Chargers Fans Bid a Tearful Goodbye to Their Team

In the upcoming movie Concussion, a character explains the NFL's power by saying, "They own a day of the week!" It's a good line that happens also to be true of individual teams in their communities. This means that San Diego fans aren't just on the verge of losing their football team. As their owners prepare to leave town in search of more money, a brighter future, and a fancy stadium built without a down payment, Chargers fans are getting ready to lose Sunday.

These Los Angeles relocation decisions have yet to be officially made. San Diego City officials have until December 30 to show the league stadium financing proposals. Team owners can apply for relocation starting January 4, and a relocation vote may come as soon as January 12 at the owners meetings in Houston. Twenty-four of the 32 owners must agree to allow the team to relocate. None of this has happened yet.

But owners of the Chargers, Rams, and Raiders have done everything in their power to try and prove to the league that their current cities are not worthy of an NFL franchise; fans have a pretty good idea how this situation will turn out. The notion that San Diego, separated from Los Angeles by only one county, is not good enough for a team has cut deep. The San Diego Chargers don't just want to leave, they want to leave for the bigger, badder rival city.

And so Sunday's meaningless home game game against the Miami Dolphins—the last-place Chargers were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago—turned out to have meaning, after all. If things continue in the same path, Sunday's game was likely the last ever for the San Diego Chargers.

"If they move, I'm not going to root for them anymore. I can't. And I won't root for the Raiders if they move here, either. There's too much hate there. I might have to pick a new sport to follow on Sunday if San Diego loses the Chargers," said fan Ken Gartin, while sporting a signed Rodney Harrison Chargers jersey.

Against the Dolphins, the 4-10 Chargers played maybe their most complete game of the year. Quarterback Philip Rivers said the team had agreed before the game to leave everything on the field, and to play for the long-time season ticket holders and supporters who may never see the Chargers play again at Qualcomm Stadium.

While Rivers was making those comments in a postgame press conference, tens of thousands of Chargers fans remained inside the stadium. Nobody left when the PA system started playing Semisonic's "Closing Time." Nobody left when the players exited the field and went into the locker room. Nobody left when some of those players who came back to sign autographs disappeared into the locker room again.

Security guards and local police ended up escorting many of the thousands out of the stadium, some under protest. "I've been a season ticket holder for 35 years," one man shouted at a police officer, "this is my home and you can't just kick me out of it."

During the lull between players signing autographs and police attempting to empty the building, one man looked up at the flags lining the top of Qualcomm Stadium. His face looked nearly as weathered as the stadium itself. "It's ugly, but it's ours," he said with a sigh. "I sure hope we'll be back," he said to his companion as they headed up the stairs.

That was the overwhelming feeling from the crowd on Sunday, from the parking lot—nearly full four hours before kickoff—to the stands, which were so loud at points during this meaningless game that it actually hurt your ears. These fans weren't angry; the time for sadness had already come and gone.

While the stadium was also full of Dolphin teal and orange — Miami fans likely made up about a quarter of the 66,676 in attendance — Chargers fans were the most invested in the game. They were proud of the home field advantage they had built over decades, both on the field and in the tailgate lot. They were proud of the team's accomplishments over the years, too, which even the players would have to admit had come with the help of the loud cheering. More than anything else, fans were proud that their sleepy beach community had come together to successfully support an NFL franchise for more than 50 years.

"I'm really going to miss all of this," said fan Jeff Siniard, motioning to the pre-game parking lot filled with BBQs and loud music. When the author countered by saying San Diego State football games, which are also held in Qualcomm Stadium, allow for tailgating, Siniard responded with a sad look, "It's not the same."

Families have been raised inside this stadium. Fathers, sons and daughters have shared their Sundays together here, undertaking a ritualistic trek to Mission Valley 10 times per year. If this was the last NFL game in San Diego, many will find themselves a little lost on Sundays next year.

Fans, sensing this was perhaps their last chance to cheer for their favorite team, made as much noise as they could, as much noise as anyone could make. They danced and sang and tailgated until they were kicked out of the stadium. This wasn't about proving anything to anyone. This was enjoying a part of their lives that may soon be taken away.

As the old disco classic, "San Diego Super Chargers", blared out of Qualcomm Stadium's outdated soundsystem, locals danced in the aisles and sang along with every word. They were careful to put extra emphasis on the words "San Diego," which was also the main chant during the game. The fans weren't going to let anyone forget where the Chargers came from, even if they're on the way out.

This was not Philip Rivers' final game. It's not even the last game he'll play with the Chargers — he signed a contract extension before the season. It's not even the last game he'll play this season, nor is it the last game he'll play with friends and teammates Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd. But this may have been the last game Philip Rivers ever played in San Diego, and that was enough to leave him red-eyed as he left the field and thanked the fans after the game.

In an interview with a local sports radio station earlier this week, Rivers lamented the feeling at Qualcomm Stadium this season. He knows why fans have shied away from fully emotionally investing in a team that seemed halfway out the door. But he talked about the times in the past when Qualcomm was one of the best home environments in the NFL.

On Sunday, Rivers got to hear the old stadium roar once more. Afterward, he was beaming with pride. "It's the people that make this place what it is." Such a realization made it that much harder for him to realize he may never see these fans again.

The feeling is mutual. "I don't know what to do with myself. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel. I didn't think it would be like this," fan Chris Garcia said while watching Rivers run off the field for the last time.

Sunday's game seemed particularly poignant for longtime Chargers safety Eric Weddle, a free agent after the season who has a frayed relationship with the organization after complicated contract extension talks went nowhere. He skipped voluntary mini-camp before the season, irking his coach and a few of his teammates. Many have questioned his effort this season.

At halftime on Sunday, Weddle stayed on the sidelines to watch his young daughter participate as a "Junior Chargers Girl" cheerleader. After the game, he spent two hours signing autographs before walking to the 50 yard line, laying down on his back, and staring at the stars by himself for a few minutes. He seemed overcome by the moment.

In another sad year for San Diego sports, this last game at Qualcomm Stadium was a bright spot. There's less than a month left before the NFL owners get together to decide which team (or teams) will be allowed to relocate to Los Angeles. With that looming threat, Chargers fans showed up and proved that they are capable of being among the best fans in the league. They showed that they were willing to fight to keep their team, and how much that team means to them. Of course, that was never really in doubt. The question is whether the NFL is paying attention.