'Who (are) Dey'?

This season, after years of failures and decades of disappointment, loyal Cincinnati Bengals fans have truly earned their orange and black stripes. While they live more than 200 miles away from Cincinnati, count a contingent of Bengals diehards residing in Erie, Huron and Sandusky counties as among the NFL franchise's most ardent and devoted supporters: • They shouted and screamed for joy when their team clinched its first playoff berth in six years. • They clapped and cheered when their team, on Jan. 15 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, won its first playoff game in 31 years. • They danced in delight when their team, on Jan. 22 against the top-seeded Tennessee Titans, pulled off a stunning victory and won its first road postseason game in franchise history. And they're equal parts excited and uneasy for what's to come. Cincinnati continues its Cinderella-like run as the perennial underdog Bengals face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game (3:05 p.m. Sunday on CBS). Kansas City has won the last two conference championship games. The winner heads to the Super Bowl, a contest Cincinnati has twice appeared in but hasn't yet won. Though this might be "the year" — and many area residents sure do hope so. They spoke with the Register about who they — or, as the team's rallying cry put its, "Who Dey" — are, their fandom and what two more wins this season would mean to them: Janice Crooks, Milan Crooks Provided photo • A fan for 32 years • Started following the team because she liked former Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason; "I grew up in a home of Lions and Browns fans, so I wanted to follow a team different from the rest. Call it sibling rivalry." • Favorite Bengals player: Esiason, "but I really like Joe Burrow, too." • What a win on Sunday would mean: "I'm married to a Pittsburgh guy, so going to and winning a Super Bowl would finally give me some bragging rights. I've been waiting a long time." Itai Yancey, Sandusky Itai Yancey with his dad, George Provided photo • A fan for 19 years • Started following the team "because of my dad being a diehard Bengals fan." • Favorite Bengals players: Chad Ochocinco and A. J. Green • What a win on Sunday would mean: "Going to a Super Bowl, and possibly winning it, would mean a lot, knowing how long it's been since they've last been and the unfortunate circumstances they've gone through with not even winning a playoff game in over three decades." Nathan Tea, Clyde Nathan Tea with his wife, Katie. Provided photo • A fan for 18 years • Started following the team because he's from northwest Ohio; "I just wanted to be different since everybody around me was a Browns or a Lions fan." • Favorite Bengals player: Chad Johnson • What a win on Sunday would mean: It would mean "so much to me for real all those terrible years we went to the playoffs and getting smashed in the first round." Jim Perry, Berlin Heights The Perry family, from left, Noah, Jim, Robert and Evan. Provided photo • A fan for 48 years • Started following the team "since my birth in a Cincinnati hospital." • Continued following the team "behind enemy lines to Browns country in the third grade, but my Bengals loyalty has never wavered. I have always been 'The Bengals fan' at school, work and socially through the years, always praying and hoping for a Bengals win so the next day was tolerable." • Favorite Bengals player: "Ickey Woods, as I have such fond memories of the Ickey Shuffle and winning during that time frame. It was just a fun exciting time to be a fan. It was exciting to be relevant and competitive." • What a win on Sunday would mean: "A Bengals Super Bowl berth and win would be everything to me. I recognize a game or team has no real bearing in the grand scheme of life, but I have so many years of fan equity built up, so many years of heartache and disappointment. To now have the opportunity to shock the world is amazing. The franchise can change the narrative away from the 'Bungles' to the 'Bengals' and become a more respectable franchise with just two more wins." The Sparks family — Casey, Mike, Maggie and Jack — Huron Jack Sparks Provided photo Mike and Casey Sparks Provided photo • A fan for/Started following the team: Mike 30-plus years ago because he grew up in Cincinnati; Casey 18-plus years ago after moving to Cincinnati in 2004 and becoming a season ticket holder; Maggie and Jack since birth • Favorite Bengals player: Mike's is Boomer Esiason and Jack's is Ja'Marr Chase • What a win on Sunday would mean: "For Jack, his mind would be blown, as this year, he also watched his Cincinnati Bearcats get to the NCAA college (football) playoffs. Jack is rooting for a (San Francisco) 49ers versus Bengals rematch, given the history of losing to them both times the Bengals have made it there. For Mike, this year has been amazing, as the Bengals have been able to remove all of the demons from the past: with a playoff game, win a road playoff game and, if Jack gets his wish, possibly erase the fact that we have not beaten the 49ers in the Super Bowl. Even if we don't make it, it has been an amazing year for the Bengals with a bright future. Who Dey." Daniel Sanders, Norwalk The Sanders family: husband/dad Daniel, wife/mom Justina and their children, Ophylia, Korrigan and