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10 year anniversary of the 2005 Giants

MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 10:34 am
The older you get and the more time you have in your rearview mirror, your perception of time changes with it. Things seem to happen so much faster. I cannot believe it has been 10 years since that season. I can't believe 1995-2005 and 2005-2015 covered the same amount of time, because the latter period seemed to pass so much more quickly......

Anyway, tomorrow is the exact 10 year anniversary from where that team began their journey, on a rainy and stormy preseason night in Cleveland that saw a 90 minute weather delay. It also saw the first of many Eli to Plax TD connections and the debut of this massive RB named Brandon Jacobs, who flashed serious potential that night. He also had a couple huge runs called back due to bogus penalty. I remember BBI that evening and the tangible excitement over the potential of this 6'4" freak.

2005 will always be one of my favorite seasons of all time, even with the playoff embarrassment. That was the season that the eventual 2x world champion program got a culture off the ground. So many memories from that year..... The Denver game, the 36-0 Mara game, tiki's monster campaign that ranked 2nd at the time in nfl history in yards from scrimmage. Clinching the division on New Year's Eve with Tiki Barber running 95 yards into the Oakland night. That season was so much fun. I also had the pleasure of going to 6 games that year, the only 6 regular season games I ever attended. That season will always be special

Thoughts/memories from 05?
Lots of great stuff from that year.  
Mike in Long Beach : 8/12/2015 10:39 am : link
Nothing topping this, of course...
Link - ( New Window )
Little tidbit from that game too  
Mike in Long Beach : 8/12/2015 10:42 am : link
We ended a ridiculous streak Denver had going with some BS. I'd be guessing at the exact amount of games, but they had an nutty streak of games without a turnover. But we got one on the final play after that TD when they were trying to lateral.
that damned Seattle game sticks out in my mind  
Greg from LI : 8/12/2015 10:44 am : link
On the one hand, it showed the Giants were legit as they went into a tough place to play and physically outplayed the Seahawks. Osi made a statement by giving the great Walter Jones fits.

On the other hand, awful penalties and goddamned Jay Feely cost them a huge win. Very, very frustrating game.

The other thing I remember most is the glorious asskicking they laid on the Skins in the game after Well Mara's death. Tiki ran wild, the defense chased Brunell all over the field, and it could have been much worse than 36-0 if the Giants had performed better in the red zone. They had a bunch of drives stall inside the 20 if I'm not mistaken.
I loved that season quite a bit...  
an_idol_mind : 8/12/2015 10:45 am : link
Even despite painful moments like the Seattle game and the playoff disaster.

Pierce going down killed that defense. If Jay Feeley had made one of those damned field goals in Seattle and the team had gotten a bye, it might have given the defense some health and given them a chance to do something in January.
Best moment I ever witnessed in person, Mike  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 10:46 am : link
That stadium was only about 65% full when they were down 23-10 in the 4th. Just an awesome feeling when that ball safely made it into Toomers hands.
:(  
Mike in Long Beach : 8/12/2015 10:46 am : link
MOM its funny  
hitdog42 : 8/12/2015 10:48 am : link
that season I went to the most games in my life as well- every home game and the playoff debacle.. I have never been to more then 3 games in a season since.

the chiefs game was one of my favorites--- so cold- so drunk- so much happiness in the stadium with Tiki vs. LJ.

I tried to take my CFA level 1 that fall but never studied due to Giants weekend priorities.

the panthers game was a disaster
In my personal lists of awesome Redskins beatings  
Greg from LI : 8/12/2015 10:49 am : link
That one might be #3, behind only the 1986 NFC title game and the 41-7 demolition in RFK in 1993.
Hitdog  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 10:54 am : link
The chiefs game was awesome. Tiki running for a then franchise record 220 yards on a Saturday night (he of course broke his own record the next season at Washington). I also met Mike in Long. Beach briefly at halftime of that one

That season I attended the Saints game, skins, broncos, Vikings, chiefs and Rams games, which are the only regular season games I ever went to outside of my semi annual pre season trip.
Jacobs had that....  
Ryan : 8/12/2015 10:57 am : link
...freakish preseason debut in Cleveland just ripping off huge run after huge run but most were called back.

