Stories From The Field
1950’s
1960’s
1970’s
Baltimore Colts
1977 The Ghost Still Haunts
I was 17 in 1977 and it was fun to be a Colts fan again. The last few seasons of playoff appearances added to the hopes and promise of this year's team. Well, we were in the playoffs again and we didn't have to play that damn team from Pittsburgh And even though it was defending champs, the 11-3 Raiders who were coming to Baltimore, my hopes for victory were high This was going to be our year.
Talking football with my friend, he mentioned that tickets for the game were still available and that we should go. I couldn't believe it! He wasn't a Colts fan and we lived in Northern Virginia so I really appreciated his offer. I didn't even have a car at the time. I really never dreamed I'd have a chance to actually go to the game which was on Christmas Eve.
Neither of us had any idea what a crazy NFL classic this would be, 37-31 and two overtimes!
This was almost 50 years ago but I still have a few crystal clear memories of that game The first one was when Stabler threw a pick to my guy Bruce Laird who returned it for a touchdown! I thought to myself, hey we are gonna win this game! The crowd absolutely went crazy Back and forth and back and forth it went My second very clear memory was when we had a chance to put them away I swear Roger Carr was open by a mile and Bert Jones just missed him. Nooooooooooooo! And the finally the one that still haunts my football spirit until this day I swear it was like Dave Casper was running right to my seat that's how vivid it was. He was open no doubt and that ball was a mile high and I'm just thinking no way, no way! And as we all know Casper morphs into Willy Mays and catches it They end up scoring and then winning in overtime which is a blur to me After the ghost went to the post I think I just sat there stunned and speechless. My football heart was ripped out.
Little did I know that that game would be the high water mark for my beloved Baltimore Colts. Hard times for the team and Colts fans would follow, but, even though we lost, I will never forget that day! Thanks for the invitation my friend!
1980’s
New York Giants
1985 was the year. My dad had just passed away and a dear friend of mine at the time was nice enough to get two tickets to the Giants v. Redskins game at RFK Stadium through an attorney we both worked for. The game was memorable because it was the game that LT broke Joe Theismann's leg. I did not hear a "snap" like others claimed they heard at the game but I do Remember LT freaking out as he was holding both sides of his helmet. I am squeamish generally and thankful that, by being at the game, I have never seen the instant replay of the injury. In the game, Jay Schroeder came in to replace Theismann and led the Redskins to a comeback victory.