As the Philadelphia Eagles battled the Carolina Panthers for a chance to go the Super Bowl in the NFC Championship last night, the legions of Eagles fans, like a green and white army, descended on local bars and parties.

As the teams clashed on Lincoln Financial Field, the Philly faithful, with their familiar battle cry -- E-A-G-L-E-S ... EAGLES! -- did their best to create a game-like atmosphere as fans erupted in collective cheers and sighs throughout the contest.

But as the game progressed, and the birds ultimately suffered their third championship game defeat in three years, the atmosphere dramatically changed.

The disheartened fans filtered out of the Sports Café, 224 W. College Ave., where many Eagles loyalists sat, visibly upset over the 14-3 defeat.

Brian Heiser (senior-crime, law and justice), wearing the green home jersey, said he was disappointed, like all the other die-hard fans, but he looks forward to the future.

"It's depressing, but you just have to keep your hopes up for next year," he said.

Despite the loss, Heiser said Eagles fans won't be deterred by the defeat.

"Eagles fans, every year, will be back for more," he said. "When you're an Eagles fan, you're born an Eagles fan, and you die an Eagles fan."

For Bernie Dougherty (senior-aerospace engineering), Ben Crabtree (senior-geography) and Mike Poteet (graduate-soil science), who aren't all Eagles fans, the game was as much a social outing as a sports contest.

"It wouldn't be as much fun if there weren't other fans," Crabtree said as he sat between two non-Eagles fans at the Sports Café.

Dougherty, an Eagles fan, said the game experience is about the company.

"It always makes it better to watch the game with hardcore fans," he said. "Sports are entertainment; they should bring people together. It's supposed to be fun."

In the Beaver Avenue apartment of Greg Gagliardi (sophomore-finance) and Jeremy Durkin (sophomore-international politics), a similar atmosphere prevailed.

Friends, sitting in a half-circle around the television, blaring the Rocky theme song and pounding the coffee table in support, gathered to root for their beloved birds, leaping toward the TV after every good play.

Gina Passero (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) and Lisa Prestileo (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) watched attentively, wearing homemade jerseys and sitting near the apartment's voodoo doll, hung for every Eagles' game, in solemn support.

But tonight was not their night.

Disappointed, the Philly faithful must wait until next season and hope they will once again be gathered in solidarity, chanting their battle cry, but with a different outcome.