Niners Rookies Lead "Crowd Morale Boosting" At 'Battle of the Bay'

It's a good thing that I can just type this post in...

Because after attending yesterday's game, I seriously don't have a voice right now.  :)

The San Francisco 49ers earned their first victory of the year against their cross-bay rivals the Oakland Raiders and OH HOW SWEET IT IS!!!   Many Raider fans that I know personally were extremely critical of the 49ers since before yesterday they were one of three winless teams in the NFL.  But for anyone who attended the game yesterday and paid close attention, perhaps was just absolutely put the icing on the cake was to see Anthony Dixon, the number 3 RB on the 49ers getting amped and pumped up almost the entire game!  And he wasn't the only one...

With every 49er Faithful on their feet, the Stadium Announcer introduced the 2010 San Francisco 49ers onto the field.  Greeted by the many Faithful, Fireworks and Flag-Handlers, the Niners rushed onto the field in their normal fashion.  But the sight that came immediately after this was the start of a very inspiring game.  Taylor Mays, rookie SS out of USC ran to the opposite end zone where he took off his helmet, kneeled down and seemed to be praying.  He was followed by the likes of FS Dashon Goldson and CB Shawntae Spencer and RB Frank Gore.  While Mays, Goldson and Spencer were kneeling down (presumably) asking God for a great game, Gore walked out of the endzone with his head and hands pointed in the air, and then pointed at the Faithful Fans that were directly in front of him.

I was sitting in the direction that he accomplished this and let me tell you... the crowd... went... NUTS!!!  During the game, DE Isaac Sopoaga would look into the crowd and start raising his arms in a "get pumped up" kind of fashion.  The Faithful bought into all of this from their beloved 49ers.  And then comes Anthony Dixon.  Dixon was dancing, pumping up his arms, putting his hand to his ears as if to say "I can't hear you!"  All of these things coupled together made for a great experience even for those who have been to many 49er games.  And the best thing about is... it paid off!

For the past week I've been somewhat concerned that the Niners players have lost that sense of 'rivalry' and sense of 'pride' in being able to call themselves a San Francisco 49er.  Taylor Mays realized it.  Frank Gore realized it.  So did Dashon Goldson, Shawntae Spencer, Isaac Sopoaga and Anthony Dixon.  It was a great sight to see to a great win over an arch enemy like the Oakland Raiders.

Note: I actually caught the footage of Mays, Spencer, Goldson and Gore during the introduction and as soon as I figure out how to post a video from my cell to youtube, I will do so.  You can search for the video under
 my user name "turtleman03" in the next few days.