This is what happens when you wait two decades for the return of your football team.
You don’t leave early. You stay to the sweltering end. You raise your sweaty souls above creaky Coliseum seats in the final moments of their homecoming game and you roar with hope and rage and history.
You roar loud enough, nearly all 91,000 of you, to inspire your weary and backpedaling Rams defense into one last stand.
You roar long enough, your hands waving in the air, to turn the charging Seattle Seahawks’ offense into jelly, one-false start penalty then a lost fumble by Christine Michael to clinch the game.
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You roar deeply enough late Sunday afternoon to nearly make an old defensive end weep, Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood shaking his head in the locker room after the Rams 9-3 victory in the first regular-season NFL game played in Los Angeles in 22 years.
“It was a rush,’’ said Youngblood, his throat thick. “Just a rush.’’
OK, St. Louis, change of heart, we’ll keep these guys around awhile, if only for the magic they spread across 39th and Figueroa on a day that ended with thousands standing and screaming and refusing to go home.
The Rams made their home debut after Monday night’s inaugural debacle against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, and, yes, they are still boring and amazingly still haven’t scored a touchdown.
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But yeah — wiping brow here — it was a three-hour rush.
It was the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing a pregame concert with Anthony Kiedis wearing a Jared Goff jersey and football pants — the only play the kid got all afternoon.
It was CeeLo Green singing the national anthem in what appeared to be a red mumu. It was talk show host James Corden dancing in what was definitely a Rams cheerleader outfit.
It was LeBron James in shorts, Magic Johnson on the aisle, and those darn Kings hockey players toasting beers in the end zone.
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“Ko-be, Ko-be,’’ chanted fans at James because, well, of course they did.
It was cheesy Hollywood, but it was also history, with the Olympic torch being lit above a row of six Rams’ Hall of Famers looking nifty in their yellow jackets. The group included Jackie Slater, Tom Mack, Eric Dickerson, Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk and Youngblood. Even though Faulk and Pace never played in Los Angeles, the Rams included them in all festivities, which was cool, except at halftime they were introduced as “Los Angeles Rams,” and that’s not really fair to St. Louis.
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Rams Robert Quinn celebrates his sack on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson but the play was nulified by offsetting penalties.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams Michael Brockers makes a tackle on Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls without his helmet at the Coliseum Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher shake hands after the game.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Kenny Britt watches head coach Jeff Fisher kiss the forehead of his daughter Ava after the game.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Bet they wish they had Carson Wentz right about now.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams Mark Barron (26) causes a fumble as Alec Ogletree recovers the ball from Seahawks running back Christine Michael late in the 4th quarter to preserve the Rams win.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams Mark Barron (26) causes a fumble as Alec Ogletree recovers the ball from Seahawks running back Christine Michael late in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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James Corden performs with Rams cheerleaders between quarters.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is sacked by Seahawks Cassius Marsh who was called for a penalty for grabbing the face mask in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams running back Todd Gurley is brought down by Seattle Seahawks defenders in the fourth quarter at the Coliseum on Sept. 18. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll reacts to a penalty in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett hauls in a long pass in front of Rams defensive back Troy Hill late in the fourth quarter on Sept. 18. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans cheer for their team against the Seahawks. The Rams won their home opener, 9-3.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks quarterback Russell Willson barely gets a pass off as Rams Aaron Donald tackles him in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is sacked by Seahawk defenders in the 3rd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Tavon Austin makes a catch in front of Seahawks Bobby Wagner.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams head coach Jeff Fisher watches a play from the sidelines against the Seahawks.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams cornerback Troy Hill breaks up a pass intended for Seahawks receiver Paul Richardson in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks running back Christine Michael tries to get away from the Rams defensive pursuit in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is brought down by Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark after a short gain in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams defensive end William Hayes celebrates after dragging down Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls for a loss in the first quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams defensive end Robert Quinn forces a fumble by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Tavon Austin is tackeld by Seahawks Frank Clark, center, and Kam Chancellor in the after an eight-yard gain in the first quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams safety Maurice Alexander puts a hit on Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Rams’ Lance Kendricks makes a catch in front of the Seahawks’ Mike Morgan during the second quarter of a Sept. 18 game at the Coliseum. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin tries to get around Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in the second quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams cornerback Troy Hill is called for pass interference as he defends against Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett in the second quarter Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams running back Todd Gurley looks for room to run against the Seahawks in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams coach Jeff Fisher walks along the sideline in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams players prepare to take the field before a game with the Seahawks at the Coliseum.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans cheer during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in Los Angeles.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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A Rams Melonheads fans cheer during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Jack Youngblood, from left, Eric Dickerson, Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk, Jackie Slater and Tom Mack are honored during a Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Rams owner Stan Kroenke talks with NBA susperstar LeBron James before the start of the game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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LA Rams owner Stanley “Stan” Kroenke stands during a hall of fame ceremony.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis performs before the first Rams home game at the Coliseum.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea, let, and lead singer Anthony Kiedis perform before the first Rams home game.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Flea and Anthony Kaedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform before the Rams-Seahawks game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Melonheads pose before the Rams-Seahawks game on Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Rams home opener is the first regular season game for the team in Southern California in 22 years.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans walk by the Metro Expo Line light rail before the start of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks at the Coliseum on Sunday.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Rams fans party and play parking lot football before the Rams-Seahawks game on Sunday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fan Lance Miller barbecues chicken before the Rams-Seahawks game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Grant Mogford peers out of the window of his party bus before the Rams-Seahawks game at the Coliseum.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans and a lone Seahawks fan gather for a tailgate party before the game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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A police officer sets up outside the Coliseum before the Rams-Seahawks game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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A lot attendant poses with an old sign offering parking for $180, after the price was lowered to $140, near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
“I thought the production associated with the game was incredible,’’ Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said. “There was some good stuff there.’’
