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?
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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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anyway, you are correct, this was the first step of a great string of seasons to follow.
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 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 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.
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
- 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 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.
But lol old people.
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.
When you're older you tend to have a routine with less novelty - work, weekends, kids later on, etc.
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?
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
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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!
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).