CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati Bengals fan from the Miami Valley has gained attention on social media as the “third down guy” at home games at Paycor Stadium, according to our news partner WCPO in Cincinnati.
Whenever the team’s defense is on the field on third down, stadium cameras zoom in on Mark Walters, a West Carrollton native, as he waves a towel passionately.
“I’m a diehard Bengals fan,” he said. He’s been a Bengals fan since the 1990s when the team was not winning, WCPO says.
“I went to the games when they didn’t have a winning season,” said Walters. “I’d still come with the same energy.”
Hyping up the Paycor Stadium crowd is nothing new to Walters but he’s now getting attention, WCPO reports.
“I’ve been doing it for a while, but it’s a thing now,” Walters said. “And I expect third down, fourth down they’re gonna put me on the big screen.”
He brings the energy every home game from section 156 and has been getting recognized by other Bengals fans over the last few weeks, according to WCPO.
“We walk around, and people say, ‘Hey, you’re the guy with the towel’ and ‘You’re that third down guy,’” Walters said. “My nickname is ‘that third down guy.’ Everybody calls me third down guy.”
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Walters doesn’t do it to get on the jumbotron but to make an impact in the game and create a reputation for Paycor Stadium, WCPO says.
“To make some noise and be the hardest stadium to come and play at,” he said.
Walters said he loses his voice after every game and doesn’t typically get it back until Wednesday or Thursday of the following week.
Fans will see will get a chance to see him on the jumbotron for the Bengals’ next home game, January 2 against Buffalo.
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