North Charlotte Today

Dom Capers hasn't necessarily missed the bus rides, but he has never quite forgotten the feeling. The Panthers' senior defensive assistant can already imagine what it will be like when the Panthers return to Clemson for this year's Fan Fest, as that was the site of "home" games during the franchise's first season in 1995.

"It'll be fun for me to go back there," Capers said from his office in Bank of America Stadium recently. "The crowd support was great, and we were doing everything for the first time." He added, "And it'll bring back a lot of really good memories."

When the Panthers played there during their inaugural season, everything was new. Beginning with the team itself, an expansion franchise granted in 1993, came a lot of excitement but also many adjustments. Since the stadium in Charlotte was still under construction, they trained at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. The matter of where to play games wasn't settled until late, with Columbia a possibility before a deal was struck to host the first season at Clemson.

"I've mentioned many times that the joke between the players was that the only difference between playing at home and playing the 49ers on the road was a hot meal and a couple of flight attendants," Capers said with a laugh. "Because it took about as long to fly to San Francisco as it did to bus down to Clemson."

Players would load up at Winthrop on Saturday afternoons and choose buses based partly on which movies would be shown — at least two and a half hours, often more due to traffic and road construction. Those trips frequently stretched past three hours on the way home since egress from a smaller college town back to Charlotte wasn't smooth.

"When games were over, I mean, it took a long time to get out," Capers recalled. "It would take so long because of all the traffic coming back to Charlotte."

Earlier in his coaching career with the Philadelphia Stars of USFL — along with undersized linebacker Sam Mills whom he'd later bring along to Charlotte — Capers had experienced similar logistics challenges when relocating their games from Philadelphia to College Park, Md.

"So some of those schedules we used then came in handy when we got here," Capers noted.

Being an expansion team meant building from discards and players on league fringes. They could sign free agents but much of their roster comprised players other teams let go. This dynamic may have made bus rides more bearable.

"Fortunately, we had a great nucleus of guys; some were on their second chances and appreciated being in the league," Capers said. "Our roster changed quite a bit; you were always looking to upgrade... there was lots of change that first year."

They started 0-5 (including home losses) before things began changing with an Oct. 14 bus ride leading into their first win against Jets after linebacker Sam Mills intercepted Bubby Brister's pass for touchdown.

"Well I remember what relief it was... you're first-time head coach with first-time team starting like typical expansion team 0-5," Capers recounted." But we had right kind guys locker room... fitting guy like Sam Mills turned game around..."

After losing five straight games initially they won four consecutively including December victory over Jim Harbaugh-led Colts who reached AFC Championship game showing improvement subsequently winning 20 out next28games including playoff win Cowboys leading NFC Championship Game just second season...

"Obviously every day walking here special feeling remembering way everything started..."

Despite initial struggles strong leadership helped them overcome adversity achieving success early years eventually moving new home Charlotte writing history initially through challenging travels forming lasting memories fondly remembered especially returning location Clemson…

Capers concluded reflecting positively experiences saying "I've got good memories there…definitely unique experience…Clemson really quite good us"