Baltimore Ravens: 20 Years Later

It has been twenty seasons since the Baltimore Ravens played their first home game. They played against the Oakland Raiders and things have been a lot different since then.

Then

September 1, 1996. I was two years old and I don’t remember much. However, I do remember my uncle making a big fuss about the Raiders coming to town for the Ravens’ first home game. (my uncle is a huge Raiders fan) 20 years and two Super Bowl championships later, the Ravens are now a team that breathes success.

There was an attendance of 64,124 at Memorial Stadium during the first game, a stadium that I vaguely remember from my childhood. The Ravens wore weird looking uniforms, ones that I actually like, with big numbers and the infamous “Flying B” logo. Purple jerseys and black pants. A look that has been brought back in recent years, minus the “Flying B”.

I found a litany of pictures online. (some on Facebook, some from the Baltimore Sun)

You can see fans enter the stadium in the picture above, as well as many fans wearing a lot of purple. The birth of the Ravens had finally begun!

The players took the field and the fans went wild. Also, the Ravens had their first flyover in team history. It was a glorious occasion.

Then, the Ravens took to the field for the opening kickoff.

During this game, the proto-Ravens, played a game in which would solidify their history. It was a defensive battle for the most part.

Also, you couldn’t get more nineties than a Ravens Vinny Testaverde photo. He made fans excited about Baltimore football once again. He also ran amok on the Raiders defense.

The Ravens would win the first game in franchise history, 19-14. The rest of the season wasn’t pretty though. Baltimore finished 4-12, but Michael Jackson (not the King of Pop) and Derrick Alexander had amazing seasons. They both finished with +1,000 yards on the season. “Touchdown” Testaverde finished with over 4,000 yards passing and he also made the Pro Bowl.

Now

The Ravens are back in business. They have Joe Flacco back under center and Steve Smith Sr. will play in the first game. Breshad Perriman is back and they have a great deal to look forward to, although they finished 5-11 last season. Maybe Flacco will have his own Pro Bowl appearance like his predecessor Testaverde. This team is mostly healthy once again on offense and defense.

It is surely a far cry from the Ravens of old, playing at M&T Bank Stadium, not too far from the Inner Harbor. No more “Flying B” logo, but they have a bird head with a B in the middle. They have brought back the purple jerseys on black pants, as well as added a black jersey. (a fan favorite)

Next: Ravens vs. Saints: 3 Things to Watch

Usually new teams don’t have the pressure of finishing at the top of their division, but the Ravens aren’t a new team. They are 20 years old now and they are different. They are bigger, badder and most of all, they are a much better organization now. However, it is always fun to reminisce…