In the end, though, it was about those fans, dressed in jerseys honoring everyone from Olsen to Everett, fans defying stereotype and embracing legacy and sticking around to watch the Rams stifle the Seahawks on their final, potential game-winning drive.
Standing in the end zone when that drive began with 1:53 left, it was so loud it was impossible to hear, but hobbled Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson fought through it to complete a 53-yard pass to Tyler Lockett to the Rams’ 35-yard line.
But then the noise really kicked in, and, after a short Wilson incompletion, the Seahawks were charged with a false start. Usually it’s the Seahawks famed “12th Man’’ that messes with the opposition, but suddenly, there was a new obnoxious kid in town.
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“We got them to go for a couple of false starts, it was loud in there, hard for them to hear,’’ said Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree, in his fourth season. “As long as I’ve been a Ram, we’ve never had the crowd be like that, like it was today.’’
One play after the false start, Michael caught an eight-yard pass but was stripped by Ogletree, who recovered the fumble as the ancient building rising above them appeared to shake.
”I haven’t ever experienced anything like that before,’’ defensive end William Hayes said. “I can’t sit up here and lie to you and say I thought it would be like that.”
Nobody knew exactly how Sunday would work, what with the team coming off a bad loss and nobody quite sure how to act at a Coliseum football game that wasn’t USC. It rocked pretty good, although Rams folks still have some kinks to work out.
They played Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.’’ at halftime, which everyone knows just doesn’t fit. That’s a victory song, to be played only after one of the local teams win. Just ask the Lakers and Dodgers.
Then there’s nice-guy public address announcer Sam Lagana, who, to put it nicely, screams too much. Way too much. Lagana leads cheers and roars instructions like, “Rise with the Rams!’’ as if we’re watching the sport of football for the first time.
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We know how it works. We’ve been filling the Coliseum for college football for a century. Football is a game, not a monster truck rally. If the Rams want to fit seamlessly back into Los Angeles, they need to sound like Los Angeles sports. Somebody needs to play them a tape of Lawrence Tanter.
The Times staff breaks down the Rams’ 9-3 victory over the Seahawks in their home debut after 21 seasons in St. Louis.
This might be a new team for the town, but it’s an old franchise of the heart. These are old-school Rams fans, and they’re not going home any time soon.
“The fans, that was really, really cool,’’ Rams quarterback Case Keenum said. “I made sure before I went out in the tunnel and as I’m running out just to look around to savor the moment. I’m going to write stuff down because I want to remember that forever.’’
Forever is what it seemingly took for this moment to arrive. In savoring it, Keenum was not alone.
Bill Plaschke, an L.A. Times sports columnist since 1996, is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame and California Sports Hall of Fame. He has been named national Sports Columnist of the Year nine times by the Associated Press, and twice by the Society of Professional Journalists and National Headliner Awards. He is the author of six books, including a collection of his columns entitled “Plaschke: Good Sports, Spoilsports, Foul Balls and Oddballs.” Plaschke is also a panelist on the popular ESPN daily talk show, “Around the Horn.” He is in the national Big Brothers/Big Sisters Alumni Hall of Fame and has been named Man of the Year by the Los Angeles Big Brothers/Big Sisters as well as receiving a Pursuit of Justice Award from the California Women’s Law Center. Plaschke has appeared in a movie (“Ali”), a dramatic HBO series (“Luck”) and, in a crowning cultural moment he still does not quite understand, his name can be found in a rap song “Females Welcome” by Asher Roth.
