Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Come And Knock On Vince Ferragamo's Door

I am more and more satisfied with the NFL Network, particularly its offseason programming. They just ran an ad for its 1985 Caught in the Draft episode, which is set to air tomorrow night, and right now they are showing the Jan. 20, 1980, CBS telecast of Super Bowl XIV. 

Comments flow!

Previous and future NFL79 reports:


52 comments:

  1. Because this game was played in 1980, featured the Rams and the sun in the Rose Bowl casts a glow on the players similar to the glow on Chrissy, Jack and Janet around Santa Monica, this Super Bowl always makes me think of Three's Company, which I loved.

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  2. 8:25 to go in the first half ... Pittsburgh 10, Los Angeles 7 ... Rams threatening ...

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  3. I loved the Rams--the blue and the gold, the crazy helmet, the glamor, the bright sun in the Central timezone evenings. In 1976 or so, I announced to my family that I had decided to root for the Rams in the upcoming NFL season. My mom then told me that I didn't have to switch, that I could just keep on rooting for the Dolphins, and so I didn't switch. But had I switched, I was switching to the Rams--at least for one year.

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  4. Interesting. Terry Bradshaw just audibled to a a quarterback sneak, and he took the snap and immediately surged into the middle of the line for about five or six yards. "He saw something," Pat Summerall says. It was a pretty effective play that I don't think I've seen a quarterback do for 20 years, anyway.

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  5. Summerall just noted that no Super Bowl has ever been tied at half, and this one still might not be. Bradshaw just audibled to a pass and then threw directly into the chest of Rams safety Dave Elmendorf, who returned to the Pittsburgh 40 or so. Not much time left in the half ...

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  6. Tom Brookshier noted that the Steelers in Chuck Noll's first two seasons took Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw as their first-round draft choices. That was 1969 and '70, and here the Steelers are 10 years later with Greene leading Noll's defense and Bradshaw leading the offense, challenging for their fourth Super Bowl victory.

    "Talk about making your draft picks count," Brookshier says.

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  7. Fourth-and-8 from the Pittsburgh 37 ... Rams send the punter off the field ... good protection ... Ferragamo drills Billy Waddy for a catch in front of Donnie Shell ... key first down ...

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  8. Similar route ... this time by the tight end, Terry Nelson ... Ferragamo, this time on the move, again throws hard and accurately ... another first down ... Pittsburgh timeout ...

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  9. 58 seconds in the half ... Monday night, CBS is airing a special on the Iowa caucus ... "Before the Iowa caucus in 1976, Jimmy Carter was 'Jimmy who?'" says Summerall ...

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  10. Los Angeles at the Pittsburgh 14 ... two misses on end-zone throws by Ferragamo ...

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  11. Big blitz ... nothing happening for the Rams ... this time, they'll go for the field goal ... 45-yarder ... Frank Corrall ... good just inside the uprights ... 13-10, Rams ...

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  12. OK, that's half. 1980 me felt good about the Rams' chances. I was watching this game in my bedroom on a black-and-white, portable TV, which my parents had bought for me on either the previous birthday or the birthday before last. I came out to the kitchen and met my dad, who had been watching the game on a black-and-white, portable TV in his and Mom's bedroom. (We never watched TV together. Sometimes Mom would be watching her own black-and-white, portable TV in the kitchen. Sometimes we'd have all three TVs tuned to the same game or program, and we'd just yell back and forth across the house to each other about whatever we were watching.) Anyway, I walked out to the kitchen, ran into Dad--we were probably both getting snacks--and told him I thought the Rams were going to win. He said the Steelers would come back and win.

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  13. I appreciate NFL Network showing this replay, but I do wish they would show the whole halftime show. They fast-forwarded straight away to the second-half kickoff, and we missed Brent Musburger and Up With People.

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  14. My Lord, what a beautiful pass and catch by Terry Bradshaw, throwing from amid collapsing defenders, and Lynn Swann, leaping amid two collapsing defenders. Forty-seven yards, touchdown ... Hall of Fame play, Hall of Fame players.

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  15. One of the key Los Angeles defensive players was linebacker Jack Reynolds, and one of the key Los Angeles offensive players was halfback Wendell Tyler. Both of those guys subsequently played key roles with the early 49er Super Bowl teams.

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  16. Bradshaw, the Pittsburgh receivers and the Pittsburgh defensive line all look as good as ever. Franco Harris, the Pittsburgh offensive line and the Pittsburgh secondary all look like age have taken their toll.

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  17. The Rams come right back ... Lawrence McCutcheon throws a halfback-option pass for a go-ahead Los Angeles score. Kick misses. 19-17, Rams.