Finally having an offensive line.

Fucking Darren Sharper. Losing 24-21 in a game where the only points the defense allowed was on a 48 yard game winner.

The Santana Moss game where he beat Will Allen on 2 long TDs and 3 total. Allen seemed irked after the game that he was being criticized and said something like, "It's not like he caught a dozen balls against me...".

Old Bob Whitfield whooping on a young and spry Jared Allen while Tiki goes for 200+ again. Also the return of Rich Seubert.

Having to sign guys like Terrell Buckley and Kevin Lewis just to field 11 starters on defense in Carolina.
I believe that season included Eli's first San Diego trip.  
bceagle05 : 8/12/2015 10:59 am : link
Many discussions have taken place here about when we first knew Eli was legit - to me it was that San Diego game early in '05. Eli went nuts in the first half of that game, but the Chargers just outclassed us and pulled away in the second half. It's funny to think about teams like San Diego and Philly destroying us in those first few years of the Coughlin/Eli era - they wound up ringless and we got two. How sweet it is.
RE: Jacobs had that....  
Greg from LI : 8/12/2015 11:01 am : link
In comment 12413924 Ryan said:
Quote:
Having to sign guys like Terrell Buckley and Kevin Lewis just to field 11 starters on defense in Carolina.


Don't forget the immortal Alonzo Jackson, who wasn't even an actual linebacker (or any good in the first place) yet was one of the starting LBs in that game.
Pre season that year  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 11:05 am : link
We already talked about the Cleveland game..... I also have some vivid memories from a home Carolina game I attended. Eli and tyree hooked up for a long TD pass that was at least 80 yards, maybe 90. Eli was great that night but his game and pre season ended early after Julius peppers injured his elbow, which caused a good deal of sweating around here. I also remember rookie Corey Webster stripping Panthers WR Steve Smith and forcing a turnover. I believe rookie Justin tuck also had an INT that night
Pretty sure 05 was also Tyree's pro bowl year  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 11:08 am : link
He was insane that season on special teams, just a monster.
Really liked this team.  
BrettNYG10 : 8/12/2015 11:10 am : link
Made 06 a disappointment even though they made the playoffs.
...  
Chris684 : 8/12/2015 11:11 am : link
I was at the Katrina game. The Chiefs game, and the playoff game.

I remember the first time we wore those hideous red jerseys against Dallas which was a good win.

The NYE game against Oakland was fun, also the night Brees hurt his shoulder in the earlier game which changed the landscape of the NFL from then until now.

Plax and Tiki together in their primes was a nice little combo on offense.
.  
arcarsenal : 8/12/2015 11:11 am : link
Still remember our first score of that season vividly. Eli hit Shockey on an inside slant.. kind of a wobbly ball but it got there and he scored from about 20 yards out.

I remember after that day thinking Eli was ready to be a legitimate NFL QB and that all the rookie stuff was officially over.

You could just feel that "new era" of Giants football beginning. It was a really exciting time.
.  
arcarsenal : 8/12/2015 11:13 am : link
We also finished that regular season up with 3 consecutive Saturday games which was a weird anomaly but I'll always remember that about the 2005 season.
05  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 11:16 am : link
Was also great to be an Eagle hater because of the complete mess that season turned out to be. Nobody was picking the Giants to win the division that year given how potent the Eagles were in 04 and were predicted to be again. The whole Mcnabb/T.O. Mess coming to a head while the Giants are getting a program started and taking the division
Jay Feely.  
Big Blue '56 : 8/12/2015 11:29 am : link
Cost us the best record
Just a fun year  
BIG FRED 1973 : 8/12/2015 11:33 am : link
me and my old crew @ 16C had great tailgates that season .The dallas game was a fun one with the snow .Nothing will beat the KC game though we rented a bus for that one and everyone was piss drunk lol fun times
I think I made it to my most games that year as well  
Wellington : 8/12/2015 11:43 am : link
The Katrina game, the Chiefs game, the Denver game and one other I can't remember.

