by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Admittedly, most of the action at a Jacksonville Jaguars home game takes place on the field. But a good seat and a passion for the game can also go a long way. Just ask the City Council.
Every season, the Council is issued 24 tickets to each home game, which allows members access to a private box located next to the mayor’s digs.
Ticket are usually distributed on a first-come-first-served basis by the Council president, though in recent years each member submits a list of four home games he or she would like to attend.
“But if they would like to trade with each other that’s completely up to them,” said Council president Elaine Brown. “After they get the tickets from me, I stay out of it.”
But it isn’t the posh seats, catered food and interesting company that make the games memorable. For Council members, their fondest Jaguar memories have nothing to do with seating arrangements.
Reggie Fullwood recalls when the announcement was made that Jacksonville had been awarded an NFL franchise.
“I was still in school at the time,” he said. “I was living in the dorm and there were some other guys who were from Jacksonville living down the hall. Out of nowhere I remember hearing them go nuts. They were yelling, ‘We got it. We got it.’ I couldn’t believe it because I figured we were such a longshot.”
Gwen Yates wasn’t even in the state when her Jaguars fan status was cemented.
“But it was still a very memorable experience,” she said. “I was on a train on my way to Washington, D.C. years ago for an installation ceremony.
“I believe we were playing Denver and I had a little radio and TV. so I wouldn’t miss any of the game. In fact, our entire car was screaming and cheering, which made it exciting. We actually won that game.”
Sharon Copeland shared her favorite memory with members of the 1995 Episcopal High School football team.
“My son was about 18 at the time,” she said. “So what we did was rent a limousine for all of the guys to take to the game. At the time we also had a private suite at the stadium so we all sat up there and had a great time. It was almost as much fun watching the guys as it was watching the game.”
Art Graham and Jerry Holland also share the same memory, even though they didn’t know each other at the time.
“Hands down the memory that sticks out the most was the 1999 game against Atlanta,” said Graham. “It was when Morton Anderson missed a field goal that would have won it for them.”
Graham, who was sitting in the South end zone, was actually on his way out of the stadium just before the play began.
“I figured it was over for us so I started making my way out,” he said. “I turned around just as he was making the kick. When he missed, everyone just start screaming and yelling. I just turned and started hugging the security guard.”
Holland was in the Family Fun Zone at the time.
“You couldn’t believe the level of excitement,” he said. “Everyone was completely stunned because we thought it was a sure thing he was going to make it. But we didn’t care because we won.”
The outcome of that game led to the Jaguars’ first playoff appearance, but it was another first that brought a tear to Brown’s eye.
“I vividly remember walking into Alltel Stadium for the first time and seeing the team take the field,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe that I was looking at Jacksonville, my home. It was unbelievable.”
The Jaguars host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 1 p.m.
About 6,400 tickets are still available for the game.