When the Carolina Panthers lost leading receiver Kelvin Benjamin to an ACL injury prior to the start of the 2015 season, many experts around the country immediately wrote the team off. Benjamin, who would have been in his second season, led the Panthers as a rookie with over 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches.

The only addition to the Panthers’ offensive line during the offseason was veteran tackle Michael Oher, which added a large amount of fuel to the flame. The organization and general manager Dave Gettleman were heavily criticized for not drafting a single offensive lineman, but instead opting to take linebacker Shaq Thompson with their first pick.

Carolina responded to this adversity by winning 15 of its 16 regular season games and starting the season 14-0.

Quarterback Cam Newton entered his fifth professional season with a flood of doubt raining down from all across the country. Pundits still did not believe he had what it took to be elite at his position, citing his lack of pure passing ability and his quick reliance on his superior running skills to get himself out of trouble.

Newton finally proved the doubters wrong. An MVP-caliber season followed as Newton scored 45 touchdowns during the season. What made it even more dropping was the fact that 27 out of 31 NFL teams scored as a whole less than 45 touchdowns.

Despite all of this, it still somehow felt like the Panthers were the underdogs when the playoffs neared. They were not considered the League’s best team. That title was bestowed to either of the two teams coming out of the NFC’s West Division.

And, coincidentally, it would be those two teams that would serve as Carolina’s road through the playoffs. The first of whom, the Seattle Seahawks, were far and wide considered the league’s hottest team behind quarterback Russell Wilson.

Carolina won the game 31-24 after leading 31-0 at halftime. A conservative second half was enough for them to come out on top in the end.

A week later on Jan. 24, the Arizona Cardinals visited Charlotte for the NFC Championship game. It was the Panthers’ first in 11 years.

It was more of the same. The Panthers jumped out to a 17-0 lead and ultimately won 49-15, setting multiple NFC Championship game records after forcing seven turnovers. The Carolinas’ only franchise had clinched its second Super Bowl berth.

“I keep saying it: We’re not finished,” Newton said to CNN.

Newton, who will likely be named the League’s Most Valuable Player the night before Super Bowl L, had more to say about his team’s accomplishments.

“Yeah, we are going to the Super Bowl,” said Newton according to WRAL. “We are not going just to take pictures. We are trying to finish this thing off.”

Throughout campus, students and faculty show their support of the win by displaying jerseys and t-shirts of the team. Many have waited for this moment for a long time.

“I remember the pain of the 2003 Super Bowl, and every year I continue to remind myself that this is our year,” said die-hard Panthers fan and UNC Wilmington student, Emily Wakefield. “I am so excited that this is our year! Hard work goes a long way, and the fact that Coach Rivera encourages players to display their personalities instead of hiding them speaks volumes for the organization and how much they have grown.”

As many anticipate Super Bowl 50, Carolina Panthers fans around the world are filled with nothing but pride as they hope for another win from their NFL Conference Champions.