Online petition has ended! 4,763 signatures!
Thanks Ian and Ron, Big Dog,
Justin and Jason, Ledge and his crew,
and all of the Sports Animal!
620 Rules!!
New Page! Favorite Letters from the Fans
I am looking for a couple of tickets for Sunday's game...help! E-Mail them here



Channel 10 News interview to air
tonight at 11:00 P.M.!! 12/29/06
Thanks to Preston Rudie and crew!
New! Videos of the A-Train on You Tube! Click here

I am looking for a couple of tickets for Sunday's Game!

Interview on AOL Sports Buccaneers Fan House 12/27/06
Click here for our My Space "Give Mike The Ball!"
Article on Mike on St. Petersburg Times.com
Article on this site on AOL Sports
Check out Give Mike The Ball! at The Captain's Deck.net
Blog about this website on Sticks of Fire!
Big Ten Talk: Give Mike The Ball!!
Several Posts about this website
Bucs Blog by Scott Cramer at TBO.com
Buccaneers.com Bulletin Board Post
Give Mike The Ball.com on Mike Alstott's Wikipedia page!

Click here to add this link to your site!! (Thanks Uncle Karl)

Attention Mike Alstott fans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, and all fans of the game of football
and the way the game is supposed to be played! Mike Alstott has expressed his desire to retire
after this football season. This is terrible news for all of us who have loved watching Mike
play these many years. But as much as this is probably happening, we still have a precious few
games to enjoy. The problem: A head coach, namely Jon Gruden, who for whatever the reasons
has not used this talented player. After playing a significant role in winning the Super Bowl in
2002, Jon Gruden has given the ball less and less and this year has nearly all but benched him.
The reasons for this are unclear, and as fans we should deal with the coach himself at a later
time, but for now we have a mission. On December 31st, Mike will more than likely be playing
his last game in the NFL. We cannot change the last few years of neglect from the coach. We
cannot change the fact that Mike could have gone to another team and had a wonderful finish
to his career, but his loyalty to his teammates, Tampa and his fans has kept him here. We cannot
change that the coach has single-handely taken Mike out of Hall of Fame contention. But we,
as fans of Mike and of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, can demand that on December 31st, playing
at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa against the Seattle Seahawks that Jon Gruden put his
ego aside and GIVE MIKE THE BALL!

Why should we do this?

1. The team is currently 4-11, and they are out of the playoff picture.

2. No player can be successful on every play, but the overwhelming majority of the times
that Mike is given the ball he makes things happen.

3. We, as fans, deserve to see our favorite player have one more game where he is allowed
to do what he does best.

4. Mike deserves to end his career in front of his city and his team on a high note.

5. He just might help win the game!

What can we do?

1. At the game, wear your number 40 jersey.

2. At the game, the first time the offense takes the field, we should blow our A-Train whistles
until the beginning of the first formation.

3. We should chant "Give Mike The Ball!" loud and often.

4. At halftime, if Mike has not been used much or at all (and we as fans are not stupid, we know
if the situation dictates when he should get the ball), during the next offensive possession we
should chant "Fire Jon Gruden!"

5. Call the Buccaneers and let them know how you feel.

6. Sign the online petition below, that will be delivered to the Glazers and to the Buccaneers, the day before the game.

Online Petition

We, the fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, would like to see our favorite player,
Mike Alstott, get the ball in the final game December 31st against the Seattle
Seahawks. We believe that with the playoffs out of the picture,
there is no reason not to give Mike the ball. We believe that giving him the ball will only increase the chances of winning the game. We are fans of the whole team, but
we would like to see Mike have one more game before he retires. Please do
this for him, for us fans, and fans of real football everywhere.
(Petition ended 12/31/2006)
Started December 11, 2006