Irmo, SC (WLTX) --- As the Carolina Panthers are preparing for their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, a member of the Panthers during that magical 2003 season now calls Irmo home.
Spartanburg native Stephen Davis took his talents to Auburn before embarking on an 11-year NFL career which started in Washington continued with the Panthers and Saints before he retired in February of 2008 as a Carolina Panther.
Davis spoke to News19 recently about that season which was his first with the Panthers. He rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and was a major factor in Carolina making it to Houston where they faced the Patriots.
"You play football since you were eight years old and it's the ultimate goal to play in that game," Davis said.
Carolina lost the game 32-29 on a last-second field goal and while Davis still enjoys seeing his teammates from that era, he admits he has yet to sit down and watch Super Bowl XXXVIII.
"I don't know why I haven't looked at it," Davis says.
"It hurts. But I got to play in one of the ultimate games in any sport."
Even though the loss still bothers Davis, he still has a few jerseys from that year and that game hanging up in his Irmo home as a reminder of how far he has come since his days as a youngster in Spartanburg.
