Keep Pounding has become a team mantra in honor of late Carolina Panthers player and coach Sam Mills. Mills first used the phrase "Keep Pounding" as a coach in an emotional speech to the team prior to the Panthers' playoff game versus the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 2, 2004. He spoke about commitment, dedication to teammates, team effort and never giving up. Mills asked the players to "Keep Pounding."
Immediately following the coin toss before every home game, an honorary drummer rallies the entire stadium by hitting the massive six-foot Keep Pounding Drum four times to signify four quarters. Keep Pounding Drummers come from a variety of backgrounds and occupations, but all have overcome a great trial or adversity that has not only made them strong but also pushes them to make others around them stronger.
















Braheam Murphy
Local high school football QB and state champion

Julius Peppers
Panthers all-time sack leader

2017 Panthers Fan of the Year

U.S. military member in honor of Salute to Service

Former Panthers safety (1997-06)

Cancer survivors as part of Crucial Catch initiative

Member of Fuel Up to Play60 Leadership Team

Members of the USC and UNC women's and men's national championship basketball teams

Founder of 'Mitey Riders' therapeutic riding program

Panthers alumni defensive end (1995-97)

Panthers defensive end

NASCAR champion crew chief

Pitcher for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs

Salute to Service honoree

Charlotte Hornets guard

Breast Cancer Awareness Month honoree

Gold medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 4x100m freestyle relay, North Carolina State swimmer

2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Panthers alumni linebacker (1996, 1998-99)

2016 NCAA Division I National Champions, including head coach Gary Gilmore, pitcher Andrew Beckwith, pitcher Mike Morrison and outfielder Anthony Marks.

Panthers alumni linebacker (2005-06)

Panthers Owner/Founder

Panthers wide receivers coach, member of Super Bowl XXXVIII team

Panthers running back

Father and son professional golfers who attended Wake Forest

2015 USA Women's World Cup champion team members

Salute to Service honoree

Medal of Honor recipient

Breast Cancer Awareness Month honoree

Make-A-Wish child

2015 NBA MVP, Charlotte native and Davidson College alumnus

Panthers alumni offensive guard (2001-03)

Oldest women to ever complete a marathon at 92 years old

Panthers 2014 Ed Block Courage Award winner

Make-A-Wish child

NASCAR champion

Salute to Service honoree and Medal of Honor recipient

Inspiration for the movie "23 Blast"

Panthers alumni wide receiver (1995-98)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month honoree

Hispanic Heritage Month honoree

Panthers alumni offensive tackle (2003-13)

Make-A-Wish child

Panthers alumni wide receiver (1995-98)

Children of former Panthers linebacker and coach Sam Mills

2013 NFL Man of the Year nominee

Make-A-Wish parents of Hope Stout

Play 60 ambassador

Salute to Service honoree, recipient of Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart

Panthers alumni quarterback (2003-09)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month honoree, mother of Greg Olsen

Panthers alumni wide receiver (1996-2004, 2008-09)

Charlotte 49ers head football coach

Boston Marathon bombing survivors

Panthers alumni quarterback (1996-2000)
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2019 Keep Pounding Drummers | Column 2 | Column 3 |
---|---|---|
Date | Opponent | Name |
August 16 | Buffalo | Sir Purr |
August 29 | Pittsburgh | Zaire Washington |
September 8 | Los Angeles Rams | Muhsin Muhammad |
September 12 | Tampa Bay | Mike Rucker |
October 6 | Jacksonville | Jordan Gross |
November 3 | Tennessee | Avery Wilson |
November 17 | Atlanta | CSM Annette Weber |
December 1 | Washington | |
December 15 | Seattle | |
December 29 | New Orleans |
2018 Keep Pounding Drummers | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Date | Opponent | Name | Notes |
August 17 | Miami | Willie Green | Panthers alumni wide receiver |
August 24 | New England | Mitch Harwood, Bradford Hancock, McKenzie Stevens, Hayley Blaauw | Queens University four-time National Champion Swimmers & Divers |
September 9 | Dallas | Gen. Robert Neller | Commandant of the Marine Corps |
September 23 | Cincinnati | Dana Outlaw | Mayor of New Bern, N.C. |
October 7 | New York Giants | Crucial Catch Representatives | Cancer survivors and representatives of the Crucial Catch initiative. |
October 28 | Baltimore | Tharon Drake | U.S. Paralympic silver medalist and NCAA's first blind swimming coach at Catawba College |
November 4 | Tampa Bay | Doug Greenlaw | National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart |
November 25 | Seattle | SFC Jennifer Edgerly | U.S. Army Sergeant |
December 17 | New Orleans | Austin Dillon | 2018 Dayton 500 champion |
December 23 | Atlanta | Joshua Meyers, Scott Rohrer | Special Olympians |
2017 Keep Pounding Drummers | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | Opponent | Name | Notes |
August 9 | Houston Texans | Gerald Williams | Panthers alumni defensive end (1995-97) |
August 31 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Harry Swimmer | Founder of 'Mitey Riders' therapeutic riding program |
September 17 | Buffalo Bills | A'ja Wilson, Tyasha Harris, Luke Maye, Joel Berry II | Members of the USC and UNC women's and men's national championship basketball teams |
September 24 | New Orleans Saints | Maliyah Morrison | Member of Fuel Up to Play60 Leadership Team |
October 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | Alex Marshall, Gary Bowne, Paulus Bonar, Zoe Oliver | Cancer survivors as part of Crucial Catch initiative |
November 5 | Atlanta Falcons | Mike Minter | Former Panthers safety (1997-06) |
November 13 | Miami Dolphins | SSG Chad Campbell | U.S. military member in honor of Salute to Service |
December 10 | Minnesota Vikings | Carrie Keuten | Panthers Fan of the Year |
December 17 | Green Bay Packers | Julius Peppers | Panthers all-time sack leader |
December 24 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Braheam Murphy | Local high school football QB and state champion |