NFL: Super Bowl Memories - running documentary (1 to 57)

[ChuckyTheGoat]

One stark contrast for me when viewing SB9 versus SB10:

*Steelers won SB9 in a low-scoring game. The rushing game and the Steel Curtain defense were the keys to the game.
...Lynn Swann was a rookie on that team and did not have a catch.

*That would not be the case in SB10.
...Swann jumped off the screen with some incredibly acrobatic catches. He arguably made his career in this game and subsequent Super Bowls.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 10: Steelers vs Cowboys

*Cowboys qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card. They won two road playoff games, first off which was at Minnesota.

Their 17-14 win at Minnesota featured the Hail Mary TD late in the game. Arguably, the play should have been scrubbed out. Pretty clear that Drew Pearson pushed off to secure the game-winning catch.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 10: Steelers vs Cowboys

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Here's one I didn't know:

*Viking kicker Fred Cox: post-career was looking for a lighter football that youths could use.

He wound up inventing the Nerf Football. Made a good bit of bank on that one.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Franco Harris set a record for Rush Yards with 158.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

After pinning back the Vikings on a punt, the Steelers scored the opening pts of the game:

*Vikings messed up a toss. Fumble led to Tarkenton falling on the loose ball in the endzone.

Dwight White touched him for a Safety. 2-0, PITT.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Game was supposed to be Indoors in SuperDome. But the construction was not yet completed.

Was played outdoors at Tulane Stadium instead. Inclement weather b/c of storm b4 the game.

Weather impacted the 1st qtr action. On two PITT FG attempts:
1) Gerela hooked it.
2) Walden dropped the snap b/c of a wet ball.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 9: Steelers vs Vikings

*PITT: 1st SB
*MINN: 3rd SB

Name the Steelers' two captains for this game.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 9: Steelers vs Vikings

*PITT: 1st SB
*MINN: 3rd SB

Game was supposed to be Indoors in SuperDome. But the construction was not yet completed.

Was played outdoors at Tulane Stadium instead. Inclement weather b/c of storm b4 the game.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 9: Steelers vs Vikings

*PITT: 1st SB
*MINN: 3rd SB

[ChuckyTheGoat]

The four Viking Super Bowl losses beg one basic question:

*How could the Defensive Line at times look so dominant? And then look so futile in big games?

Go to 3:00 of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkxSM7BglYg&list=PLgVeGePJvQWB6shef3CX3EqqZTvjH6RtZ&index=7

Shula does a great job of explaining how they game-planned for the blocking scheme against Page. Shula basically let Page run himself out of the play OR straight into the block.

And they got Eller/Marshall totally out of sorts. IMHO, you could have given the SB 8 MVP to the Dolphin Offensive Line (as a unit).

[ChuckyTheGoat]

The four Viking Super Bowl losses beg one basic question:

*How could the Defensive Line at times look so dominant? And then look so futile in big games?

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 8: Dolphins vs Vikings

*Dolphins: Fins capped off the 17-0 season w/ a 14-7 win.
*Vikings: Were upset in SB 4.

I'll go back to SB 3 & SB 4 for a minute. After SB2, Lombardi was asked by a reporter about the difference between NFL and AFL. I'll give credit for Vince giving an honest answer:

*Vince said that he thought the NFL was superior to the AFL.

He may have thought that. But there wasn't a great reason for it to be true. The AFL owners were mostly oil-men. They had deep pockets and were bidding on the same players. It was a GREAT time to be a player b/c you could get drafted by two leagues and put them up against each other in a bidding war.

Net impact is that the Jets and Chiefs were greatly motivated in SB 3 and SB 4. There was AFL pride, they wanted to show that they were on equal footing.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Jake Scott's 2nd INT seemingly sealed it, at 14-0.

That is until maybe the funniest play in SB history. With 2:07 the Dolphins attempted a FG by Yepremian.

After the Redskins blocked the FG, Garo tried to throw a pass but failed miserably. He deflected the pass again with his own hands. Washington's Mike Bass picked the ball in mid-air and went the other way for what was officially ruled a 49-yard fumble return TD.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I always thought that DT Manny Fernandez jumped off the tape. Pretty funny anecdote that I found from the WIKI page:

The MVP was selected by Dick Schaap, the editor of Sport magazine. Schaap admitted later that he had been out late the previous night, struggled to watch the defense-dominated game, and was not aware that Fernandez had 17 tackles.

Great execution by Miami to go up 14-0 at Halftime. NFL Films documents how Buoniconti dropped into coverage perfectly to pick off the INT.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

A very good friend of mine is in the sports memorabilia business and I'm almost positive the Paul Horning conformed that when my friend was with him and they were talking off the record. I'll double check with him and confirm it.

No doubt, str. Hornung and McGee were best friends.

McGee was 34 years old. He had been used sparingly in the games up to that point of the season.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I always thought that DT Manny Fernandez jumped off the tape. Pretty funny anecdote that I found from the WIKI page:

The MVP was selected by Dick Schaap, the editor of Sport magazine. Schaap admitted later that he had been out late the previous night, struggled to watch the defense-dominated game, and was not aware that Fernandez had 17 tackles.

