olofpalme63
The Roman Gladiators
The Chicago Bears' 1972 controversial decision over the Minnesota Vikings;
...this is what I would like to remember back in '72 as a "die-hard" Bears fan; following "The Rookies", the Chicago Bears play their first ("primetime") nationally televised game at Soldier Field against the Minnesota Vikings. Hearing that familiar voice at the top of the hour announce; "hello everyone this is Howard Cossell live from Soldier Field Chicago Illinios, welcome to ABC's Monday Night Football" must have brought goose bumps to the arms of every Bears fan nationwide. And what a night it was. A classic black & blue smash mouth battle against Fran Tarkenton & the "Purple People Eaters". After Tarkenton hit John Gilliam for an early 7-0 lead, the Bears offense uncharacteristically drain 25 minutes off the clock in the first half as Jim Harrison slams into the Berserkers time and time again. Harrison would eventually catch a TD pass from Bobby Douglass to close out the first half for a 10-7 Bears lead. Fred Cox evened the score in the 3rd, setting the stage for an epic 4th quarter struggle. Up and down, back & forth, sacks, interceptions and countless fumbles. It all seemed so surreal with the glow of the Soldier Field pillars in the background looking like a Roman Coliseum where gladiators battle. Men grunting and groaning with the sound of their helmets cracking against one another and of course, Dick Butkus in the middle of all that chaos. After Mac Percival splits the uprights for a 13-10 lead, Fran Tarkenton drives Minnesota one last time down the field in classic clock manipulation to put the Vikings in position to win or at the very least, tie it up. Feeling the blood pulsating through the top of my head, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't bare to witness what was about to happen. As I look away from the impending doom, I hear my Grandpa shout; "oh my God I don't believe it!"...I look up and to my amazement the Bears are carrying Abe Gibron off the field like they just won the Super Bowl. The next day the Chicago Tribune confirms it with; "Cox FG Try Fails at :07".
Chicago Tribune: October 24, 1972;
Bears Hold Off Vikings' Bid
Cox FG Try Fails at :07, Bears Defeat Vikings 13-10
"We just played football," Abe Gibron said last night in a remarkably soft voice before a national television audience".
What the above picture doesn't show is the drama that unfolded after Mac Percival's "game winning" field goal. Summoning my best Paul Harvey impersonation, "here is the rest of the story"; Minnesota's Charlie West returned the ensuing kickoff 21 yards to the Vikings 28. About five and a half minutes remained when Fran Tarkenton ignored the Bud Grant doctrine and returned to his frantic scrambling ways. Rapidly moving the Vikings downfield past the 50-yard marker deep into Bears territory with passes of 25 yards to John Gilliam and 28 yards to John Henderson. At the two-minute warning, after a 6-yard pass over the middle to John Beasley, the Vikings were in firm control with the ball resting at Chicago's 15 yard line. A five yard completion to Ed Marinaro put the ball at the 10. Chicago's chances of winning were dwindling quite significantly when Tarkenton lobbed a toss to Beasley, whom immediately lateraled the ball to Vikings' guard Ed White who trudged to the Bears 5. Two plays later on third down and still at the Bears 5, Tarkenton, under heavy pressure scrambled to his left and fired a shot to Beasley in the end zone. Less than a split second later a line judge signals touchdown, game over...right? Wrong. Suddenly a yellow flag flies out and Ed White is ruled in violation of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. No touchdown, White (an offensive guard) is flagged for being "illegally downfield" of the 15 yard variety shoving Minnesota back to Chicago's 20 yard line. As the officials try to calm a livid Bud Grant, Minnesota faces third down all over again. Tarkenton accepts the snap and scrambles to his left and without notice, changes direction and roles to his right and fires a shot intended for Gene Washington. Only this time, big play expert Ron Smith breaks up the pass. On fourth down with 7 seconds to go, Fed Cox' FG attempt to tie the game up is wide to the left. Even though the Bears notch a pulse-pounding victory, the question begs to be asked. At what point was Ed White "illegally downfield"? When did White became known as an "ineligible receiver"?, was he in the end zone to celebrate Beasley's touchdown catch? Or was it due to the flow of blocking downfield...after all, Tarkenton was scrambling, was he not? At any rate, this is a judgment call determined by an official who overruled a line judge who signaled it a touchdown, hence; officially decided. ..."and that was the rest of the story...good day".
Chicago Tribune: October 24, 1972;
Grant Angry at Ref's Call
Bud Grant, the always cool, unemotional coach of the Minnesota Vikings, finally was brought to a mild simmer last night in Soldier Field by an official's call that cost his Vikings a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.
