Raiders No Longer Winless, 1976 Bucs Gather for Rochambeau

By Espen Jockovitch

With the Oakland Raiders’ 22-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, the NFL’s last winless team of 2006 fell by the wayside, leaving the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the only team to complete an entire NFL campaign without a win in the modern era. As is the tradition for the 1976 Bucs, the surviving members of the team will commemorate the unparalleled futility of that legendary season by gathering for their annual rochambeau tournament.

“The ’72 Dolphins always get together when the last undefeated team loses to celebrate their perfection," explains then-Bucs quarterback, now-University of South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier, “so we only found it fitting to do the same to celebrate ours.” A notable difference is in the degrees of perfection and methods of celebration. The 1972 Dolphins won all their games including the Super Bowl, a feat which also has never been equaled, so they gather to drink champagne and rub their rings together. “We, however,” continues Spurrier, “mark our unmatched embarrassment by kicking each other in the nuts until only one man is left standing.”

Due to his continued active lifestyle as a major college head coach, Spurrier is expected to win his fourth straight ’76 Bucs Reunion and Rochambeau Tournament, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday October 24th. “I sure hope I win and win quick,” stated Spurrier, “I need to get back to Carolina as soon as possible to get my team ready to face a tough Tennessee Volunteer squad this Saturday.” When asked how he thought he would fare in his second ‘Cocks-and-Vols-kicking contest this week, Coach Spurrier simply flipped the reporter off and winced in apparent anticipation of Tuesday’s event.