So it begins...

And so begins another Browns season. I have been a longtime (lifelong) Browns fan and finally found myself back in Cleveland. Against my better judgment I inherited two season tickets from my parents; I will see every game from the visitor's side lower bowl. The goal of this blog is to recount what a Cleveland Browns fan goes through...

As we drove down to the stadium my parents and my friend Dan avoided actually talking about the Browns, maybe it was because we didn't care? No, it was that nervous energy that every Clevelander knows about - will the Browns break our hearts again or is this the year, as one WKNR voice said, "The Season of Dreams"? Walking to the stadium we joked about the new family section going in to improve the image; we all knew Cleveland Browns Stadium is no place for families - it is a place were men and women of all ages become children again, clinging to any signs of hope. Sometimes when that hope has been beaten out of the crowd frustration comes out with harsh words.

Walking into the stadium this time was different - I usually spent my time during home games watching them on TV eating my mother's chili. Having the privilege to watch the beloved Browns first hand is something that has always been treasured in my family; this is something that I understand and respect. When we reached our seats something horrible happened. Did we see one of the Browns get injured on the field or did they cancel the game? No, far worse - we had the Gilmore Girls sitting behind us. I have honestly never heard two people talk about so many things that did not matter for so long. They literally spoke the entire game, nonstop. The closest they got to speaking football was discussing if Brady Quinn was as cute as the other quarterbacks across the league. They at least respected the game enough to know the players' names; I wish I could say the same for the kid that was about 10 rows below us. Within five minutes of kick off he was escorted out, with the bottle of Jack Daniels with him...

The starting quarterback was determined by a coin flip - apparently Charlie Frye won. It became clear quickly that some things never change. In the opening drive he almost threw a couple interceptions and the Browns went three and out. Anderson stepped in and didn't fare much better. I hadn't really believed that the quarterback race was as dead even as the coach was saying - now I believe him. The Browns managed to get a few field goals and were up 9-7. The Chiefs ran back a dropped pass (behind the line of scrimmage) for a touchdown.

Cue Ken Dorsey. This guy definitely deserves a lot more than the fans in Cleveland will give him. We came in with the ball on the one yard line and immediately got a safety; this set the crowd into a chant. I felt as though I was in the movie, Rudy, they were chanting...Brady. The Browns managed to hold them on the following possession to a field goal. Charles Barclay was back to receive - this guy came out of nowhere. His eyes were on fire with the pure desire of getting the Browns back in it. He got a few good blocks and broke past the kicker to return the ball 88 yards for the score. We went wild; I can't even begin to describe what was pumping through our hearts when that happened - only a Browns fan could know what I am talking about. It's that childish pure uncontrolled joy - nothing could bring you down from that place. The defense held off the Chiefs and the Browns walked away with a victory.


As I was walking out of the stadium I couldn't help but think, is this "the Season of Dreams?" Will Frye or Anderson step up or will we have to wait for Quinn? Well, I have no idea, but I do know I felt different walking out of that stadium. I felt that I was now part of this team and they were even more a part of me. As a great book (On Being Brown) put it, people become Brown. I can tell you now, it was that moment when I was leaving the stadium that I truly transformed; I am now Brown.