The Roman Gladiators
The Chicago Bears' 1972 controversial decision over the Minnesota Vikings;
...this is what I would like to remember back in '72 as a "die-hard" Bears fan; following "The Rookies", the Chicago Bears play their first ("primetime") nationally televised game at Soldier Field against the Minnesota Vikings. Hearing that familiar voice at the top of the hour announce; "hello everyone this is Howard Cossell live from Soldier Field Chicago Illinios, welcome to ABC's Monday Night Football" must have brought goose bumps to the arms of every Bears fan nationwide. And what a night it was. A classic black & blue smash mouth battle against Fran Tarkenton & the "Purple People Eaters". After Tarkenton hit John Gilliam for an early 7-0 lead, the Bears offense uncharacteristically drain 25 minutes off the clock in the first half as Jim Harrison slams into the Berserkers time and time again. Harrison would eventually catch a TD pass from Bobby Douglass to close out the first half for a 10-7 Bears lead. Fred Cox evened the score in the 3rd, setting the stage for an epic 4th quarter struggle. Up and down, back & forth, sacks, interceptions and countless fumbles. It all seemed so surreal with the glow of the Soldier Field pillars in the background looking like a Roman Coliseum where gladiators battle. Men grunting and groaning with the sound of their helmets cracking against one another and of course, Dick Butkus in the middle of all that chaos. After Mac Percival splits the uprights for a 13-10 lead, Fran Tarkenton drives Minnesota one last time down the field in classic clock manipulation to put the Vikings in position to win or at the very least, tie it up. Feeling the blood pulsating through the top of my head, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't bare to witness what was about to happen. As I look away from the impending doom, I hear my Grandpa shout; "oh my God I don't believe it!"...I look up and to my amazement the Bears are carrying Abe Gibron off the field like they just won the Super Bowl. The next day the Chicago Tribune confirms it with; "Cox FG Try Fails at :07".
Chicago Tribune: October 24, 1972;
Bears Hold Off Vikings' Bid
Cox FG Try Fails at :07, Bears Defeat Vikings 13-10
"We just played football," Abe Gibron said last night in a remarkably soft voice before a national television audience".
What the above picture doesn't show is the drama that unfolded after Mac Percival's "game winning" field goal. Summoning my best Paul Harvey impersonation, "here is the rest of the story"; Minnesota's Charlie West returned the ensuing kickoff 21 yards to the Vikings 28. About five and a half minutes remained when Fran Tarkenton ignored the Bud Grant doctrine and returned to his frantic scrambling ways. Rapidly moving the Vikings downfield past the 50-yard marker deep into Bears territory with passes of 25 yards to John Gilliam and 28 yards to John Henderson. At the two-minute warning, after a 6-yard pass over the middle to John Beasley, the Vikings were in firm control with the ball resting at Chicago's 15 yard line. A five yard completion to Ed Marinaro put the ball at the 10. Chicago's chances of winning were dwindling quite significantly when Tarkenton lobbed a toss to Beasley, whom immediately lateraled the ball to Vikings' guard Ed White who trudged to the Bears 5. Two plays later on third down and still at the Bears 5, Tarkenton, under heavy pressure scrambled to his left and fired a shot to Beasley in the end zone. Less than a split second later a line judge signals touchdown, game over...right? Wrong. Suddenly a yellow flag flies out and Ed White is ruled in violation of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. No touchdown, White (an offensive guard) is flagged for being "illegally downfield" of the 15 yard variety shoving Minnesota back to Chicago's 20 yard line. As the officials try to calm a livid Bud Grant, Minnesota faces third down all over again. Tarkenton accepts the snap and scrambles to his left and without notice, changes direction and roles to his right and fires a shot intended for Gene Washington. Only this time, big play expert Ron Smith breaks up the pass. On fourth down with 7 seconds to go, Fed Cox' FG attempt to tie the game up is wide to the left. Even though the Bears notch a pulse-pounding victory, the question begs to be asked. At what point was Ed White "illegally downfield"? When did White became known as an "ineligible receiver"?, was he in the end zone to celebrate Beasley's touchdown catch? Or was it due to the flow of blocking downfield...after all, Tarkenton was scrambling, was he not? At any rate, this is a judgment call determined by an official who overruled a line judge who signaled it a touchdown, hence; officially decided. ..."and that was the rest of the story...good day".
Chicago Tribune: October 24, 1972;
Grant Angry at Ref's Call
Bud Grant, the always cool, unemotional coach of the Minnesota Vikings, finally was brought to a mild simmer last night in Soldier Field by an official's call that cost his Vikings a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.