Before there was Bank of America Stadium, there was Death Valley. Thirty years ago — Sept. 3, 1995 — the Carolina Panthers kicked off their inaugural season at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, building NFL fever in the Queen City.

Inaugural season

The team started 0-5, but rallied with seven wins in their last 11 games, finishing 7-9 — the best record ever for a first-year franchise at the time. They even stunned the defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers. Not bad for the new kids.

Frank Reich (yes, that Frank Reich) took the first snaps at quarterback before rookie Kerry Collins stepped in. On defense, Sam Mills became the heart and soul of the team, laying the foundation for what would become the “Keep Pounding” legacy.

The Carolina Panthers faced the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Championship dreams

True fans still remember when the Panthers won the NFC Championship in 2003 to advance to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the New England Patriots. In 2015, the team fell to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Panthers of today

Last season, QB Bryce Young had a late surge, showing promise on the field, though the team went 5-12 in the 2024-2025 season. This year, there's hope in the den. Preseason might feel like a slow start, but if history is any indicator, resilience is part of the DNA.

The regular season starts Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Florida. "Keep pounding," andget your tickets for the first regular-season home game on Sunday, Sept. 21, against the Atlanta Falcons.