Jags fans participate in Painting the Paws

Preseason wins gets Jaguars fans jazzed about upcoming season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of Jaguar fans clad in black and teal hit downtown Saturday morning to take part in the annual tradition of painting the paw prints along the road from Bay Street all the way to Everbank Field.

"This is just awesome, this is so cool," John Ball said while painting paws with his family. "To see everyone come out and paint in the streets, it's great."

For the first time since the event began in 1995, the painting of the paws happened after the team's first preseason game. The Jaguars had a 32-31 win on Friday night at home against the New York Giants that helped provide more excitement than usual during the paw painting.

"That's the frosting on the cake. Last night's game was awesome. The guys looked good and I think we're all excited for the season now," Barbara Rock said.

The painting of the paws is a great way to keep the excitement going from an offseason full of hope that has now turned into a season that is finally here. And every time these families drive down Bay Street, they will remember which paw they painted.

"Every time we drive by the kids are fascinated by the paws and for them to be able to say that's my paw is pretty special," Rock said.

In all, 263 paws were painted along Bay Street, and it only took about an hour and a half.