Dawg Pound

Last updated
Official logo as of 2015 2015 Dawg Pound.png
Official logo as of 2015

The Dawg Pound is the name of the bleacher section behind the east end zone in Huntington Bank Field, the home field of the Cleveland Browns, a National Football League (NFL) franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Contents

Formation

East end zone bleachers at Cleveland Stadium, home to the original Dawg Pound ClevelandMunicipalStadium1993Outfield.jpg
East end zone bleachers at Cleveland Stadium, home to the original Dawg Pound

According to Hanford Dixon, then a cornerback with the Browns, Dixon himself gave his defensive teammates the name "Dawgs" to inspire them before the 1985 season. The Dawg Pound started during the 1985 training camp at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland. Dixon and fellow cornerback Frank Minnifield started the idea of the pound by using the dog-versus-cat relationship between the quarterback and the defense. "We had the idea of the quarterback being the cat, and the defensive line being the dog," Dixon said. "Whenever the defense would get a regular sack or a coverage sack the defensive linemen and linebackers would bark." This attitude carried into the stands at the training camp, where fans started barking along with the players. Dixon and Minnifield then put up the first "Dawg Pound" banner in front of the bleachers before the first preseason game at old Cleveland Stadium. The bleacher section had the cheapest seats in the stadium, and its fans were already known as the most vocal. They adopted their new identity whole-heartedly, wearing dog noses, dog masks, bone-shaped hats and other outlandish costumes. [1]

Notoriety

Dawg Pound fans quickly developed a reputation for misbehavior as well as vociferousness. Team officials banned the carrying of dog food into the stadium, as bleacher fans would shower the visiting team with Milk-Bones, along with eggs, batteries, and other objects. Dawg Pound fans also consumed hefty amounts of alcohol, even sneaking a keg into the stadium inside a doghouse. [2] Their reputation was such that other teams' rowdy fans would often be compared to them - in 1989, when a Cincinnati Bengals game was halted by the throwing of debris at the visiting Seattle Seahawks, Bengals coach Sam Wyche addressed the crowd, angrily reminding them that, "You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!" [3]

On at least one occasion, Dawg Pound rowdiness affected the outcome of a game. In the fourth quarter of a 1989 game against the hated Denver Broncos, the rain of batteries, rocks, eggs, and other debris coming down from the bleachers was endangering the safety of the players. To move the action away from the east end, referee Tom Dooley had the teams switch sides. That put the wind at the Browns' back. The Browns won on a Matt Bahr field goal that barely cleared the crossbar. [4]

At the final game at Cleveland Stadium in December 1995, fans, including members of the Dawg Pound, ripped the bleachers and seats from the stands, many having brought wrenches, crowbars, and other tools to dislodge the seats. Some fans threw the seats onto the field, while others took them home as souvenirs. [5]

"Here We Go Brownies Here We Go! - Woof! Woof!" is the most common chant heard in the Pound, especially on drives (either offensive or defensive) going towards that end of the field. [6]

The new pound

Browns Stadium Dawg Pound.jpg
Original configuration, 2006
Dawg Pound 2016.jpg
Post-renovation, 2016
Original Dawg Pound logo from the team's return in 1999. Dawgpoundlogo.jpg
Original Dawg Pound logo from the team's return in 1999.

When Huntington Bank Field, then known as Cleveland Browns Stadium was completed in 1999, team officials named the sections in the stadium's east end the Dawg Pound. The new Pound differs from the original in having two decks, but like the Dawg Pound of Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the new stadium's Dawg Pound seats are all bleachers. The Dawg Pound personal seat license was one of the most expensive in the new Stadium.

The new Pound also has official recognition from the team. The team trademarked a Dawg Pound logo, which it uses on select fan memorabilia. This logo was created by NFL Properties and is the only such logo developed for an NFL fan base by the league. It is featured on officially licensed Browns merchandise such as T-shirts, pennants, bumper stickers, etc.

