We Are Jaguars: A House United

We Are Jaguars shirts may be purchased for $5 from area Football Fanatic & Sports Mania stores, as well as the Jaguars Official On-Line Store

In four days' time, the Jacksonville Jaguars will open up their 2010 regular season against the visiting Denver Broncos. The Jaguars have several events planned for fans on game day and have designated it "Teal Sunday". Everyone attending Sunday's game is asked to wear teal to show their support for and loyalty to their hometown team.

Football is, of course, a team game. And one should try to refrain from allowing one's focus to stray from the performance of the team to that of any one individual, be he friend or foe. Additionally, one must always remember that respect and admiration are very separate from pride and loyalty. And while an enemy's accomplishments may garner him much respect and admiration, he remains but the enemy; a threat to our pride and a walking insult to our loyalties.

We must never forget ourselves and the banner we represent. Our accomplishments are great as well. And if we hope to earn the esteem of our neighbors, we have to believe for ourselves that we are worthy of it. We have to believe that we are great.

Greater than any other city. Greater than any other team. Greater than any other individual.

Now, you may be thinking , "This presentation of the situation is quite 'over-the-top'. My affinity for another cause or creed in no way lessens or affects my dedication to our own. There are "gray" areas just as in most aspects of human confrontation." However, in this instance, you could not be further from the truth.

There is no gray. There is teal, and there is everything else.

We need you to be "all-in". When outsiders step onto our turf and look into the stands of Everbank Field, they must know exactly where they are and who they are dealing with. Any form dissent will be viewed as nothing short of weakness. We need to show the world that we are one. We are strong.

If you are a religious person, you need only look as far as Mark 3:25 to see our plight and hear our call: "...if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

Sides must be chosen and we must all stand together. One unified house against anyone that stands in our way. We know who we are. The question is: Do you know who you are?

I write articles about the Jaguars for Jagsonville.com. You can also find us on Facebook. I'm looking forward to your comments and feedback. Thank you for taking the time to read my posts.