FLY, EAGLES FANS, FLY

THEY COME FROM seemingly everywhere, these Eagles fans. They travel over bridges, across interstates and even walk from their homes. The destination is Lincoln Financial Field, but to them it is a 100-yard mecca of grass and painted white lines.

They come attired in green, white and black. They dress their kids in Ricky Watters jerseys, wear tattoos dedicated to Jeremiah Trotter and are more likely to know the Eagles backup safety than who is the nation's director of homeland security.

"Football is 24/7, all year, it doesn't die down," said Dennis York, a ticketholder from Westampton, N.J. "It is so different than any other sport because the talk never stops."

York is one of a number of Eagles fans who have transformed large school buses into Eagles nests on wheels. "It's the passion," that separates football from other sports, he said, "because football is once a week."

They have a salty reputation, these Eagles fans. Some of it is deserved, but most of it is just tired rhetoric. This year, fans undoubtedly will be criticized for the rough treatment of Donovan McNabb; and you can bet that clip of him being booed on draft day will resurface. But what people on the outside could never understand was that fans' ire wasn't because the Eagles drafted McNabb, it is because they didn't draft Ricky Williams. Obviously, Andy Reid and the Eagles got the pick right and it didn't take long for the fans to acknowledge it. Remember the chants of "M-V-P" that rang through Veterans Stadium when McNabb led the Eagles to a playoff win over Tampa Bay in his first full season as a starter?

They are a knowledgeable group, these Eagles fans. They understand this is probably a transition season and that expectations should be tempered. An unofficial sampling by the Daily News found that most Eagles fans want a Super Bowl to cap the 2010 season, but know there are growing pains to be endured.

"I'm hoping for 9-7," said Chuck Rose, of Woodbury, N.J. "Anything over that is a bonus."

Rose and friend Tim Pentz co-own a school bus that is wrapped with an image of Brian Dawkins on the side and a view of the Linc on the rear doors. Have to use the restroom? They've built one of those, too. Gentlemen are asked to aim for the Cowboys star at the bottom of the urinal.

Fans around here get criticized for being too demanding when actually the only thing they truly demand is effort. Are there bad seeds among the Green Bunch? Of course. And even though other teams have had their problems - after all, a guy did get tased and a family was puked on at Citizens Bank Park - Eagles fans are pegged as uncouth and wreckless.

Geez, throw snowballs at Santa Claus one time and you're labeled for life.

FIVE EASY WAYS TO SPOT AN EAGLES FAN

1. Thinks Chuck Bednarik is the baddest dude ever to play football.

2. Thinks Brian Dawkins is second.

3. Finds almost no excuse for being late for kickoff, aside from something involving dismemberment.

4. Had "Fly, Eagles Fly" played at his wedding – or is related to someone who did.

5. Is irritated that tailgating has been cut to only 7 hours in some of the lots around Lincoln Financial Field.

FIVE THINGS EVERY EAGLES FAN MUST KNOW

1. The date of the last championship was Dec. 26, 1960.

2. The Eagles were the only team ever to beat Vince Lombardi's Packers in a championship game.

3. Wilbert Montgomery's run on the Eagles' second play from scrimmage in the 1980 NFC Championship Game went for 42 yards.

4. Donovan McNabb was the second quarterback taken in 1999 and Cleveland took Tim Couch with the No. 1 pick.

5. Steve Van Buren ran for 196 yards and scored the game's only touchdown when the Eagles beat the Chicago Cardinals, 7-0, to win the 1948 NFL title in a blinding snowstorm at Shibe Park.