1968 Baltimore Colts

by Bamagrad on Jul 28, 2010 9:03 PM CDT

Usually when people talk about Alabama's connection to Super Bowl III, they mention Joe Namath, the game's MVP. He led the New York Jet offense in the monumental upset of 13-1 Baltimore with precise playcalling and several blitz-beating completions. He didn't throw a touchdown but he had zero interceptions and fumbles and he put aside his massive ego to manage the lead maturely. But unrelated to Namath, there's one interesting tidbit about the game that I've never seen mentioned anywhere else. Two of Alabama's future coaches--receiver Ray Perkins and center Bill Curry--played in the game for Baltimore. It's also worth mentioning that Baltimore's coach was Don Shula, whose son Mike later coached the team. I didn't realize this until I watched the NFL Network's America's Game feature on the 1970 Baltimore Colts (if you like NFL Films stuff you'll love these programs). In the 1970 AFC championship game Ray Perkins caught the decisive touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas. I don't know, it's interesting to me, anyway.

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I must...

…have forgotten that Perkins was there in 1968-69, because that’s news to me (did he play in the game?). However, I’ve often heard about Curry’s part on that team…and of course I realize that Don Shula was the Colts’ HC.

If you want another connection between Don Shula and the university, I’ve always thought it was interesting that Coach Bryant, who became the winningest coach in college football in 1981, and Don Shula, the winningest coach in the NFL, both coached at Kentucky (Bryant as HC and Shula as an assistant).

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 28, 2010 9:50 PM CDT reply actions

Around NFL draft time --

— there was a lot of discussion / comparisons between SEC schools. I looked up Crimson Tide players in the NFL Hall of Fame:
Don Hutson
Ozzie Newsome
Bart Starr
Dwight Stephenson
Derrick Thomas
Joe Namath
John Hannah

Impressive and inspirational list, but…. why is Lee Roy Jordan not there…? Nothing he ever did in the NFL, stats-wise, matched the 31 tackles bowl game in college, but he did lead the Cowboys’ defense when they won the Super Bowl. Still not enough? or is there some history, personal or otherwise, I missed?

by Jeff Jones on Jul 29, 2010 8:16 AM CDT reply actions

He probably suffers by having played with so many other

Hall of Fame guys in Dallas. Sometimes when you play right next to a legendary defender the voters will assume you’re a beneficiary of this and they’ll hold it against you.

www.totteringworld.com

by Bamagrad on Jul 29, 2010 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Scott Hunter...

… would probably say he should be in the HOF. (insert rolly eyes)

He was on WKRG (I think it was) in Mobile for years, and if I had a nickel for every time he mentioned that win over Archie Manning’s Ole Miss team (’69 maybe?) …. Jeesh.

"No man, I majored in Jounalism, it was easier" Joe Namath answering a reporter who asked if he majored in basket weaving

by Slow Hand Row on Jul 29, 2010 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

That...

…must have been annoying for you, but you gotta admit that was one helluva game….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 29, 2010 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Definitely....

…. a great game, although I was a bit young to remember it.

Hunter used to tick off Bama fans by being very critical of Bama on the tube. You want honesty, but he seemed to almost enjoy it and go too far with it. I can’t remember which year and coach it was, but one of the Bama coaches (I want to say it was Stallings) called Hunter and told him to stop talking about their game strategies on TV. Hunter made a much better QB than sports reporter.

"No man, I majored in Jounalism, it was easier" Joe Namath answering a reporter who asked if he majored in basket weaving

by Slow Hand Row on Jul 29, 2010 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions