40 Years Ago: ‘The Catch’ Changes Football, and a City, Forever

UltimateClassicRock ^ | 1/10

[nickcarraway]

A day late.

[SamAdams76]

That was a more innocent time in NFL football.

[Fester Chugabrew]

The whole state of California has so much going for it in the way of natural resources, natural beauty, and people. That said, Pelosi is an enormous drag on the state, together with Newsome, Waters, and several others.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

A great rivalry. NOT quite Packers vs Bears or Lakers vs Celtics, but it’s there.

[Dacula]

Georgia won their first National Championship in 41 years.

[Jim W N]

Many thought it was an unplanned “Hope-and-Prayer” throw with Montana running for his life to his right with Dallas defensive guys on his tail.

But Clark was the safety-valve receiver and they had practiced this play and Montana was to throw the ball high enough so the Dallas defender couldn’t get it.

It was a turning point for both teams. Dallas was never the same after that and the Niners became the Team of the 80’s.

SO COOL!!!

[Dan in Wichita]

I've been a 49ers fan since I was 10 years old in 1969. I liked the team because of their uniforms.

The early 1970s were good for the Niners, behind the quarterbacking of John Brodie. The remainder of the 1970s was a disaster.

I still reminisce so much about the 1981 season. As a long- suffering 49er fan, that season was such a joy ride of unexpected success. Defeating the dreaded Cowboys 28-27 on 01-10-82 to reach the Super Bowl was like a dream come true. Let's not forget in the final minute of play, Dallas was nearing field goal range, but Cowboys QB was sacked and fumbled the ball. Niners recovered to preserve the historic win.

All hard to believe it has been 40 years.

[foreverfree]

RIP, Dwight.

ff

[Dr. Sivana]

a strategy utilizing short passing routes as opposed to plodding, running plays

What is it with this "plodding, running plays" nonsense?! Did the writer never see plays by Earl Campbell, Walter Payton, Mark Van Eeghan, O.J. Simpson, James Brown, Lydell Mitchell, Greg Pruitt? The "plodding" plays were for the full backs (John Capalleti, Larry Czonka).

[CommieCutter]

And a young Tom Brady was sitting in the end zone.

[blam]

"That was a more innocent time in NFL football."

Yup. BLM ruined pro football.

[Radix]

I pretty much now avoid NFL threads and everything to do with them, for years already.

Still, in my opinion, there has never been anything like Dallas v. Washington.

Cowboys and Indians, is such fantastic Americana, and they screwed that up by pressuring the Redskins to surrendering their excellent franchise history with this Politically Correct nonsense regarding their name and mascot.

I do not miss the NFL, but I do enjoy reading about events of days gone by.

[Jim W N]

What in the world was Tom Brady doing sitting in the end zone?

[Viking2002]

Don’t forget that 70-Chip play in Super Bowl XVII, when John ‘The Diesel’ Riggins dragged Dolphin Don McNeal downfield on the way to a 43 yard TD and won it for the Redskins. What a run, actually building up speed with a defensiveman hanging off your jersey. They say that Joe Gibbs tossed aside the playbook and they just called ‘Riggo Left’, ‘Riggo Right’, ‘Riggo Up The Middle’ after that. Plodding, indeed.

[Dr. Sivana]

Don’t forget that 70-Chip play in Super Bowl XVII, when John ‘The Diesel’ Riggins dragged Dolphin Don McNeal downfield on the way to a 43 yard TD and won it for the Redskins.

I purposely limited myself to pre-80s to describe the game of that era as not being plodding. Otherwise I would have thrown in my favorite, Eric Dickerson. I also omitted All-Pro Lawrence McCutcheon because his style of play wasn't as dynamic as others on the list.

[Viking2002]

Eric Dickerson was a phenomenon. +1

[CommieCutter]

Family had season tickets.

Look it up.

[HIDEK6]

I wouldn’t describe Jimmy Brown as “plodding.”

[dfwgator]

One of the great calls ever by Vin Scully.

[Jim W N]

Honest question. What in the world was Tom Brady doing sitting in the end zone? I watched the game and a zillion highlights from San Jose, CA.