Loyal fan rewarded with long-distance tripBy Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: November 13, 2015
TAMPA — Bellshill, Scotland, native Andy Findlay was just having some fun when he decided to plant a red Tampa Bay Buccaneers flag on top of Ben Lomond in the Scottish Highlands one day this past June. The long-time Bucs fan never though his bit of fun would lead to the adventure of a lifetime for him and his family.After Findlay posted on Twitter a picture his wife, Lisa, took of him planting the flag, Bucs general manager Jason Licht contacted Findlay and offered him an all-expense paid trip to Tampa for the game of his choice.“When I saw that picture I said, ‘You know what, if somebody loves our team that much I have to do something,’’’ Licht said.Findlay chose Sunday’s game against the Cowboys and spent Friday as a guest of honor at One Buc Place, where he met everyone on the team from quarterback Jameis Winton to coach Lovie Smith.Findlay is accompanied on the trip by his wife, 5-year-old son Cooper and friends Steven and Angela Wilson. Findlay said his passion for the Bucs began rather randomly nearly a decade ago during a trip to Orlando.“My father and I had followed the NFL for years, and in 1997 I was in Orlando and, of all places, I went into a 7-11,’’ Findlay said. “There was a display there with a bunch of Bucs jerseys and I bought one and said, ‘That’s my team.’“I’ve been following them ever since, just buying stuff whenever I can, and have been to four games now. But this today, this is incredible. I just can’t thank Mr. Licht and the team enough for what they’ve done and how they’ve treated us. It’s been amazing.’’Desperate timesThe Bucs have five losses. The Cowboys have six. So which is the more desperate team?Smith said it’s not even a contest.“You’d be hard-pressed to find someone in our locker room who doesn’t feel like this is a must-win game,’’ Smith said. “That’s how we’re looking at it.”Making contactTE Austin Seferian-Jenkins might be only one step away from making his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury.That step is a big one, though.Seferian-Jenkins, who missed the past six games, needs only to be cleared for full contact, Smith said.“He’s making progress with that. We just don’t know,” Smith said. “He’s done more this week than he’s done any previous weeks, so we’ll see how it goes.”Seferian-Jenkins was limited in practice Friday and listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.