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  18. Bette Davis on 60 Minutes after the game.

    "You've got to watch that," Brookshier says.

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  19. Oh, man ... Bradshaw rolls right, throws back left ... and Nolan Cromwell very nearly intercepts in full stride ... "he could've been gone," Summerall says ...

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  20. Getting dark in the Rose Bowl ...

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  21. Lynn Swann injured ... comes down on head and shoulder after another leaping catch and 16th career Super Bowl catch, which is the record ... next play, Bradshaw is intercepted on an apparent misread or incorrect route ...

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  22. Rams can't get anything going, though, as very quick Steelers around the line shut down the Los Angeles running game ... 6:06 to go in the third ... Pittsburgh, still trailing 19-17, taking back over after punt to 27 ...

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  23. And on third-and-4, Bradshaw audibles to a quick-snap sneak. With the Ram defensive linemen not set, Bradshaw races behind Mike Webster for the first down ...

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  24. Another interception ... Bradshaw throwing into heavy coverage on third-and-10 inside the Los Angeles 20 ...

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  25. First down from the 4 ... Wendell Tyler scampers out of danger for 13 yards on the third quarter's last play ... "Look at the Rams go!" Summerall says, as the Los Angeles players charge through Steeler defenders, hands on their hips, to the other end of the field ...

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  26. This is great. Rams are going to end the Steelers' dynasty. Jimmy Carter's up for re-election. Suzanne Somers and Three's Company is hilarious. I've got a TV in my own room!

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  27. And I lived happily ever after. The end.

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  28. OK, no, that's not the end. Pittsburgh ball, third-and-8 ... nothing happening in the running game on first down ... screen blown up on second, as Summerall reports that Swann will not be back ... Bradshaw drops straight back into perfect pocket and throws a dart 40 yards to sprinting John Stallworth, who speeds by leaping Rod Perry and races for a 73-yard score ... Hall-of-Fame play, Hall-of-Fame players ... amazing stuff. Steelers up, 24-19.

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  29. 11:54 to go ... Rams try reverse on kickoff return, and disciplined Steelers shut it down at the Los Angeles 14 ...

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  30. For the fifth time in this game, Wendell Tyler is being helped off the field.

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  31. Ferragamo goes deep on third down, lofts toward his own sprinting receiver at midfield, but the Steelers' leaping defensive back, Ron Johnson, is able to get to the just-short throw and knock it to the ground ... Rams punting ...

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  32. Next Sunday on CBS: Hawks vs. Spurs.

    Brookshier: "The Ice Man!"

    Summerall: "Has there ever been a better shooter?"

    Brookshier: "He had 62 the other night."

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  33. 6:17 to go ... third-and-13 ... Rams still trailing by 24-19 ... Wendell Tyler, back in the game, has spurted Los Angeles past midfield, and now Ferragamo hits Billy Waddy for a first down in field-goal range ... but then Ferragamo throws into coverage, and retreating Jack Lambert intercepts for Los Angeles's first turnover ... 5:24 to go ...

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  34. CBS Sports Spectacular next Saturday: European Figure Skating Championships Part I and Motorcycle Jumpoffs Part I.

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  35. Again, Bradshaw fires deep beyond the Los Angeles defense. This one's a little off the stride of Stallworth, and so the completion takes the Steelers only to the Ram 20 or so. Another terrific connection.

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  36. 2:13 to go ... Bradshaw throws to the end zone ... incomplete, but there's a flag ... Rams corner Pat Thomas slams his helmet to the ground, and Brookshier agrees that the official got the call wrong ...

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  37. Rams stuff Rocky Bleier on first and Franco on second ...

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  38. MVPwise, Summerall says, "I'd vote for Bradshaw if it wasn't for the interceptions."

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  39. Franco smashes in ... 31-19 ... OK, whatever, Dad ...

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  40. "It's not fancy, folks, but that's how you win four Super Bowls," says Brookshier.

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  41. Los Angeles is still chucking the ball downfield in the final seconds, but the Rams cheerleaders know; they're crying. Keep a stiff upper lip, ladies--I'm sure Vince Ferragamo and our Los Angeles Rams will be making many trips to the White House through the 1980s for congratulations from presidents Carter and Mondale.

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  42. Musburger with Pete Rozelle and Art Rooney: "We are family, indeed."

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  43. "One of the toughest Super Bowls I ever played in," Bradshaw tells Musburger.

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  44. Musburger: "Now let's go to the soul of this ballclub, with Irv Cross: Mean Joe Greene."

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  45. Franco: "I'm just happy for everyone in Pittsburgh, the Rooneys and our coaching staff."

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