Some former Bucs actually like orange uniforms

Tampa, FL-- Fans love to criticize the Bucs' old orange creamsicle uniforms, and that swashbuckling winking pirate on the helmet, Bucco Bruce.  They're coming back for the Throwback Game, Sunday, against the Packers.  But a couple of Bucs, who played in the late 70's, loved those uniforms.

"I came in not really thinking about the uniforms and that kind of stuff," said 1976 Buccaneer Parnell Dickinson.  "They're still good-looking uniforms to me."

In 1976, the Bucs drafted Dickinson in the 7th round, out of Mississippi Valley State.  That first year of the franchise, he was the backup quarterback to Steve Spurrier.  And back then, orange was beautiful.

"I was having an opportunity to fulfill a dream that I had that I thought would never come true," remembered Dickinson.  "Me being from a small black school, being African American and coming to the National Football League and being drafted as a quarterback."

David Lewis was drafted by the Bucs in the 2nd round, the next year... his reaction?

"To be honest, I said, oh no!," remembered Lewis.  "Honestly, it's not about the color of the uniform.  It could have been purple, it could have been all yellow.  The issue was we're in the NFL and we want to prove that we're worth being in the NFL."

These Bucs did prove that they belonged in the NFL.  From laughingstock of the league in '76 and '77, to one win away from the Super Bowl in '79.  Suddenly, no one was laughing at those creamsicle uniforms anymore.

"I'll take that 1979 team against any team from '79 til now," said Lewis.  "I don't think anybody was faster, bigger, or better."