By Ryan Kalil Backs Up his Full-Page Newspaper Ad Predicting a Super Bowl Victory for the Carolina Panthers
August 7, 2012 – 6:30 am by Brad Gagnon
The Carolina Panthers have been far from shy this offseason. The team has a franchise quarterback and high expectations (at least compared to usual). They’re so confident, in fact, that offensive tackle Ryan Kalil took out a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer that stated why the Panthers will win the Super Bowl this season.
Ryan Kalil joined the Mac Attack on WFNZ in Charlotte to discuss his full-page add predicting a championship for the Panthers this season, the mindset of the team, and if the Panthers season would be disappointing if they don’t in fact win it all.
On the ad:
“The big thing was it was for the Panther fans. It was for the Carolina Panther fans, so in that regard it’s been pretty positive. But the cool thing about it is it’s upset a lot of other people and a lot of other fans who aren’t Panther fans, and to me that’s pretty cool. Because I’m a fan myself, and if it has kind of unofficially kick-started the season, then that’s pretty exciting.”
On the team having that mentality regardless of the ad:
“The attitude, the mindset of the team was already there, whether I wrote that or not. And really, the point of the letter was to kinda include the fans and get them involved and kind of let them in on how things are changing, how the culture’s different here. And that starts with Coach Rivera. So yeah, it’s funny what it’s kinda become.”
On if this means anything short of a title would be a disappointing:
“Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Because the Packers won all those games last year, and I guarantee you, talking to all those guys, they would have rather gone to the Super Bowl. That was a great season, wasn’t it? And that’s what you expected from them, is to win all those football games. But I just think obviously that’s why we play — the ultimate goal is to go to the Super Bowl, to win the Super Bowl. And so whether I wrote that or not that’s what I would’ve been saying. That’s what every team says in the league. Every team sits in there and they say, ‘This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to go to the Super Bowl. We’re going to win the Super Bowl.’ And that’s the mindset you have to have. The only difference is I’m just saying this year’s been different. Because in years past, it’s been a lot of hoping and wishing and that kind of thought process. Maybe we’ll win a couple more games this year, maybe we can make the playoffs. And it’s different, man. We’re going for the gold and that’s the mindset. And rightfully so, that’s how it should be.”
Listen to Ryan Kalil on WFNZ here
Tags: Carolina Panthers, NFC South, NFL, Ryan Kalil
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