[str]

Max McGee replaced starting WR Boyd Dowler after Dowler was injured.
...If you believe the legend, McGee was out drinking the night before. McGee didn't expect to play, he was hung over.

On the first TD catch, McGee showed unusual dexterity to reach back and catch it. Thanks to the Demon Run?

A very good friend of mine is in the sports memorabilia business and I'm almost positive that Paul Horning confirmed that when my friend was with him and they were talking off the record. I'll double check with him and confirm it.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Pretty amazing how much the Dolphins improved in one year. Dallas had handled them the year before.

Griese, in particular, looked so much sharper. He completed a nice corner route to Twilley for the first TD.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 7: Miami vs WASH

*This is the game that Miami entered with a perfect 16-0 record. Amazingly, WASH (11-3) was deemed to be the favorite. WIKI lists Wash as a 3-pt favorite, have seen a quote of -1.5 elsewhere.

Miami's No Name Defense deserves some recognition. Like the name implies, not many stars. But they were a great unit.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 7: Miami vs WASH

*This is the game that Miami entered with a perfect 16-0 record. Amazingly, WASH (11-3) was deemed to be the favorite. WIKI lists Wash as a 3-pt favorite, have seen a quote of -1.5 elsewhere.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I knew what you meant buddy! Not a venue in the would hold 65 million! The official attendance was 61 and some change but they said that number was generous!
I just thought it was interesting that it wasn't a sale out, and of coarse they didn't call it the Superbowl until Superbowl 3!
Thanks for this thread, lots of good information and a good read!

Salud, Jack:

1) Yes, exactly. The "Super Bowl" phrase was attached after the fact.

Attaching the headline that I always viewed as strange: 1/2/1968 Green Bay Press Gazette says that "The Packers Prove They're Champions".

That's the day after they beat the Cowboys, 21-17, in the Ice Bowl. They still had a game to play against the Raiders. It's almost like the NFL/AFL game was viewed as after the fact.



2) Jack, I'm trying to put my thoughts to paper b4 I lose my marbles.

[jackpot269]

I knew what you meant buddy! Not a venue in the would hold 65 million! The official attendance was 61 and some change but they said that number was generous!
I just thought it was interesting that it wasn't a sale out, and of coarse they didn't call it the Superbowl until Superbowl 3!
Thanks for this thread, lots of good information and a good read!

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Superbowl 1 was not a sale out. There was less than 62,000 in attendance at the coliseum

I'm saying 65Million TV viewers, not fans in the stands. I seem to recall what you're saying. There did appear to be some empty seats at the stadium.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Props to the Dallas rushing game. 250 rush yards to dominate the game.

Staubach hits Ditka to seal it, 24-3. Fumble at the goal-line, otherwise it's 31-3.

They carry off Coach Landry and he smiles for the first time ever. He gets a nice congratulations from Shula.

In the post-game Bob Lilly lights up what has to be the biggest victory cigar ever.

[jackpot269]

Will list anything that I consider to be noteworthy. Things that I forgot etc.

SB 1
*Each winning player received $15,000 bonus. Pretty good $$ at the time.
*Facenda says that 65 Million viewers watched the game. A record at that time.

Superbowl 1 was not a sale out. There was less than 62,000 in attendance at the coliseum

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Props to the Dallas rushing game. 250 rush yards to dominate the game.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Early in the game, the Dallas pass rush secured an amazing 29-yard sack secured by Lilly.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 6: Cowboys vs Dolphins

*Cowboys: returned to SB after losing SB 5.
*Dolphins: franchise in only their fourth year of existence.

Cowboy had an amazing list of veterans on the roster:
*Forrest Gregg
*Herb Adderley
*Mike Ditka
*Lance Alworth

Note that Craig Morton started SB5. After dual QB play in 1971, Staubach had started the nine previous games b4 SB6.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Unitas subbed in for Morrall in SB3. But the script was flipped in SB5. Morrall replaced an injured Unitas.

Two very good defenses. Wound up being a defensive struggle.

Colts actually turned it over SEVEN times...and still won. Mike Curtis INT set up Colts for Game-winning FG at the gun.

No great offensive stats in this game. Only Super Bowl where the game MVP came from the losing side. LB Chuck Howley for his two INTs.

Bob Lilly summed it up well. After the gun, he tossed his helmet about thirty yards.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 5: Colts vs Cowboys

Two years after the heavily-favored Colts came up short against the Jets.

This game might rate as one of the choppiest Super Bowls ever. Miscues aplenty on both sides.

Cowboys argued that the long TD pass to Mackey should have been dis-allowed based on Colt tipping it to another Colt. But DB Cornell Green probably deflected the ball.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 5: Colts vs Cowboys

Two years after the heavily-favored Colts came up short against the Jets.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

SB 4: Chiefs vs Vikings

Game will be remembered for the Hank Stram quotes.



"Come on, Lenny. Pump in there, baby. Matriculate the ball down the field, boys."

[19th Hole]

Great stuff Chucky...
Always a pleasure to retrace the the walk of champions.












.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

The Colt errors were too much:
*Two missed Field Goals
*Five turnovers, most in the redzone

You only play the game once. Namath goes off with the indelible image of waving the #1 finger.