Keep Pounding: A Rebuttal to Steven’s Recent Article

The "Keep Pounding" Drum of the Carolina Panthers

I know this is Steven’s site, and he’s entitled to post whatever he wants — just like every fan has the right to follow (or not follow) their team however they choose. But I wanted to offer a different perspective here on Prowled Sports: one that calls for sticking with and continuing to support the Carolina Panthers — no matter how frustrating or painful it’s been.

There’s no denying it — the Panthers have been through a brutal stretch these past eight years. Only the Jets have posted a worse record over that span. In a league built for parity, being this consistently bad for this long almost feels impossible. And yes, this dark era has coincided with new ownership and plenty of questionable decisions along the way.

But to truly appreciate the highs, you have to endure the lows.

I remember watching this team go 1–15 in 2001 — only to make a magical Super Bowl run just two years later. That Cardiac Cats season was all the sweeter because of the heartbreak that preceded it. You can’t fake that kind of payoff. You have to live it.

And this isn’t just a Panthers thing. I’ve seen the same story play out in my other teams — the highs and lows of High Point University athletics. I’ve watched our soccer team lose in penalty kicks in the Big South title game, the lacrosse team fall at home to Richmond, and the men’s basketball team bow out early in the conference tournament more times than I can count. It would’ve been easy to stop watching. To “take back my weekends,” as Steven suggested. But if I had, I would’ve missed it all — the soccer team knocking off UNC in the NCAA Tournament, the lacrosse squad avenging Richmond on their own turf, the baseball team’s shocking College World Series run that included a win over Vanderbilt, and that unforgettable basketball comeback over Winthrop last March.

When we blew that lead against Longwood, it felt like our best season ever had died on the court. Watching the Lancers celebrate in our house hurt. The drive home was brutal. But when the team stormed back from 15 down to earn a Big South title and an NCAA berth — all the heartbreak, all the waiting, all the doubt — it was suddenly worth it.

So yeah, maybe I am naive to still have hope in Bryce Young and this franchise. Maybe the English were right — it’s the hope that kills you. But I’ve also seen an undersized linebacker become our first Hall of Famer — and give this team its defining mantra.

I’ve seen the smallest player in NBA history lead the Hornets to a playoff win over Boston. And I’ve seen flashes of greatness from our diminutive signal-caller, too, including today’s comeback victory over Miami.

Even if he’s not the answer, and even if this rebuild drags on far longer than we want — I’ll still be here. Still watching. Still caring. Because one day, it’s going to turn. And when it does, it’ll be that much sweeter because of everything we went through to get there.

In short — I’m still going to Keep Pounding.