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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
HENDERSON, Nevada — It was 8:50 AM in the media room at Raiders headquarters Thursday and in walked head coach Antonio Pierce, a very different personality from the man he replaced last Halloween when owner Mark Davis canned former head coach Josh McDaniels.
Pierce said, “Good morning,” to the assembled media when he entered the room.
But he drew only a murmur of a response from the media.
So, Pierce turned around and exited.
And he tried it again.
Pierce walked back in the room and declared, “Good morning.”
And this time, the media piped up with a hearty, “Good morning.”
The media learned a quick lesson.
You won’t last long if you half-ass it with Pierce, named the Raiders’ permanent head coach after the team’s eight-win, nine-loss season. He’s also sort of an unofficial centerpiece for the Raiders’ marketing campaign which is trying to create an identity in Las Vegas for a team that was an iconic brand in both Northern and Southern California.
During the Q-and-A session with Pierce, the hard-driving and engaging former NFL linebacker, he made an interesting comment about popular edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
“When I first got here, it was the Maxx Crosby show, fanboy central, waving hands. It was Maxx
and then the band. Well, now it’s Maxx Crosby – well, you know what? It’s the Raiders running across the
field,” Pierce said.
Pierce is a fascinating head coach in that you sense that’s still a streak of being a Raiders fan running through the former linebacker who played for a New York Giants Super Bowl-winning team.
Some Raiders fans said they participated in the filming of a fan video called, “Pull Up and Represent,” showing fans driving different cars, vans and buses with their Raiders themes.
Wayne Mabry, who becomes his “Violator” character for Raiders games, told LVSportsBiz.com, “I was totally impressed with the whole concept of it. I was filmed in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and I believe that with the organization embracing our amazing fanbase it will help with regaining a real home field advantage.”
A superfan said Heart & Hustle Productions worked on the filming of the promotional spot designed to show the fans coming to the Raiders stadium to represent their beloved Silver & Black.
Raiders spokesman Will Kiss said Thursday the organization has no comment.
The Raiders opened their 62,500-seat stadium in 2020, but many games include lots of fans of the visiting teams.
It was toward the end of the 2023 home season when Raiders fans chanted for Pierce and there was a sense that Allegiant Stadium could give the Raiders a legitimate home field advantage.
That’s what Raiders fans like Mabry are hoping.