CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Anybody who has attended a Carolina Panthers game at Bank of America Stadium has witnessed the ceremonial Keep Pounding drum pound.
The tradition has been around for the last decade as a special guest bangs the drum to hype up the crowd and start the game. The drummer is often a former player, a notable community member, or a cancer survivor.
Keep Pounding is not just a rallying cry for Panthers fans to cheer on their team. It's a call for everyone to keep going in times of distress and never give up.
The phrase's author knew all too well what it was like to be placed in a tough situation.
Sam Mills played 12 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL, three of which were with the Panthers from 1995 to 1997. Mills was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro selection. He joined the Panthers as an assistant coach in 1998.
In August 2003, Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer and was given only a few months to live. Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan, then a linebacker with the team, told WCNC Charlotte in 2022 that the news was a complete shock.
Mills stayed with the team through the 2003 season as the Panthers won the NFC South with several spirited comebacks.
Before Carolina's wild card matchup with the Dallas Cowboys in Charlotte, Mills gave a speech that was solidified in the team's lore.
"When I found out I had cancer, there were two things could do: quit or keep pounding," Mills said. "I'm a fighter. I kept pounding. You're fighters, too. Keep pounding!"
The Panthers used those motivational words to pull off a big win over the Cowboys. Quarterback Jake Delhomme had 273 yards passing and a touchdown pass to Steve Smith as the Panthers easily won 29-10. The Panthers led 16-3 at halftime and crushed the Cowboys offense.
Delhomme and the Panthers then went on an unexpected run to the Super Bowl. The Panthers upset the St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles in the following two rounds. Mills watched from the sideline as the Panthers nearly won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots.
Mills stayed with the team for the 2004 season but died in April 2005 at the age of 45, well over a year longer than he was expected to live.
The Panthers later adopted "Keep Pounding" as the team's official motto. The phrase has led to multiple fundraising efforts that raise money for cancer research and patient support programs.
Mills' speech was over 20 years ago and many things about the Panthers have changed but "Keep Pounding" remains a constant for the fanbase.
The Panthers (3-10) once again play the Cowboys (5-8) this week, albeit with much different circumstances. Quarterback Bryce Young has kept pounding and looks to have made a positive turnaround. The Panthers have been on the verge of three straight major upsets and are favored to beat the Cowboys. It's the first time this season that the Panthers are favored in a game.