Emalise. Provided photo • A fan for 37 years; "All my life." • Started following the team as he "lived in the Cincinnati area for almost 10 years. I have always been drawn to them, especially as a kid. I love the town, and I love the Bengals." • Favorite Bengals player: "Boomer (Esiason) growing up, however, with the success we have seen and waiting a long time for that first playoff win in years, it is hard not to say Joe Burrow. Who Dey." • What a win on Sunday would mean: "It would mean a lot to me to see them make for the first time that I can remember. I was around when they made it the second time, but I was 4. All I got to see were videos of the pain, watching the 49ers come back and beat us. The excitement of being this close to the Lombardi Trophy being in Cincinnati would be awesome. Then I wouldn't have to listen to my friends that are fans of that team in western Pennsylvania anymore give me grief about not having one. Let's roar 'Who Dey'" Alex Jones, Sandusky Alex Jones with his wife, Alexa. Also pictured is Alex's brother, Tucker, and Tucker's sister-in-law, Elizabeth. • A fan for about 20 years "when Jon Kitna and Corey Dillon were running around going 2-14." • Started following the team because "My dad is from Cincinnati, so we grew up watching Reds in the summer and the Bengals in the fall. It was only natural that I would carry that torch on. In fact, he and I have always had our 'Three B's' of football every fall: Bengals, Buckeyes, and Blue Streaks." • Favorite Bengals player: "As a student of the game, an offensive line coach and former offensive tackle myself, Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati's only hall of famer, has to be the player I respect most, but the player I enjoyed watching the most was Chad Johnson." • What a win on Sunday would mean: "The idea of even being in the playoffs at all this year is such a big deal, given our recent run of mediocrity, and then to think that they are about to play in the first AFC championship game in my lifetime is astounding. I'm soaking it all in and just appreciating it for what it is: A special season for a team everyone had counted out. As a fan, I get to enjoy that." Steve Koenig, Huron Steve Koenig and his son, Will. • A fan for 54 years since "the inaugural season in 1968. I was 6 at that time." • Started following the team because "Although I have lived in Huron for the last 33 years, I was born and raised in Cincinnati. I remember my grandpa saving player posters that were in the Cincinnati Post and Times-Star for me." • Favorite Bengals player: Isaac Curtis, a wide receiver • What a win on Sunday would mean: "It would be absolutely amazing for the Bengals to win the Super Bowl, as the city hasn't had a championship of any kind for decades. I still have family in Cincy." Angi Kane, Sandusky Angi Kane with her son, Skylar, and her grandchildren, Miles and Carson Bates. • A fan, along with her son, Skylar, for 18 years • Started following the team because "I became a fan when my son was 4 years old and randomly started talking about Chad Johnson, later known as Ochocinco. I had two older girls who were the cheerleaders and wanted to have that same type of bond with my son. So I Googled a lot and learned the game." • Favorite Bengals player: A. J. Green and my son's favorite player is definitely Chad Johnson. • What a win on Sunday would mean: The team is "one game away from the Super Bowl, and I cannot wait to see my son's wishes come true and to see the smile on his face. To experience this moment with him is going to be epic. This is one bond that will never ever be broken. 'Who Dey' for life." Heather Perry, Berlin Heights Jordyn Perry pictured with the Cincinnati Bengals' mascot Who Dey Provided photo The Perry family: Jim, Evan and Heather Provided photo • A fan for 20 years • Started following the team when "I started dating my now-husband, James Perry, and he is a huge Bengals fan." • Favorite Bengals player: Chad Johnson • What a win on Sunday would mean: "It would make me so happy because our family has been fans throughout all the years, the ups and downs, devoted every Sunday to watching them and planned countless Cincinnati vacations just so we could watch them play." Chris Parthemore, Sandusky Chris Parthemore with his daughter, Emerson Julia Parthemore with her daughter, Emerson • A fan for 38 years • Started following the team "when I was 4 or 5 years old. I liked tigers and the Bengals helmets had cool stripes." • Favorite Bengals player: Ickey Woods or Leon Hall • What a win on Sunday would mean: "I remember watching the Superbowl XXIII and spending the fourth quarter with my nose about an inch from the TV. Joe Montana, of course, broke my heart that day, and it's been a long few decades since. Getting to another or winning one would be incredible. I hope the Bengals can win one and the Browns as well." Roger Bowen, Milan Roger and Christie Bowen • A fan for 40 years, starting "at the age of 9." • Started following the team "while watching the Super Bowl 16 the Bengals versus San Francisco." • Favorite Bengals player: Boomer Esiason • What a win on Sunday would mean: "Winning the Super Bowl would mean everything that the NFL stands for. That's why we watch and love sports, to get a chance to have this moment at least once in our lifetime."