The establishment nature of the new Pound, as well as the more-sterile atmosphere of the new stadium, turned off some veteran fans, especially the old "blue-collar" fan base. This has resulted from what was originally a player and fan movement - the Dawg Pound - having been made "corporate," by the Browns organization, including trademarks, copyrights and an official "Dawg Pound" logo. Also, the more sterile, corporate atmosphere at the new Huntington Bank Field (as opposed to the near anarchy at the old stadium in the 1960s-1990s) has been viewed by more traditionalist Browns fans and Dawg Pound season ticket holders as tarnishing the history and traditional passion of the fanbase. [7]

"Bottlegate"

In a crucial late-season 2001 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns were driving toward the east end zone for what would have been the winning score. A controversial call on fourth down gave the Jaguars the ball. Browns' receiver Quincy Morgan had caught a pass for a first down on 4th and 1. After Tim Couch spiked the ball on the next play, referee Terry McAulay reviewed Morgan's catch, claiming that the replay officials had buzzed him before Couch spiked the ball. (NFL Rules state that once the next play is completed, the officials cannot under any circumstances review any previous plays.) Upon reviewing the play, McAulay determined that Morgan never had control of the ball, thus the pass was incomplete, and the Jaguars were awarded the ball. Fans in the Dawg Pound began throwing plastic beer bottles (a recently introduced concept from the team's beer sponsor, Miller Lite) and other objects on the players and officials. McAulay declared the game over and sent the teams to the locker rooms. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue then called to override the referee's decision, sending the players back onto the field, where the Jaguars ran out the last seconds under a hail of debris. The incident then would become known as "Bottlegate", [8] and resulted in the immediate ban of plastic beer bottles from future Browns home games. [9]

"GPODAWUND"

In October 2016, a group of Browns fans accidentally swapped two parts of a large three-part banner, causing it to read "This is the GPODAWUND." [10] The hashtag #GPODAWUND was then used by fans as a microcosm of what would be a 1–15 season, which was then followed up by a 0–16 2017 season - only the second such record in NFL history - which the fans "celebrated" with a "perfect season" parade around Huntington Bank Field. [11]

Dawg Pound fans

Current ticket prices for the Dawg Pound are $50 per game, and usually require purchase of season tickets. Since construction of the new stadium, the Dawg Pound is populated by more affluent attendees compared to the generally blue collar fan base that made the Municipal Stadium's Dawg Pound famous. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron often attended Browns games at Municipal Stadium and would sit in the Dawg Pound among the fans, albeit incognito. [12]

One of the more famous Dawg Pound season-ticket holders is John Big Dawg Thompson (he had a legal name change to include his nickname), known as the "Canine-in-Chief." Television cameras often showed the offensive-lineman-sized man in his dog mask and No. 98 jersey, although recently he has undergone gastric bypass surgery and lost considerable weight. In 1995, Thompson became an unofficial spokesman for Browns fans fighting the move of the team to Baltimore. He testified before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary and appeared on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. [13]

Other recognized fans include the Bone Lady (Debra Darnall), [14] Pumpkinhead (Gus Angelone), [15] and The Macho Fan (real name unknown) [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Browns</span> National Football League franchise in Ohio

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team is named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown. They play their home games at Huntington Bank Field, which opened in 1999, with administrative offices and training facilities in Berea, Ohio. The franchise's official club colors are brown, orange, and white. They are unique among the 32 member clubs of the NFL in that they do not have a logo on their helmets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntington Bank Field</span> NFL stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, US