I was a huge Tiki fan, that Chiefs game was unbelievable.

I had endzone seats exactly where Eli hit Toomer for the game winner against Denver. I remember I filmed it I just don't know where I saved the file. Sucks, the pop from the crowd was awesome.
That season was so much fun looking back  
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 8/12/2015 11:55 am : link
even with the disasters. I was at every home game, including Katrina.

The Chiefs game was a saturday, which I rmember vividly because a buddy of mine hired an RV service with a massive tailgate that was completely insane. then Tiki ran wild.

I had one friend leave the Broncos game early and missed the comeback. When Toomer scored, that stadium was an eruption of celebration.
i recall  
ANGPASS : 8/12/2015 12:19 pm : link
the team never losing two games in a row. I believe the reason everyone loves that season so much was because we got a brand new qb with so much promise and we were winning games.
I am legitimately inspired by your positive recollections...  
sb from NYT Forum : 8/12/2015 12:24 pm : link
...because for me, over the years I've focused solely on that shitshow of a playoff game (one that should have resulted in Gilbride's immediate replacing of Hufnagel, IMO).

Anyway, you are correct, this was the first step of a great string of seasons to follow.
very enjoyable and important season  
djm : 8/12/2015 12:52 pm : link
and now that we know how 07 and 2011 ended we can put the 2005 season in the rafters so to speak. IT's right up there with the 84-85 seasons...

I didn't go to the Broncos game but I did go to a lot of others--Rams, Saints and Chiefs among them. Fun season. The Chiefs game was a lot of fun. They all but clinched the division that night in my view. Chiefs weren't an easy team to handle and NY had to win to set up the final 2-3 games. Tiki was a beast.
the Saints game  
djm : 8/12/2015 12:55 pm : link
was by far the weirdest game I ever attended.

The Rams game was great too. I know the Rams sucked but that really was Eli's coming out party in many ways. The win coincided with a 4 TD effort from Eli. I know many point to the 04 Dallas or Pitt game or the 05 Charger or BRoncos game but for me, it was the Rams game. I knew we had an NFL QB after that game. Whether he was going to be a legend remained to be seen but I knew we had a QB that could light teams up after Eli shredded the Rams.
I remember being annoyed..  
Sean : 8/12/2015 12:57 pm : link
as a fan that we always heard, 'the Giants got an extra home game'.

I also remember being extremely frustrated watching the Sunday Night game (ESPN at the time) but impressed with Eli in a hostile environment.

The Seattle loss was brutal.
That Sunday Night game was San Diego  
Sean : 8/12/2015 12:58 pm : link
.
Djm  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 1:04 pm : link
I was at that Rams game too, I remember it being unseasonably warm that day for an October game and I got a nice tan going. Eli had what was a career game for him (to that point in his career) statistically. Plax was unstoppable that game and was on his way to a historic day before they took their foot off the gas some in the 2nd half. Toomer also had one of his best tip toe sideline catches (among the many such catches in his career) for a TD.
i got burned  
djm : 8/12/2015 1:10 pm : link
no tan ...it was very hot that day. I was upper tier in the sun all game long...
Sean  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 1:14 pm : link
The extra home game thing evolved into many memes here. Some things I remember about bbi in 2005:

- The "all year baby" slogan that came from a photo someone posted with Plax and speed lines

- the bus photo with our schedule and results that was updated weekly, I want to say by shepardsam but I'm not 100% certain

- people constantly trying to nickname brandon Jacobs but nothing stuck. I remember people calling him "Hightower" for a period of time


It was the most fun season on BBI  
LambuthSpecial : 8/12/2015 2:01 pm : link
"All year baby" meme

the bus

I forgot the specific user but someone kept doing some hilarious photoshops of Giants players onto popular movie posters.

