Some Raiders Have Strong Memories Of Playing In Bay Area

The Las Vegas Raiders only have three players who were with the team when the Raiders were back in Oakland, but they have some vivid memories of what it was like, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. 

Start with punter AJ Cole. What he remembers most is what he called the “stench” emanating from the lower bowl, which was a result of some of the behaviors and shenanigans going on in the south end zone, which was also known as the “Black Hole.” 

It was completely unique and very intimidating at times, and Cole described it as an “electric atmosphere.” The current end zones still feature plenty of Raider fans dressed up in all kinds of gear and garb, but these days it's more like a cross between cosplay and a football Halloween party. 

Cole is excited to see what the atmosphere will be like at Levi Stadium as the San Francisco 49ers take the field on Sunday, and Raiders coach Klint Kubiak described the game as a “huge rivalry,” which it may have been when he was coaching in San Francisco. But that was several years ago and things have changed considerably.  

One thing that’s changed for sure is the makeup of the Raiders roster. Defensive end Maxx Crosby and left tackle Kolton Miller are the only other two Raiders who played in Oakland, and Cole said it was cool to have the chance to bridge that gap. 

The Raiders’ fortunes have also changed, and they’re just starting a big rebuild after a number of tough seasons. So far they’re 4-4, but it’s a huge challenge, especially when it comes to struggles of both the running game and the defense. 

But the punter added that the Raiders still have a lot of fans living in the Bay Area, so that part will be interesting to see. On paper this game is a mismatch, as Las Vegas has been competitive against bad teams, but the Raiders have been blown out by a couple of elite squads like San Francisco.

Miller, meanwhile, remembered what he called the “scuffles” in the stands, saying “the rivalry is real.” The league has tamped down on that sort of thing, though, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see any of that on Sunday. 

Crosby remembers Oakland most of all, saying “there’s no city like it.”  He’s right about that, and his special bond with the organization started with the city accepted him as a rookie. He knows some fans still travel to see the team, and it would be fun if the Raiders can compete and put themselves in a position to win.