Huntington Bank Field is a stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, primarily for American football. It is the home field of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), and serves as a venue for other events such as college and high school football, soccer, hockey, and concerts. It opened in 1999 as Cleveland Browns Stadium and was known as FirstEnergy Stadium from 2013 to 2023 before briefly reverting to its original name until 2024. The initial seating capacity was listed at 73,200 people, but following the first phase of a two-year renovation project in 2014, was reduced to the current capacity of 67,431. The stadium sits on 31 acres (13 ha) of land between Lake Erie and the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway in the North Coast Harbor area of downtown Cleveland, adjacent to the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland Stadium stood on the site from 1931 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Stadium</span> Former multi-purpose stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Stadium, commonly known as Municipal Stadium, Lakefront Stadium or Cleveland Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football. The stadium opened in 1931 and is best known as the long-time home of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1932 to 1993, and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), from 1946 to 1995, in addition to hosting other teams, other sports, and concerts. The stadium hosted three AAFC Championship Games, six NFL Championship Games, served as one of the host venues of the 1948 and 1954 World Series to go along with being a four-time host of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the site of the original Dawg Pound, Red Right 88, and The Drive.

The Red Menace is the name of the bleacher section behind the North end zone in University Stadium, the home field of the New Mexico Lobos. It is known for having some of the most-rabid fans in the Mountain West Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanford Dixon</span> American football player (born 1958)

Hanford Dixon is an American former professional football player who spend his entire career (1981–1989) as a cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and was selected by the Browns with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft. Dixon made the Pro Bowl three times, in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He also is credited with naming the Cleveland Browns "Dawg Pound," the section of the stadium known for their antics during Browns home games at the old Municipal Stadium inspired by Dixon's "barking" to teammates, especially fellow cornerback Frank Minnifield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bleacher Creatures</span> Group of fans of the New York Yankees

The Bleacher Creatures are a group of fans of the New York Yankees who are known for their strict allegiance to the team and their fierce attitude towards opposing fans and teams. The group's nickname was coined for the first time by New York Daily News columnist Filip "Flip" Bondy during the 1990s, and then he spent the 2004 season sitting with the Creatures for research on his book about the group, Bleeding Pinstripes: A Season with the Bleacher Creatures of Yankee Stadium, which was published in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry McAulay</span> American football official (born 1959)

Terry McAulay is a former American football official who worked in the National Football League (NFL) for the 1998 through 2017 seasons. He was the referee for seven conference championship games and three Super Bowls. He was the Coordinator of Football Officials for college football's Big East and subsequently the American Athletic Conference from 2008 to 2017.

Robert Thomas Dooley Jr. was an American football official for 32 years with 14 of those years in the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 1992 as a line judge and referee. Dooley was assigned Super Bowl XV in 1981 as a line judge. In the NFL, he wore the uniform numbers 103 and 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Cleveland Browns</span>

The history of the Cleveland Browns American football team began in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland, Ohio, franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Paul Brown, who coach Bill Walsh once called the "father of modern football", was the team's namesake and first coach. From the beginning of play in 1946 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the Cleveland Browns were a great success. Cleveland won each of the AAFC's four championship games before the league dissolved in 1949. The team then moved to the more established National Football League (NFL), where it continued to dominate. Between 1950 and 1955, Cleveland reached the NFL championship game every year, winning three times.

The 1986 Cleveland Browns season was the team’s 37th season with the National Football League. The death of Don Rogers, a promising young defensive back who was preparing to enter his third season in the NFL, cast a black cloud over the team as it prepared for the 1986 season.

The 2001 season was the Cleveland Browns' 53rd as a professional sports franchise, their 49th as a member of the National Football League, and the first season under head coach Butch Davis. The team improved on their 3-13 record from the previous season, but for the seventh straight year did not qualify for the postseason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Adams (drummer)</span> Cleveland Indians superfan (1951–2023)

John Joseph Adams was an American who was regarded as a superfan of the Cleveland Indians, a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Adams played his bass drum in the bleacher seats during nearly every Indians home game from August 24, 1973 against the Texas Rangers through 2019, which brought him positive recognition from the Indians and other organizations. He was involved in several ceremonial first pitches, he and his drum received free season tickets from the Indians, and the team gave away bobbleheads with his likeness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Jacksonville Jaguars season</span> 15th season in franchise history

The 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 7th under head coach Jack Del Rio. This was the first season for new general manager Gene Smith, who hoped to usher in a "rebuilding" era for the Jaguars franchise. The Jaguars improved upon their 5–11 record in 2008, however, they failed to qualify to play in the playoffs.

