SPORTS
The NFL season is officially over - but what an intriguing season it was.
Yeah, we have NBA action hot all over the country and can look forward to MLB opening day, but the 2003-04 football season brought a lot of events, entertainment and controversy many will continue to discuss throughout the off-season.
So, in tribute to what this fall was comprised of, here are things to miss, anticipate and simply remember - because some of those rather unique or surprising events of the year aren't likely to happen again.
The year of the underdog
They came up short in the biggest game, but the breakthrough of a team coming off six not-so-pro-football years - a team that was just 1-15 two years ago - created a myriad of stories.
The Carolina Panthers began their journey to professional worthiness when the team hired general manager Marty Hurney and former New York Giants defensive coordinator John Fox.
In his first-ever head coaching job, Fox immediately took control, bringing the Panthers to an improved 7-9 finish in 2002 and a remarkable 11-5 close as the 2003 NFC Champions.
In addition to the team's on-field struggle in recent years, one teammate (Fred Lane) was murdered, another was charged with conspiring to commit murder (Rae Carruth) and most recently, linebacker Mark Fields, as well as linebackers coach Sam Mills, were diagnosed with cancer.