I think most of the good mood was predicated by the team being the most enjoyable in years and young to boot. Sure, some of the Fassel teams were good but there always seemed to be some grim cloud hanging over them.
That was a very fun season  
NYerInMA : 8/12/2015 2:12 pm : link
despite the thud at the end. I was at the Katrina game in September with my dad. I remember the Saints missing a field goal off an upright and the crowd roaring. I also remember a Katrina fundraiser with Three Doors Down at halftime, bizarrely.
It was also the year I joined BBI..  
Sean : 8/12/2015 2:49 pm : link
I discovered BBI on St Paddy's day 2005 with the while 'Plax was seen getting a physical' thread. I was a lurker until November 2005 at which point I joined.

The offseason going into the 05 season was one of the best in franchise history. For not having a first round pick, that was a tremendous draft.
Things I remember about that season.  
St. Jimmy : 8/12/2015 3:27 pm : link
The Eagles went 0-6 in the division. Living in the Philadelphia area that was a great. I remember the last Eagles game in Philadelphia the Eagles were trying to injure Giants players. They were targeting the heads of Giants linemen to the point where Fox showed a shot of an Eagle diving shoulder first into a Giants' offensive linemen and Troy Aikman saying "I'm not sure what that's about." That game brought my hate of the Andy Reid Eagles' to an all time high.

I've never been as mad at a football player as I was at Jay Feely when he missed all those kicks in Seattle. Everything went down hill after that game.

Jacobs on kickoffs was a blast to watch.

I remember the game vs. KC where Toomer was almost tackled and the defender let up before his knee hit the ground and he ran for a TD. Game was a route but the score was closer than I remember 27-17.
Other than Katrina (good GOD, ten years flew by)  
JonC : 8/12/2015 3:39 pm : link
it was a fun offseason with all the speculation, leaks, and spending, and an even better regular season. Young talented team on the quick rise, with its franchise QB in place and a HOF DE with plenty of talent on both sides of the LOS.

Who woulda thunk they wouldn't win it all until after Tiki retired. It goes to demonstrate that one player can indeed be a massive distraction.

The extra home game  
St. Jimmy : 8/12/2015 3:44 pm : link
thing was annoying. The Cowboys fan at work was talking about that for 5 years afterwards it seemed.

It was also a real kick to the junk when the Steelers went to the Superbowl because Eli was terrible in the playoffs and Ben looked great until the Superbowl. I still don't know how that DB on the Colts got tackled by him and Vandershank was terrible.
i went to the cowboys  
Les in TO : 8/12/2015 3:45 pm : link
giants game in December. the defense made the stops they needed to in order to preserve the win.

the playoff game was a gong show, I expected a bad game from the defense given guys off the street were playing linebacker but the offense being shutout was brutal.

all in all, a successful season, the free agents started to make their mark, Eli made solid progress and they won the division in year 2 under the coughlin regime.

I would not call it one of my favourite seasons, but it was a good year.

I agree with your sentiments on the passage of time.  
GGGmen : 8/12/2015 7:34 pm : link
I haven't missed a GIANTS game in 21 going on 22 Seasons. The last 10 years have flown by. Sobering. Great Memories.
I really think there is some sort of scientific explanation  
MarshallOnMontana : 8/12/2015 7:48 pm : link
For the perception of time and how much faster it seems to go by as you age. I remember being 10 years old, a single year felt like an eternity because it was 10% of your entire life and experience of consciousness to date, but as you get older a year can seemingly fly by. I'm 34 right now, and age 24 to 34 just seemed to pass so much faster than age 14 to 24 did even though it was the same amount of time. I think that will only continue with every decade as you have more time in your rearview mirror
That's what all of my elders have always said to me and they're right.  
arcarsenal : 8/12/2015 8:01 pm : link
I remember when I turned 21, I was like "wow, I can't believe I am 21 already.. time flies".. and everyone would always say to me "you think time is flying now? Wait until you're 30.. and then 40. You blink and a year has passed"

I think a lot of it has to do with the way we fill our mental calendar so much more to capacity now than we used to. The older you get, the more you try to cram into each hour, day and week because there's just so much more that has to be done. When you're a kid you're always thinking of holidays and breaks from school and weekends and whenever you're kind of just "waiting" for time to pass, it always feels like it goes by much slower.

