prove to be the core of the team's renewed success on defense – Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch. Things only really began to change, however, after Culverhouse died of lung cancer in 1994. New ownership, Tony Dungy, and a return to contention (1996–2001) Despite the profitability of the Buccaneers in the 1980s, Culverhouse's death revealed a team close to bankruptcy, which surprised many observers. His son, Miami attorney Hugh Culverhouse, Jr., practically forced the trustees of his father's estate to sell the team, which cast doubt on the future of the Buccaneers in Tampa. Interested parties included New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, the latter of whom publicly declared he would move the team to Baltimore, which had lacked an NFL franchise since the Colts were relocated to Indianapolis. There was also talk of moving the Buccaneers to nearby Orlando, but mayor Glenda Hood ruled out razing the Citrus Bowl to build an NFL stadium. After Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore and Georgia Frontiere moved the Rams to St. Louis, rumours of relocation to the vacated markets of Los Angeles or Cleveland‘Modell holding tough, so are Browns supporters: Buccaneers enter Cleveland picture’; Cincinnati Post; January 18, 1996, p. 1C emerged, as did talk of moving to Hartford, Connecticut. However, in a last-minute surprise, Malcolm Glazer outbid both of them for $192 million, the highest sale price for a professional sports franchise up to that point. Glazer immediately placed his sons Bryan, Edward, and Joel in charge of the team's financial affairs, and the family's deep pockets and serious commitment to fielding a winning team — in Tampa — allowed the Bucs to finally become competitive. The team's performance dramatically improved when the Glazers hired Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Tony Dungy as head coach, jettisoned the old “creamsicle” uniforms, and convinced Hillsborough County voters to raise sales taxes to partially fund the construction of Raymond James Stadium. 1996 season: Dungy’s first year During Dungy's first season in 1996, the team continued to struggle, starting the season 1–8. However, in the second half of the season they finished 5–2, primarily due to the performance of a defense ranked seventh in the NFL led by Hardy Nickerson and the maturing of Wyche's draftees Brooks, Lynch and Sapp. Dungy, widely renowned for his somber, even-tempered personality, quickly brought balance and morale to the