You do know what today is, don't you? Or, more accurately, what ten years ago was?
January 25, 1998?
You know, Super Bowl XXXII?
That's right, ten years ago was one of the greatest days of my life, when the Denver Broncos upset the Green Bay Packers 31-24 to bring the Broncos their first NFL championship.
You know how they say that for some big days, you remember every little detail for the rest of your life? Well, that's me with that Super Bowl. Like I remember:
1. Watching it at my best friend's house. The best part was when his mom, who had hitherto shown almost no interest in the sport, began rooting for Green Bay players to get injured. Do you remember Gilbert Brown, the gigantic Packers defensive tackle? The guy who no NFL team could run on, until the Broncos decided to, you know, try? The Denver offensive line began to wear him down, and it took him longer and longer to get up each play. Meanwhile my friend's mom's in the background, saying things like, "Please be hurt, please be hurt." Wow. I thought I'd cared, but all I really wanted was for the Broncos to win. I didn't mind if Brown could still pick up his kids some day.
2. The psychic. The Denver Post was printing about five hundred pages worth of Broncos coverage daily heading into the Super Bowl, and was beginning to run out of angles. (It was so awesome, though-I have many of those newspapers to this day.) Anyway, the day of the Super Bowl they asked a psychic in Denver for some predictions on the game. I don't remember reading the article, but I do recall some people watching the game saying it said Neil Smith would get an interception. (Since Smith was a defensive end, I have to admit, it was a pretty gutsy prediction. Also pretty stupid.)
Anyway, in the second quarter Steve Atwater breaks free on a blitz, destroys Brett Favre and knocks the ball free, which Smith recovers. Immediately debate ensues among some of the female members of the watch party about whether this fulfills the prediciton. I said then, and I say now: no freakin' way. Come on, a fumble and an interception are not the same thing.
3. While I'm mentioning Atwater, one of the things that stood out was his playing the absolute game of his life on the biggest possible stage. Though the Broncos would repeat as Super Bowl champs, at the time they had enough veterans that it felt like it could be the team's last real shot of the Elway era. And Atwater was magnificent, delivering crushing hits all over the field. I'm pretty sure the box score credited him with about six tackles, but they were six serious tackles and several punishing blows, which helped throw off the rhythm of Green Bay's passing attack. (At the time, unlike last weekend, this was no small accomplishment.)
Atwater was one of the most entertaining defenders of his era (just ask Christian Okoye), but it already feels like he's forgotten, except when every young Broncos safety is compared to him. He made eight Pro Bowls, and was on the NFL's All-Decade team for the nineties. I don't know if he'll make the Hall of Fame, but his performance in that Super Bowl deserves to be remembered.
4. Of course I remember Terrell Davis, who had 30 carries, 157 yards, and three touchdowns, despite missing most of the second quarter with a migraine. An MVP performance, and the three touchdowns set a Super Bowl record. I can still see myself leaping off the couch and saluting after one of his touchdowns. Could have been on the last one, but the Packers stepping aside to let him score wasn't that exciting.
5. John Mobley knocking away Favre's fourth-down pass to clinch the victory.
6. John Elway finally winning the Super Bowl. In the third quarter, the Broncos took a 24-17 lead, then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Elway went for the end zone on the next play (the offense was so gutsy back then), but was picked off by Packers safety Eugene Robinson. Just when everything was going our way. I don't think I ever have felt or will feel worse for a millionaire or NFL superstar than I did at that moment. You just knew then that if the Broncos lost, all the blame was going to fall on Elway. And everyone who'd become a Broncos fan that month was going to keep on ripping the guy.
Instead, we just remember his third-down dive, where he gave up his body to make the first down. And that was a sweet play, one that Shannon Sharpe said convinced him the Broncos would win. But given the circumstances, with a championship on the line, isn't it more remarkable that some quarterbacks wouldn't do the exact same thing?
What are your favorite memories of Super Bowl XXXII?
