"It was great. It surprised me, how some of the guys reacted, how they were choked up," Tepper said. "Anybody whose heart is not warmed a little by that, they've got a hard heart. Listen, all four of these guys are great guys. I've gotten to know them a little bit. I couldn't be prouder to have them in the Hall of Honor."

The players were later flown to Charlotte to get measurements for bronze busts and Panther blue jackets. In time, their names will be displayed in the upper bowl like the current honorees.

And really, that's just the beginning of what's in store.