NcDeuce
09-08-2003, 02:48 PM
Titans catch revenge
By JIMMY TRODGLEN
The Leaf-Chronicle
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Robert Smith/The Leaf-Chronicle
Grammy award winning artist LeAnn Rimes sings the national anthem before the start of the Tennessee Titans' Sunday night game, while 5th Special Forces Group soldiers, who recently returned from Iraq, hold a giant American flag.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20030908/localnews/214521-77209.jpg
NASHVILLE -- In an attempt to reach the Super Bowl for a second time in five years, the Titans opened the 2003 season under the lights of the Coliseum against the team that kept them from reaching last year's Super Bowl.
Before a capacity crowd of 68,809, and a prime-time nationally televised ESPN audience, Titans quarterback Steven McNair picked up where he left off last season throwing for two touchdowns in the Titans' 25-20 win over Oakland.
McNair was only part of an impressive display Sunday that witnessed a punter playing the role of a placekicker, and members of the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell taking a lead role in pre-game ceremonies.
Minutes before player introductions and the season's opening kickoff, an enthusiastic crowd gave 300 Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces a standing ovation. Covering 70 yards of the field, the Green Berets unfolded a giant American flag at midfield while LeAnn Rimes sang the National Anthem. Titans tailback Eddie George brought the celebration to another level when he entered during player introductions carrying a U.S. flag.
For the Titans, who were blown out by the Raiders in two games played in Oakland last season, beating the Raiders was the perfect way to start the year.
The Raiders beat the Titans 52-25 during the regular season, then the two teams met in the AFC Championship game with the Raiders pulling off an equally dominant performance, winning 41-27.
The anticipation surrounding the Titans' season opener was already at a fever pitch with several NFL prognosticators picking the Titans to win the Super Bowl. It was heightened even more with the rematch against the Raiders. The Titans came on the field in an alternative jersey wearing a navy and white uniform as a way to remember the franchise when it was in Houston as the Oilers.
McNair led the Titans to a touchdown on their first offensive possession. The Raiders came back to take a 10-9 lead 1:06 before halftime on Rich Gannon's 46-yard touchdown pass to former Tennessee Vol running back Charlie Gardner.
The Titans regained the momentum when punter Craig Hentrich, filling in for injured placekicker Joe Nedney, hit a 49-yard field goal as the first half ended. Hentrich also hit field goals of 34 and 33-yards in the second half.
By JIMMY TRODGLEN
The Leaf-Chronicle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Smith/The Leaf-Chronicle
Grammy award winning artist LeAnn Rimes sings the national anthem before the start of the Tennessee Titans' Sunday night game, while 5th Special Forces Group soldiers, who recently returned from Iraq, hold a giant American flag.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20030908/localnews/214521-77209.jpg
NASHVILLE -- In an attempt to reach the Super Bowl for a second time in five years, the Titans opened the 2003 season under the lights of the Coliseum against the team that kept them from reaching last year's Super Bowl.
Before a capacity crowd of 68,809, and a prime-time nationally televised ESPN audience, Titans quarterback Steven McNair picked up where he left off last season throwing for two touchdowns in the Titans' 25-20 win over Oakland.
McNair was only part of an impressive display Sunday that witnessed a punter playing the role of a placekicker, and members of the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell taking a lead role in pre-game ceremonies.
Minutes before player introductions and the season's opening kickoff, an enthusiastic crowd gave 300 Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces a standing ovation. Covering 70 yards of the field, the Green Berets unfolded a giant American flag at midfield while LeAnn Rimes sang the National Anthem. Titans tailback Eddie George brought the celebration to another level when he entered during player introductions carrying a U.S. flag.
For the Titans, who were blown out by the Raiders in two games played in Oakland last season, beating the Raiders was the perfect way to start the year.
The Raiders beat the Titans 52-25 during the regular season, then the two teams met in the AFC Championship game with the Raiders pulling off an equally dominant performance, winning 41-27.
The anticipation surrounding the Titans' season opener was already at a fever pitch with several NFL prognosticators picking the Titans to win the Super Bowl. It was heightened even more with the rematch against the Raiders. The Titans came on the field in an alternative jersey wearing a navy and white uniform as a way to remember the franchise when it was in Houston as the Oilers.
McNair led the Titans to a touchdown on their first offensive possession. The Raiders came back to take a 10-9 lead 1:06 before halftime on Rich Gannon's 46-yard touchdown pass to former Tennessee Vol running back Charlie Gardner.
The Titans regained the momentum when punter Craig Hentrich, filling in for injured placekicker Joe Nedney, hit a 49-yard field goal as the first half ended. Hentrich also hit field goals of 34 and 33-yards in the second half.