Sports - January 2004

Cats one game away from goal

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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Sure, the media circus on Wednesday was comparable to the Big Top, and sure our beloved Cats are just one game away from the Super Bowl… but for the Panthers, this Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles is business as usual.

“It’s one of these things where we know we’re so close. The fact is we still have a game to win. It’s just like any other game we approach. It’s a hostile environment, it’s a do-or-die game,” Panthers’ fullback Brad Hoover said.

Starting cornerback and playmaker Ricky Manning believes Philadelphia is the one that is under the most pressure, not the Cardiac Cats.

“They might have a little bit more pressure on them because they’ve lost this game twice already. They’re like, ‘We’ve got to do whatever it takes to win this game because we can’t lose this game again for the third time in a row,’ he said.

For the Panthers the situation is a fairly new one, with their lone NFC Championship game appearance coming in 1997. However, Manning and the Panthers are confident.

 “We’re just like, ‘you know what, let’s just go out there and do our thing.’ We gotta squad. Let’s do a good job and win this thing,” he said.

Panthers head coach John Fox believes that although the stakes are higher, the formula for advancing to Houston is simple.

“It’s going to come down to who executes the best is going to win the game,” he said.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle standing between Carolina and the biggest sports spectacle on earth is Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

“There’s no question he’s a great player and he can take the game into account himself. He’s done it for years, he’s a big reason why they’re where they are. His development is what has turned that franchise around. He is able to do it two different ways, both throwing and running,” Fox said.

Panthers’ sack master Mike Rucker believes the philosophy for stopping McNabb is easy, but it comes down to execution.

“A lot of people know what to do, but the problem is doing it. You got four guys up there against five so there are lanes that are going to be open, but you have to try to close those lanes with bodies and try to pin him in there, but that’s the hardest thing to do,” he said.

The Cats, as most know, lost a week 13 matchup against the Eagles 25-16, but Rucker feels that has no bearing on Sunday’s game.

“Na, you can throw that out the window. You still gotta play, you still gotta play for 60 minutes. You’re going to see a good football game,” he said.

Hoover, who scored a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Rams last week, like most of his teammates, is looking forward to the rematch.

“We know they’re a beatable team, we just have to execute. I’m excited and anxious to play ‘Phila’ again,” he said.

Sunday will mark the first time all season the Panthers will be playing in sub-43-degree weather. Fox, however, feels that makes no difference.

“All these players are from all different kinds of spots, so the cold is going to be just like the heat. We’ve been in some pretty diverse conditions. We may not have played in anything less than 43, but we’ve sure as heck practiced in it,” he said.

On defense, exempting running back Duce Staley out of the backfield, the Panthers will be going against a less than stellar receiving corps. Manning still believes they, as a unit, can make plays.

“They got some receivers that are known. You mentioned Thrash’s name and Pinkston, cats know who they are. Freddie Mitchell’s slowly starting to get up there too and making big catches. They grind it out and take respect instead of getting it,” he said.

Another Panther corner, Terry Cousin, believes they have divine assistance going into the rematch against the Eagles.

“I think the Lord really has his hand on this team with Mark and Sam— those guys being down with cancer. I just think the Lord is with us and I think a lot of guys need to recognize that it’s a spiritual power on this team,” he said.

   Divine assistance or not, the Panthers are just one game away from reaching their ultimate goal. A chance that Hoover and Manning relish.

“If you win, you go to the Super Bowl, if you lose you go home and ponder the whole off-season what you have to do right to get a win the next time,” Hoover said.

“Man, it’s one game away and we don’t want to put any more pressure on ourselves. We just want to continue to do what we’ve been doing and that’s having fun,” Manning said.

Edtior’s note: My pick for the NFC Championship game is:

Panthers 24 Eagles 20

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