Your Sunday Best

A new installation on the Geppi’s Entertainment Club Level at M&T Bank Stadium features quotes by some of the most devoted fans of the Baltimore Ravens. One such quote just inside section 219 reads:

“It’s a chance to dress in purple, scream until we lose our voices, laugh and cry and feel like a kid again.”
- Linda, Parkville, MD

I’m sure Linda meant what she said, but judging by the female fans that flock to see our footballers play each week in the fall, I’d say it’s mostly about the whole dressing in purple thing. Women just have more experience working with the color - and it shows. Over the last twelve years, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends have continually made purple, black, and even a little pink the colors of choice for their autumn ensembles. Collectively, they form a substantial community of Ravens Nation and root for the men on the field as loud and as proud as any of our feathered fans.

The clothing choices do vary, but most don’t stray too far from the regal. And not just with their jerseys, as women can be seen wearing purple boas and beads around their necks, purple Ugg’s on their feet, purple tanks and halter tops of all sizes, purple accessories of all shapes, purple eyeliner on their faces and even purple camo-patterned hats on their heads. And I must say the ranger hat comes off much more appealing than the cargo pants that fill the stands most Sundays.

Of course jerseys are still a dominant part of the attire, and some non-scientific research (i.e. watching the crowds file in from Ravens Walk and Ostend St.) show that a few players are preferred. Numbers 3, 7, 20, 52, and 55 all make strong showings, but by far the most supported star among the women of Ravenstown is #86. Sorry ladies, Todd Heap is married and has 3 beautiful children - including twins - but please continue to show your support.

Wardrobes are just one way for women to show their pride, as tailgating rituals are just as wide spread among our female fans. Dawn Tognocchi of Towson has been a second ticket holder since 1998 and her RavensRV is the epicenter for game day gatherings in Lot G. The attention is warranted with a tailgate menu that features homemade meatballs, crab balls, and fried turkey cooked on-site. The RV itself attracts its fair share of followers as well, with a working television, a working bathroom and a select collection of autographed memorabilia adorning the walls.

Dawn isn’t the only woman making waves in the parking lots, at least not this year, as the girls of Abingdon also made a strong showing during the Giants-Ravens preseason game this August. Six girls in all. All from the same neighborhood, including two pairs of mothers and daughters. Their ages? Nineteen thru 39-plus was all they would admit.

Most had been to a game before, but this was the first all girls night for the sextet of starlets and their significant others sent them off with words laced with envy. “Ill just watch it on TV,” said one boyfriend, shocked that her girlfriend was going to the game – without him! “Our husbands took pictures of all us leaving in our jerseys,” said Terry, one of the Mom’s making the trip sans spouse. Of course the outfits followed the trends with Heap represented twice, in both purple and pink, followed by Boller, Reed, a “Paint the town purple” tee, and a custom jersey that simply read, “Betty Sue, #39”. Who could argue with her, she said she was 39 and had the threads to prove it.

On the other end of the spectrum, both daughters sported matching faux tattoo Ravens bracelets – think LiveStrong in purple and without the rubber. Apparently the younger generation has some fan fashions of their own this fall. Betty Sue and the rest of you take note; you may have the ‘dressed in purple’ part down, but now its time to start feeling and acting like a kid again. The season is upon us, get ready to scream and laugh and keep the crying for the men you left at home. It’s time to put on your Sunday best. I bet I know what color you’re wearing.

This article originally appeared on BaltimoreRavens.com as part of their women's fan club, Purple.