I am a diehard Jacksonville Jaguars fan, and until recently, that was not popular fan base to be a part of. I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Jags emerged just a few years before I was born. Being a Jags fan can be hard, as we have not always been the most successful team. Although we have had notable alums such as Mark Brunell, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Fred Taylor, we have never made a Super Bowl appearance.
Regardless, we have an unshakeable fan base because these residents have been with the Jags through the highs and lows. Whether you like football or not, everyone should be a Jags fan. Here are 8 reasons you should jump on the Jacksonville Jaguar bandwagon.
1. Myles Jack Wasn't Down
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Let me just say this one more time- Myles Jack wasn't down. This reference has become part of every Jaxson's phrase book when referring to the notorious call made on Myles Jack in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. This bad call has turned into a phenomenon in the city, and for good reason. Beers have been created, t-shirts drawn up, planes have flown with a banner, signs are created, and people speak with this now famous phrase. This call cost the Jags their first Super Bowl appearance, as the call said Jack was down, even though it is quite obvious he wasn't. Thus, you should be a Jaguars fan because everyone likes fair game play, and this wasn't fair because, like I said, Myles Jack wasn't down.
2. DUUUUVALLLL
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Another famous saying that should be in every Jacksonville residents' vocabulary is DUUUUVALLLL. No, not Duval, because that's not how you say it. You have to drag it out, say it loud and proud, and wait for someone to shout it back to you in affirmation. Because, in Jacksonville we are DTWD (Duval Til We Die). If you were wondering where the heck this phrase comes from, Jacksonville is in Duval County, aka the largest county in the United States, and we don't let anyone forget it.
3. Underdog Status
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Everyone loves an underdog, especially when they get the short end of the stick. Here in Jacksonville, it seems that even when we have the best team possible, we somehow cannot make it to the Super Bowl. We can have an unbelievable team, equipped with a great quarterback, unstoppable offense, strong linemen, and a lock down defense, but nothing seems to ever fall in our favor. Therefore, people should root for us to take down the more historical and well-known teams, with the decades and decades of tradition and fan bases, so that new teams can rise up.
4. Blake Bortles
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Blake Bortles, or the BOAT as many Twitter users have begun to call him, is our quarterback. He was a 1st round draft pick from the University of Central Florida for the Jags. Since his draft, Bortles has progressively gotten better and better, and he has now shown he can go head-to-head with the best in the league, and he can defeat them. On September 16, Bortles faced the Patriots again, for the first time since the AFC Championship game. He simply outplayed who many consider to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady. Bortles had more passing yards, more passing 1st downs, longer rushes and longer possession time than Brady. Therefore, Bortles is on the rise, so Brady can sulk on the field in Foxborough.
5. Not the Patriots
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Listen, the only people who like the Patriots are Patriots fans. No one who roots for another NFL team finds themselves wishing the Patriots would win when they flip to a random game. They have cheated and gotten away with it (we will not forget deflategate), and are the sorest of losers. Tom Brady sits on the field or bench and sulks after every loss, like it's a surprise or something. Their reign of winning is closing, so they should hold their Super Bowl rings close to their hearts, because there is another leader emerging in the AFC.
6. Jalen Ramsey
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Jalen Ramsey is an impressive player on the field, but his antics off the field is what puts him on this list. He is hilariously unfiltered and tells other athletes just what he thinks of their abilities. His trash talking has become more and more prevalent through social media. When talking about Falcon's quarterback, Ramsey could not even remember his name, but he did remember to say that he is "overrated." He never ceases to let his feelings be known, and honestly, everyone should admire his honesty.
7. Everyone Looks Good in Black
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The Jags have some of the best colors in the NFL. Even though this seems like a superficial reason to like the Jaguars, it is a reason just the same. Black, gold, and teal are great colors, and they go together flawlessly. But black is the true standout color. Its slimming, it matches everything, and its chic. Black flatters every skin tone, never goes out of style, and it looks terrific juxtaposed against the teal seats in the stadium.
8. Jaxson De Ville
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Jacksonville arguably has the best mascot in the NFL. Jaxson enters each game in an interesting way, whether that is bungee jumping from top of the stadium or zip-lining down to the field from the scoreboard. He is frequently seen riding around on scooters or hover boards or piloting his golf cart. Jaxson is silly and funny, and he is extremely interactive with the fans
