By Aidan Eller

For the first time in eight years, the Carolina Panthers have made it back to the NFL playoffs. This team has seen many seasons of frustration, rebuilding and uncertainty. What does this mean for us and all of North Carolina? Not only has the team’s success brought joy back to Sundays at one for the Carolinas, it has revived the city of Charlotte and Bank of America stadium. 

The Panthers’ playoff appearance is not just football; this is what the team means to North Carolina. Our state takes a lot of pride in sports – from college basketball to high school football or professional teams trying to win it all. When the Panthers are winning, it gives the whole state something to rally behind. Having something to connect with a group of people is so valuable, especially in the divided world we live in.  

For many years, Panthers fans have been stuck in a cycle of “maybe next year.” This season finally worked towards changing that and brought hope. The team did not just improve, they finally found their identity. Even though the season was a rollercoaster, that was part of who they were. This team won every game that they were the underdogs in and that can bring hope to those who feel like an underdog in their everyday life; their run was so inspiring.  

Star player Bryce Young perfectly embodies this philosophy – he is an undersized quarterback that has gone through ups and downs, even to being benched and losing his starting position. At the point he could have given up, but he did not and when he got his opportunity, he made the most of it, leading this team to the playoffs and having the best season of his career. This can be an inspiration for us all to never give up, trust the process and deal with setbacks. For the fans who have stayed loyal even with losing records and coaching changes, the playoffs feel like validation – like sticking it out finally paid off. 

Inside the Bank of America Stadium, the energy is completely different than it has been in the last couple years. There have been times when the stadium was almost empty and getting tickets were cheap and easy. This season the crowd did not just cheer, it roared.  

“Being at that game reminded me of what it felt like when I went to my first Panthers game in 2015,” says long-time fan and student Logan Dutka about the playoff atmosphere. “The stadium was electric, everyone was excited and you could feel that the fans believed in the team again. The Bank is definitely back!” This life in the stadium leads to energy all over the state, connects people and brings joy to all fans. 

What makes this so important is the stadium is not just a place to watch football, it is a place for families, students, lifelong fans, first-timers and people of different backgrounds to have belief and hope. In a state that has seen its share of sports heartbreak, and a country that has been through a lot recently, hope is powerful.