I've had a few moments this summer where I was reminded of something that happened last summer and had to do a double and triple take because I couldn't believe an entire year had already gone by. Those moments are starting to hit me now way harder and more frequently.. something will come up that happened in 2010 and my perception is that that is barely in the rear view.. but it's already 5 years ago. Half a decade.
RE: Sean  
Sonic Youth : 8/12/2015 9:04 pm : link
In comment 12414160 MarshallOnMontana said:
Quote:
The extra home game thing evolved into many memes here. Some things I remember about bbi in 2005:

- The "all year baby" slogan that came from a photo someone posted with Plax and speed lines

- the bus photo with our schedule and results that was updated weekly, I want to say by shepardsam but I'm not 100% certain

- people constantly trying to nickname brandon Jacobs but nothing stuck. I remember people calling him "Hightower" for a period of time



I still bust out ALL YEAR BABY in random threads. I'm also a 03/05er. Badge of pride.

I agree though. Great year. And great year of BBI also
I'm with mom  
hudson : 8/12/2015 9:55 pm : link
It was my 4th year in college, living in Boston, I can't believe its been 10 years.
RE: That's what all of my elders have always said to me and they're right.  
Sean : 8/12/2015 10:15 pm : link
In comment 12414897 arcarsenal said:
Quote:
I remember when I turned 21, I was like "wow, I can't believe I am 21 already.. time flies".. and everyone would always say to me "you think time is flying now? Wait until you're 30.. and then 40. You blink and a year has passed"

I think a lot of it has to do with the way we fill our mental calendar so much more to capacity now than we used to. The older you get, the more you try to cram into each hour, day and week because there's just so much more that has to be done. When you're a kid you're always thinking of holidays and breaks from school and weekends and whenever you're kind of just "waiting" for time to pass, it always feels like it goes by much slower.

I've had a few moments this summer where I was reminded of something that happened last summer and had to do a double and triple take because I couldn't believe an entire year had already gone by. Those moments are starting to hit me now way harder and more frequently.. something will come up that happened in 2010 and my perception is that that is barely in the rear view.. but it's already 5 years ago. Half a decade.


Yet so many of us wish time away because we want to get to the weekend. The common person lives for 2 off days a week. It's a crazy phenomena.
Odd thing about the 2004-2006 Giant defense.  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/13/2015 7:29 am : link
If Tim Lewis was so bad, why was his record with a reasonably healthy squad so good? (For example, check his winning percentage when Strahan played - and that's just one guy.) Is that the basic problem - that he couldn't overcome the adversity that every NFL coordinator encounters?
...  
BrettNYG10 : 8/13/2015 7:55 am : link
arc/MoM: I read in a book years ago that a lot of it is because of the frequency of events - meaning, when you're younger there's always something going on (things being novel also contributes to it). Mentally it's easy to mark events, and there's a lot more consistency to your life as you get older. The way to make life 'feel longer' is to have memorable events frequently and break things up (travel a lot, etc.).

But lol old people.
RE: ...  
arcarsenal : 8/13/2015 8:03 am : link
In comment 12415273 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
arc/MoM: I read in a book years ago that a lot of it is because of the frequency of events - meaning, when you're younger there's always something going on (things being novel also contributes to it). Mentally it's easy to mark events, and there's a lot more consistency to your life as you get older. The way to make life 'feel longer' is to have memorable events frequently and break things up (travel a lot, etc.).

But lol old people.


