Wednesday, September 11, 2024
By Tori Wittenbrock
Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – With 2024 Family Night under their belt, the Green Bay Packers are ready to take on preseason with their first game on Saturday, Aug. 10, against the Cleveland Browns.
According to wide receiver Romeo Doubs, Family Night was a success and served as a good transition for the young players to prepare them to take the field at Lambeau this season.
“It just gets them used to it. Obviously there’s nerves to it. I mean just getting a feel for the game, the focus. How much can you rely on the practice habits — things of that nature. And most importantly, growth,” said Doubs.
Doubs said that the energy in the stadium was electric and that the fans played a big role in mentally preparing them for the season.
“I mean, 80,000 people coming out to a practice is something to be really grateful for. We’re just trying to give the fans what they want,” said Doubs.
In his three years with the Packers, Doubs said that even the experienced players need the support of the fans on game day to mellow their nerves.
“If anybody else tells you they’re not nervous, I’d say they’re lying,” said Doubs.
Family Night’s simulation of a game day atmosphere also serves as a way to get the players passionate and competitive as they go out to perform, even when it comes to trash talking.
“It’s part of the game. Trash talking is everywhere — it’s just up to you and how you handle it whether you want to talk trash back or if you don’t want to say anything and just keep playing ball. It just comes down to who you are as a person,” said Doubs.
Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks also said that he felt Family Night is a staple in the Packers culture that he looks forward to each season.
“It’s always fun. Taking it back to last year, my family was able to make it out and experience Family Night. It’s fun — it’s like game night having the stadium filled. We’re going against each other, so the fans are rooting for everybody,” said Wicks.
Wicks said that after getting a practice in front of a sold out Lambeau stadium, he felt the offense was productive and ready for their first game of the season.
“I think we had a good day. We can clean up some stuff, but overall, we had a good day,” said Wicks.
According to head coach Matt LaFleur, the crowd was the most essential part of the night and he felt that the encouragement and passion from the fans was exactly what the rookies needed to get a taste of what a home game will be like this season.
“What an atmosphere man. It just never gets old going into Lambeau. Just the environment and the energy the fans brought for some of our new guys — a guy like (Xavier McKinney), or Josh Jacobs and obviously all the rookies — I don’t think those guys have experienced something like this, so I think it was definitely a special night for them,” said LaFleur.
Although the players were excited to put on a show for the fans under the lights, LaFleur said the team took the necessary precautions to remain healthy and safe for the rapidly approaching first game of the season.
“It was a very vanilla playbook on both sides. We just want our guys to go out there and play fast and compete, and show what they can do,” said LaFleur.
After taking the youngest team in the League to the second round in the postseason, LaFleur said that this season’s rookies have shown a lot of promise and he looks forward to seeing how they are able to prove themselves this season.
“I thought there was some good stuff out there,” said LaFleur. “I enjoyed watching those guys compete.”
