Raiders mailbag: Readers share their favorite Coliseum memories
ALAMEDA — Based on the response, we’ll restrict this week’s mailbag strictly to fans and their memories of the Raiders at the Coliseum. Specifically asked about the last 25 years, but some of the responses went beyond that and are included.
Here goes:
@TravisBrown1000: We went in memory of my PSL holding father to the KC TNF in the poring rain during DC’s rookie year. We felt him there that night, as the fans earned that win to go 1-10. It was like we won the super bowl.
@macomboys: This Alaska boy made the Raiders-v-Dolphins Y2K playoffs. The coliseum halls after our 27-0 blowout win, were filled with the massive chants of RAAAAAIDERRRRS! The chants continued down 66th to Coliseum Way, to and inside of the Hegenberger hotel. Goosebumps then, goosebumps now.
@DjangoHoorides: Opening day, Bengals have a 30 pt lead or so by halftime. Pac Man slams Amari’s head in the turf. Almost step in some barf because every fan blacked themselves out in misery Raider employee said later, “we had 37 ‘splash shots,’ that’s a record.
@AliGuitron: My dad took me to my first game when I was 16 years old. I was able to take him to every home game for the past 14 years. He passed away in April (Cancer) I will cherish those games, mostly losing games, and the long car ride back to the Central Valley!
@AW_Glace: 2002 Patriots at Raiders game after the Tuck Rule. Probably the most pissed off crowd ever seen in the stadium.
@RaiderJim78: Saturday, December 28 2002. It poured the whole game and we shut out the chiefs not with the MVP Gannon’s arm but Garner and Crockett. We felt unstoppable. Stood in the black hole soaking wet loving every minute of it. Will be in that same seat Sunday, holding back tears.
@tonyraiders: 2010 vs chiefs, a rainy day and an electrifying finish that’s the day Jacoby Ford shined over flowers I will never forget!
@Hateful_Javi: Charles Woodson’s last home game. Crowd was electric, and the Coliseum was rocking.
@TonyBadilla: On a personal note: one solid memory came in the 1995 return to Oakland. Pops scraped together enough dough to take the fam to a game. We sat nosebleeds, stayed a bit after the final, and were treated to seeing Al walking the upper concourse with his entourage among the fans!
@RaidersUSA87: Last year, my one and only visit. Browns @ Raiders. We win in overtime for our first win of the season and Gruden’s first win back as the Raiders head coach.
Mike Nicosia (email): Best memory ever……..it was the 2002 AFC Championship game when we beat Tennessee. I flew out from Buffalo, NY with my 12 year old daughter. An absolutely terrific game and experience with her. We just sat there after the game so long she finally asked me “when are we leaving” and I said honey “I never want to leave”. Security had other ideas however……lol
@Kaopuanate: Charles Woodson’s rookie year George Atkinson took my mom & I to the game against the Redskins & we used the players entrace, saw the lockeroom, sat next to Ricky Henderson in the Westside club, watched George & JT the Brick do the pre game and went to sideline during halftime.
@IdahoSpence: More than 25 years ago, but I’d go with my father to Saturday practices and be able to climb all over the stadium on my own. I also worked the opposing team’s sideline for a year. After “the sea of hands” I cheered (no-no) and thought the Dolphins D line might do me bodily harm.
@WalkerJones2: Raiders have always been my favorite team since the beginning of the AFL. I was stationed in Monterrey during the season leading up to SBIII. I saw all the games in Oakland and the injury that Lamonica suffered against The Chiefs is still my biggest disappointment.
@DerekEvans20: 2016 win over defending Superbowl champions Broncos on Sunday night
@bpalacios04: When they won the AFC championship against Steve McNair and the Titans! Place was electric with overwhelming emotions through the coliseum. Or Brett Favre lighting them up after his dad died.
@RaiderE217: Janikowski 57 yard field goal to beat Favre and the jets in OT
@DamnFooleWClprs: Last game of 2002 regular season vs Chiefs and what had to be a foot of water on the field. Got soaked and loved it.
@cwolfe0313: I’m totally dating myself, but early to mid-70’s playoff games when people were told to bring black socks to wave. I was a kid then but fortunate enough to sit in 306 with my mom and dad. Had to stand up to see touchdowns in the south endzone…
@DeckardDugliss: At halftime of Raiders/Bears 12/13/81 seeing Howie Long receive Raiders “rookie of the year” or equivalent at midfield. Only time I’ve seen Walter Payton play.
@Pastork505: Been a fan since 76..first time at Raiders game .I went by myself..walking around during tailgating was EMBRACED as family..they feed me gave me plenty of beer..treated me like they knew me all my life..Raiders lost BUT I will never forget how I was treated
@Originalmexcano: Way back in the Gruden 1.0 days. Took my 5 year old and sat up in mt davis. My son went on to criticize def formations, gannon/offfense decisions to the point everyone around us kept staring at this 5 year old blurting out “not cover 2”
@OppDevLLC: First time at the Coliseum vs Chiefs on Thursday October 2017. Watched the @Raiders
with my brother as they won with a tying pass to Crabtree after 2 defensive penalties in the red zone. Will never forget that trip to Oak-town!
Jim and Katie Caldwell (email): Fan since 1977 from NY. Only trip out West was to see Raiders play SD in Sept, 2003 – OT win on a Janikowski FG. Great atmosphere, energy and tailgating!
@avendryl: I got club level seats through work for opening day 2009 & was having a drink with my friend at the bar & I saw George Atkinson walking by & I called out to him & said hello & he hung out & talked with us for 15 minutes-such a nice, caring man. JaMarcus went 12/30, 2 INT we lost.
@Motodad51499: I would say Tory James pick six against the Dolphins, Gannon TD run against the Titans in the AFC championship game, and C Wood’s last game.
@ScottyXCancer: 2002-03 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Raiders vs Titans…absolute magical feeling knowing we were SB bound…Metallica with an impromptu appearance before the game set the tone early. To top it off, a $100 bill blew against my pant leg as I exited through the parking lot. Quite the day…
Shawn Young (email): I think it was game 5 vs the Chiefs. Dan Pastroni gets hurt, back up QB Jim Plunkett comes in and throws 5 interceptions. We lose the game, win the Superbowl that year. Beginning of a era.
@thestraightleft: Tailgating in the parking lot before the first game of the season in 1995. I told my wife this was the happiest place on the planet. I still believe that.
@DavidHollowayY1: I live in the UK. Came over in 2000 to see Raiders beat Jets and clinch a playoff birth. I believe the crowd that night was largest in Coliseum history.
@BagleySports: 2002 Mud Bowl (Wk 17 vs KC). I was 8 years old. My dad swears I convinced him not to buy ponchos. We soaked in the upper deck. The win (and a shutout) made up for everything.
@SteveStanton_1: I can remember playing catch in the parking lot after a game with Gene Upshaw and Art Shell when they came to the tailgate. 70s. It was good then.
@omorales81: Favorite memories: being overwhelmed with emotions going to their first game back in Oakland in ‘95. Same tidal wave of emotions, borrowing from Al, at Charles Woodson’s last game/speech. I’m sure I’ll be overcome again this Sunday
@chato92259295: 1989. Rumors were going around that my team was coming back to Oakland. Tickets went on sale for a game at the Colliseum. What team has ever CAME BACK? Dodgers back to Brooklyn? Giants back to NY? ‘95 MY TEAM WAS BACK. Jumped on season tickets and never looked back.
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