So, I was sort of in the ballpark.. maybe a little backwards. I think it's just natural for time to "feel" longer when you're waiting or unoccupied. Classes I didn't enjoy in school always seemed to take way longer than the ones I did because I was always checking the clock and time just seemed to crawl.

The old adage about time flying when you're having fun.
I think that theory and yours are consistent.  
BrettNYG10 : 8/13/2015 8:05 am : link
You're waiting for events when you're younger (Graduating, summer break, etc.), so you can mark time mentally by those events.

When you're older you tend to have a routine with less novelty - work, weekends, kids later on, etc.
....  
Route 9 in LEH : 8/13/2015 8:11 am : link
Great thread. Well, 2005? I graduated high school and I remember as soon as I could I got myself a Burress jersey. That off season was the most excited I've ever been for a Giants season ever, maybe all in sports. A thing we forget is the Eagles were heavily favored to win the division. I think that 2005 Eagle team was going to go back to the Super Bowl, however; McNabb's injury and TO nonsense sent them down the tubes. That season, I went to like 6 games.

There were so many close games the Giants lost, that if went their way could've been hosting home field advantage for the 05 playoffs. It's a shame that year ended with a 23-0 embarrassing loss to the Panthers, but the LBs and Cbs were shot and Eli played a real shit game. The NYE game I'll always remember vs the Raiders. Where did all the time go?
RE: I think that theory and yours are consistent.  
arcarsenal : 8/13/2015 8:14 am : link
In comment 12415280 BrettNYG10 said:
Quote:
You're waiting for events when you're younger (Graduating, summer break, etc.), so you can mark time mentally by those events.

When you're older you tend to have a routine with less novelty - work, weekends, kids later on, etc.


Well, you've still got some time.. once you hit 20 in a few years, things will seem to speed up a bit but it wasn't until my late 20's-now that time really started to move in a way that can sometimes feel impossible. #LOL30
RE: RE: Sean  
SwirlingEddie : 8/13/2015 8:16 am : link
In comment 12414983 Sonic Youth said:
Quote:
In comment 12414160 MarshallOnMontana said:


Quote:


The extra home game thing evolved into many memes here. Some things I remember about bbi in 2005:

- The "all year baby" slogan that came from a photo someone posted with Plax and speed lines

- the bus photo with our schedule and results that was updated weekly, I want to say by shepardsam but I'm not 100% certain

- people constantly trying to nickname brandon Jacobs but nothing stuck. I remember people calling him "Hightower" for a period of time





I still bust out ALL YEAR BABY in random threads. I'm also a 03/05er. Badge of pride.

I agree though. Great year. And great year of BBI also


LOL, I waited until June to sign up just so I wouldn't be a 03/05er! No shame in it now though. Happy anniversary guys. Alles Jahre, Baby!
Some other thoughts:  
Sonic Youth : 8/13/2015 10:40 am : link
Wellington, I may have your video on my computer at my parents house (if you posted it to BBI). All I know is I have a fan shot video of the Toomer TD. In 05, at 16, I named the file "thecatch.mpeg"... little did I know what was to come in a couple years.

Chris in Philly was the one who made the movie posters. Those were fucking hilarious.

My Dad and I usually sat down in 125, but we sat up in the 300s for the Chiefs game. It was awesome watching Tiki run through the Chiefs defense from that vantage point.

Similarly, for the Rams game, we were behind the endzone where Eli hit Burress for at least 2 of his TDs (I think). The way he snatched those balls out of the air was awesome. He was like a vacuum machine.

Finally: anyone else remember the TIKI MISSILE meme?

Sucks that people turned on Tiki. IDGAF what he said that hurt pweople's fweelings... he's a Giants legend and arguably our best offensive player (you can state the case that he was a better RB than Eli was QB, though Eli is definitely more important in the grand scheme of things).


That was a fun year, I was at every home game,  
Section331 : 8/13/2015 1:52 pm : link
but the playoff clunker is hard to get past. The Tiki game v Oakland was incredible. Talk about putting a team on your back!
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