated minority with the majority of fans wavering from week to week.
"The blackouts at home games frustrates me most, although it hasn't happened yet this year, we have been notorious in previous years for having blackout games," Sanders said. "At FCCJ, I have heard students complain against the Jaguars. I'm not sure if those students would claim to be fans but it wouldn't be very surprising."
Chas Riggleman, a 19-year-old mathematics major, says that he is a diehard fan of the Jaguars.
When asked about whether he wavered during the Byron Leftwich drama, he said that he wanted Leftwich to have a chance to develop. He did not begin to dislike Leftwich until it had become apparent that David Garrard had developed into a better quarterback.
Riggleman attributes the disloyal fan base to the relative youth of the team.
"We've only been around for 12 years, we were inaugurated in 1996. We do have a loyal fan base but we are very small because we haven't had a chance to develop second-generation fans," said Riggleman. "Because we've only been around for a few years, we don't have many fans who have grown up watching the team. When the youth who were around six to 10 years old when the Jaguars were founded are capable to purchase season tickets, then we will have a more loyal fan base."
Riggleman predicts that in seven to 10 years, when fans who were six to 10 at the inception of the Jaguars are between 25 and 32 years old, the Jaguar fan base will really kick off.
Nathan Sauder, a 17-year-old student seeking his associates in arts degree, said that at FCCJ there are disloyal fans. Although he hasn't seen as much blatant disloyalty, he recognizes the presence of the fair weather fans.
"I know other people who are more loyal to their team than how loyal Jaguar fans are," said Sauder.
Sanders agreed, adding that the Oakland Raiders have the most loyal fans and he wishes that Jaguar fans would be as loyal as the Raider fans.
Around South Campus, there are St. Louis Rams jerseys, New York Jets hats, and New England Patriots shirts. However, there is little Jacksonville Jaguars memorabilia to be seen.
"I wear Jaguars stuff every day after they win. However, if they lose, then I don't wear any Jaguars apparel," confessed Riggleman, a season ticket holder.