In gridiron football, replay review is a method of reviewing a play using cameras at various angles to determine the accuracy of the initial call of the officials. An instant replay can take place in the event of a close or otherwise controversial call, either at the request of a team's head coach or the officials themselves.

The 2010 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 62nd season as a professional sports franchise and its 58th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to break the longest playoff appearance drought in franchise history, a current streak of eight seasons without reaching the playoffs. The team finished 5–11, matching its win total from the 2009 season and placed third in the AFC North. This season marked the first season under the leadership of team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. It also marked the second season under head coach Eric Mangini. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 2011 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team had hoped to improve on its 2010 season, where it finished with a record of 5–11 and placed third in the AFC North, however, the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14. This season marked the second season under the leadership of team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, as well as the first season under head coach Pat Shurmur. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 2011 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the 17th season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It began as the 9th under head coach Jack Del Rio, until he was fired on November 29 and replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Del Rio finished his tenure in Jacksonville with a 69-73 record in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs. He was also just 4 wins shy of surpassing his predecessor, Tom Coughlin as the winningest head coach in Jaguars history. The Jaguars had hoped to improve on their 8–8 record from 2010, but exceeded their loss total in Week 13, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention. With the 10th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, they selected quarterback Blaine Gabbert from the University of Missouri, and Gabbert would replace Luke McCown as the starting quarterback in Week 3.

The 2018 season was the Cleveland Browns' 66th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 70th overall, their first full season under general manager John Dorsey, and their third and final season under head coach Hue Jackson. Unusually, the Browns started their campaign with a tie, although this result was enough to ensure they would improve upon the 2017 campaign in which they finished 0–16. Cleveland ultimately finished in 3rd place in the AFC North with a record of 7–8–1, their best record since the 2007 season. However, they missed the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, having last made the playoffs in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bottlegate</span> NFL officiating controversy

Bottlegate, also referred to as The Beer Bottle Game, was an officiating controversy that resulted in a fan riot during an American football game in the 2001 season of the National Football League (NFL) between the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Jacksonville Jaguars season</span> 27th season in franchise history

The 2021 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 27th season in the National Football League (NFL). This was their only season under head coach Urban Meyer and first under general manager Trent Baalke.

References

  1. Smith, Ron (1999). Cleveland Browns: the official illustrated history. St. Louis: The Sporting News. p. 182. ISBN   0-89204-625-2.
  2. Dawg Pound "neutered" - Bleacher Report.com
  3. Wyche addresses fans - You Tube
  4. Browns vs Broncos 10-1-89 - Cleveland Plain Dealer Archived 2012-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "1995 Browns - Cleveland Browns.com". Archived from the original on 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
  6. Swagger and the Dawg Pound - Cleveland Browns.com
  7. "New Pound" complaints - Chat Sports.com
  8. "Bottlegate" referee to officiate Super Bowl - NESN.com
  9. Withers, Tom (2 August 2002). "Browns Ban Plastic Bottles Of Beer". WOIO via The Associated Press . Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  10. GPODAWUND? Browns hilariously botch banner
  11. Browns Perfect Season Parade
  12. Garner, Joe. And The Crowd Goes Wild: Relive the Most Celebrated Sporting Events Ever Broadcast. Foreword written by Aaron. Sourcebooks, 1998.
  13. New NFL math hard to figure Archived 2007-03-10 at the Wayback Machine . SouthCoastToday.com. Accessed on July 28, 2008.
  14. Carey, Tyler (January 15, 2021). "'We're not used to this!': 'The Bone Lady' revels in Cleveland Browns' playoff ride". WKYC-TV . Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  15. Orr, Conor (December 6, 2020). "The Browns Are Finally Thriving, as Their Fans Adjust to the New Normal". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  16. Shuck, Barry (June 12, 2021). "'Interview: The Macho Fan'". DawgsByNature.com. Retrieved June 21, 2021.

Other sources