Champs! Rick Stroud, The St.Petersburg Times, published 3 January 2000 They waited 18 years to celebrate the moment, and when it arrived Sunday, the Bucs seemed terribly unprepared. After winning the NFC Central title by beating the Chicago Bears 20-6, Tampa Bay players could have used a party coordinator. Instead of getting a ride on players' shoulders, coach Tony Dungy was doused with ice water by defensive tackle Brad Culpepper. "We got him pretty good I think," Culpepper said. "But he had a waterproof jacket on, so he was a little bit prepared. That's Tony. He's always prepared." Warren Sapp tried to hurl his NFC Central Champions cap into the seats at Soldier Field. But a gust of wind off Lake Michigan made it dive like a paper airplane into the ground at the feet of security guards. In the locker room, teammates hugged, posed for pictures and donned T-shirts commemorating their first division title since 1981. But they couldn't really go bananas over their 11-5 record - the best in club history - because the job isn't finished. Even more important than the NFC Central title, the Bucs earned a first- round bye in the post-season before hosting a division playoff game at 4:15 p.m. Jan. 15 at Raymond James Stadium. How long had it been since the Bucs wore the crown? Rookie quarterback Shaun King was 4 years old, and 28 teams have won division titles. "When I got here, I likened this place to a third-world country. Right now, we're first- class citizens," Sapp said. "We've come a very, very long way, but we haven't gone as far as we want to go. This team here is very special and we have something special. Now it's going to be a matter if can we punch in two more times and step on the biggest stage in the world. You would never have guessed this ballclub would be sitting here like we are today and we owe all that to Tony." But the celebration Sunday also was mixed with sorrow for the loss of tackle Paul Gruber for the rest of the season. Gruber fractured his right tibia while pass protecting late in the third quarter, a play that conceivably could be the last of his career because the 12-year veteran is a free agent at the end of the season. "On the one hand you're so up, on the other hand you lose a guy like Paul Gruber," Bucs safety John Lynch said. "I think everyone in this locker room has a heavy heart because of that. He's waited a long time for this and it was nice to bring it home for him." Gruber was scheduled to have surgery Sunday night or today. The Bucs are considering signing tackle DeMarcus Curry from the practice squad and also will look at veteran free agents. Gruber's injury prompted many Bucs to dedicate the playoffs to him. Sunday's victory was important because teams earning a first-round bye in the NFC are 17-1 in the 1990s in the divisional playoff game. The Bucs are 13-3 at RJS and are among the NFL's hottest teams entering the playoffs, having won eight of their past nine games. "I pity the fool who has to come to Tampa," Sapp said. The Bucs relied on their defense to create turnovers and field position again Sunday. Tampa Bay scored 10 points late in the first half off two takeaways. Cornerback Donnie Abraham intercepted his seventh pass this season to set up a 25-yard field goal by Martin Gramatica. And defensive end Steve White recovered a fumble at the Bears 14 that was forced by Marcus Jones, who stripped Bears rookie quarterback Cade McNown while he was attempting to pass. Mike Alstott scored on a 1-yard run as the Bucs took a 10-0 halftime lead. "We felt like if we put enough pressure on him, he was going to throw us some balls that we could pick off," Sapp said of McNown. In the past two games, the Bucs have scored 30 points off turnovers. The Bears closed within 13-6 less than a minute into the fourth quarter. But that's when the Bucs mounted a championship-caliber drive. Running back Warrick Dunn, who rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries, started it with a 33-yard gallop - his longest run this season. King, 4-1 as a starter, completed three passes, including a 6-yard touchdown to tight end Dave Moore. The 80-yard drive in nine plays essentially sealed it. "I thought our offense was just outstanding," Dungy said. "They scored a field goal and got it back to a seven-point game and we were going against the wind. We answered. Warrick made a big run early to get us out. They just really weren't to be denied. And then Shaun made a big throw to Dave Moore at the end. It's the thing that makes you proud about this team. It's different guys coming through with plays when you need them." A year ago, the Bucs finished the regular season with a 35- 0 win at Cincinnati. But at 8-8, they were eliminated from the playoffs by Arizona 3 1/2 hours after the game as they huddled around two televisions on their charter flight to Tampa. Sunday, the Bucs had a more enjoyable flight home. When they landed, they still hadn't come down to earth. "Two years ago, I don't know if we really appreciated what we'd done (making the playoffs)," Lynch said. "We made a valiant run at it. We beat Detroit at home and then went up to Green Bay and gave it a good shot. After that, I think we thought this was going to be a perennial thing. The next year was a reality check. I remember that plane ride home. The Chargers (rallied to tie) Arizona, the plane's going crazy. And 15 seconds later, Jake (Plummer) takes them down there, they kick a 52-yard field goal and I think it was the most down I've ever seen one of our charters. I think our mind-set was let's put ourselves in a position where we never have to go through that again." Who knows, a couple more division titles and the Bucs may get this celebration business down. "You're talking about a championship ballclub," Sapp said. "I mean, I've got a hat on, I'm a division champion. No matter what I do from here on out, I can always say I won one. But it's not where this team wants to end up."