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Cool links to check out today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXII
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/superbowl/32/
8 comments:
Super Bowl XXXII - clearly the greatest game in NFL history. My favorite memories:
1. Clearly, the aforementioned Elway thrid-down dive (aka "The Helicopter") tops my list. It was, without question, the most inspiring play in NFL history. The 37 year-old Duke laid out the body to keep the drive alive. I remember seeing the replay as the tv coverage cut away to commercial, turning to everyone else in the room (I watched at kat Reese's house in Boulder), and saying: "Look at his eyes. We are going to WIN this game." I am glad Sharpe agreed.
(As a side note, I don't know how many QBs would have done the same thing, if for no other reason than that their instincts would almost force them to get out of the way.)
2. Mobley breaking up the pass to Chmura on the Packers' final offensive play - I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hesitated a moment to see if there was a flag.
3. The running game's incredible performance. Not only did TD rack up the yards, but as I recall, the O line held Reggie White (the greatest DE in history) to something like 1 tackle. A dominant performance.
4. Atwater.
5. The pregame hype. I remember the Broncos being double-digit underdogs and hearing all the trash talk about how Elway would never get it done, the Packers were historic, etc. I stubbornly predicted a final score of 27-24 for the Broncos. Pretty close.
Thanks for helping me relive one of the best days of my entire life!
Ah, the look in 7's eyes. That was something. I wonder if there'll ever be another Bronco as bad as Elway.
I can recall fearing a flag on Mobley for that split-second, too. That's...that's it???
Also, there was Atwater knocking out Broncos corner Randy Hilliard and himself in a successful attempt to break up a pass on what I think was the final Packers drive.
I didn't predict a final score-at least, not one I can remember-but I do remember being really confident going into that game. Also, my AP Euro teacher mentioned hearing, maybe on the news, from someone in San Diego the week before the game about how focused the Broncos looked. They showed it, all right. I also spent most of that week giving crap to my friend who bet $20 on the Packers just to ensure he'd have a good weekend.
That was the best 20 bucks I ever lost. Oh, you can't forget the orange and blue sno-balls, that always been a favorite of mine since XXIV.
I love this post and the comments so far. I don't have a lot to add because I'm not a Broncos fan, but I do appreciate the passion you guys have for the Broncos. Those websites you listed were great, but nothing in comparison to the poignant memories of some crazed fans witnessing their team achieve the ultimate goal. Again, great job on the post and comments Gore Brothers.
I stumbled upon this blog. Sorry if it's private...but I can't help but share in the 10-year aniversary. (I did go to high-school with John if that gets me a chance to post).
I remember in the build up to the game thinking that we were better than Green Bay last year, but we didnt' get our chance to meet them in SB XXXI (thanks JAX). This Super Bowl turned into sort of "the game that should have been last year."
My other favorite memory was "This one's for John". I think my eyes welled-up at that moment.
Hey, it's the Internet...everyone's welcome.
Ah, losing to Jacksonville. It was so exciting to hear during the off-season after that game how the players took it at least as hard as the fans...things like Bill Romanowski, who seemed pretty cool at the time, hanging up a picture of Mark Brunell to motivate himself every day. Could we have won two Super Bowls without winning that game? So hard to say, but in the end it was worth it...
Punchinello - One of your finer posts in the history of HPS. It brings back a flood of memories from my days rooting for Elway against Kosar only to be disappointed again and again. SBXXXII is one of the greatest games in my memory banks . . . the helicopter . . . the Atwater . . . the ending . . . like John . . . that I could hardly believe . . . the . . . robotical THIS ONE'S FOR JOHN seared into my fund of imperfect rhetorical perfections . . . ahh . . . it's a great memory that brought tears to my eyes the day it happened and wells them even today . . .
It is remarkable how poignantly I feel this when . . . as we blithely say . . . it's only a game . . . Yes, 'tis . . . and so much more!
Davis Frog
it was a fantastic day. one of my favorite memories... is a story my dad told me:
"the first play of the game, the denver pass rush almost got a sack. you stood up with excitement, and i slugged you in the leg. (i didn't feel it). i was so embarrassed from my behavior, i got up and stood behind the couch the rest of the game."
seeing my dad well up with tears after the broncos won, was still one of the best feelings in the world.
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