So long, Brett...

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

What will this do to Vicodin sales?

What is the statute of limitations on 13 year old news?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by WI wide body

...Smith had to be one of the most over-rated coaches of all time in any sport. I loved to agitate the Carolina fans when they would routinely have about 6 future NBA stars on the team and Coach Dean was implementing his famous four corner offense that made sure the game was close at the end!

Smith liked to win the "close ones". That's why he ran the "four corners" with a 20 pt. lead and 6 minutes left to play

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by WI wide body

What is the statute of limitations on 13 year old news?

14 years

[Jim Richards]

How 'bout them Lions!

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by KC911

Smith liked to win the "close ones". That's why he ran the "four corners" with a 20 pt. lead and 6 minutes left to play

Yeah, I lived down there during that time and it was incredible. He could have tossed a ball to Jordan and Worthy and Perkins and said "go play" and they would blown out any team in the nation!

Instead he "coached" and made it look difficult.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by WI wide body

Okay, one more and off to the sack:

If Joe was such a super QB why then did he have such average stats at Notre Dame? I think that he had just about as many INT's as TD's and that was playing at a college powerhouse.

5-2 in his freshman year, 10-0 in his junior year + National Championship, 9-3 in his senior year. In 2006, Sports Illustrated rated him the number one clutch quarterback of all-time. What planet do you live on?

On December 15, 1974, Parseghian resigned due to health problems.[8] The university hired Dan Devine to replace Parseghian. Despite his limited playing time the previous year, Montana performed well during the 1975 spring practice. Devine was so impressed that he later told his wife: "I'm gonna start Joe Montana in the final spring game." When she replied, "Who's Joe Montana?", Devine said: "He's the guy who's going to feed our family for the next few years."[8]

Devine did not feel Montana was ready to be the full-time starter in 1975;[8] however, Montana played a key role in Notre Dame's victory over the University of North Carolina.[8] During the game, which was played in Chapel Hill, Montana came in with 5:11 left to play. At the time, North Carolina led by a score of 14 to six. Montana spent one minute and two seconds of game time on the field. In that time, he had 129 passing yards and Notre Dame won the game 21-14.[8]

Against Air Force, Notre Dame's next opponent, Montana again entered the game in the fourth quarter. Although Air Force led 30-10, Notre Dame won the game 31-30.[8] After the win against North Carolina, Devine said that Moose Krause, the Notre Dame Athletic Director, said that the game was the "greatest comeback I've ever seen."[8] After the game against Air Force, Krause was quoted as saying: "This one's better than last week."[8] In those two games, Montana had demonstrated his ability to perform well in high pressure circumstances. That characteristic would prove valuable, and Montana relied on it throughout his football career.[8]

Before the start of the 1976 season, Montana separated his shoulder.[8] Since he was unable to play, Montana redshirted the season; it is a practice commonly used in NCAA sports that allows the player to maintain four full years of eligibility.

When the 1977 season began, Montana was the third quarterback listed on the team's depth chart, behind Rusty Lisch and Gary Forystek.[1] Notre Dame won their season opener and then lost to the University of Mississippi by a score of 20-13. Montana did not appear in either of those games.[10] In their third game of the season, Notre Dame played Purdue University. Lisch started and was then replaced by Forystek. In one play, Forystek sufffered a broken vertebra, a broken clavicle, and a severe concussion; it was the last play of Forystek's sports career.[8] Devine inserted Lisch back into the game before Montana finally had the opportunity to play. Montana entered with approximately 11 minutes remaining and Purdue leading 24-14; he threw for 154 yards and one touchdown, and Notre Dame won the game 31-24.[8]

After the game, Devine made Montana the first quarterback on the depth chart[1] and the team won their remaining nine games. In their final game of the season, Notre Dame defeated the number one ranked University of Texas by a score of 38-10 in the 1978 Cotton Bowl.[11] Notre Dame's record of eleven wins and one loss earned them the NCAA national title; the only title the school won while Devine was coach.

The following year, Montana helped Notre Dame to a come from behind win against the University of Pittsburgh. He almost pulled off a second one against the University of Southern California, Notre Dame's primary rival. Trailing 24-6 in the second half, Montana ignited a furious fourth-quarter rally to put Notre Dame ahead, 25-24 with 45 seconds remaining, only to see the Trojans win, 27-25, on a last-second field goal.

1979 Cotton Bowl

Main article: Chicken Soup Game

On January 1, 1979, Notre Dame played the University of Houston in that year's Cotton Bowl. Montana's performance in the game was one of his most noted performances in his entire football career;[8] and, the circumstances of the game have led to it being referred to as the "Chicken Soup Game".

Montana fell ill during the game, but returned during the fourth quarter. Notre Dame ran their last offensive play with two seconds remaining on the game clock. They scored a touchdown and won the game 35 to 34. As a result of the game, Notre Dame went on to produce a promotional film called Seven and a Half Minutes to Destiny. Coach Devine later referred to the piece as a "Joe Montana film."

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

14 years

Actually it's over then since he did most of that in '93.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Mule

5-2 in his sophomore year, 10-0 in his senior year. In 2006, Sports Illustrated rated him the number one clutch quarterback of all-time. What planet do you live on?

On December 15, 1974, Parseghian resigned due to health problems.[8] The university hired Dan Devine to replace Parseghian. Despite his limited playing time the previous year, Montana performed well during the 1975 spring practice. Devine was so impressed that he later told his wife: "I'm gonna start Joe Montana in the final spring game." When she replied, "Who's Joe Montana?", Devine said: "He's the guy who's going to feed our family for the next few years."[8]

Devine did not feel Montana was ready to be the full-time starter in 1975;[8] however, Montana played a key role in Notre Dame's victory over the University of North Carolina.[8] During the game, which was played in Chapel Hill, Montana came in with 5:11 left to play. At the time, North Carolina led by a score of 14 to six. Montana spent one minute and two seconds of game time on the field. In that time, he had 129 passing yards and Notre Dame won the game 21-14.[8]

Against Air Force, Notre Dame's next opponent, Montana again entered the game in the fourth quarter. Although Air Force led 30-10, Notre Dame won the game 31-30.[8] After the win against North Carolina, Devine said that Moose Krause, the Notre Dame Athletic Director, said that the game was the "greatest comeback I've ever seen."[8] After the game against Air Force, Krause was quoted as saying: "This one's better than last week."[8] In those two games, Montana had demonstrated his ability to perform well in high pressure circumstances. That characteristic would prove valuable, and Montana relied on it throughout his football career.[8]

Before the start of the 1976 season, Montana separated his shoulder.[8] Since he was unable to play, Montana redshirted the season; it is a practice commonly used in NCAA sports that allows the player to maintain four full years of eligibility.

When the 1977 season began, Montana was the third quarterback listed on the team's depth chart, behind Rusty Lisch and Gary Forystek.[1] Notre Dame won their season opener and then lost to the University of Mississippi by a score of 20-13. Montana did not appear in either of those games.[10] In their third game of the season, Notre Dame played Purdue University. Lisch started and was then replaced by Forystek. In one play, Forystek sufffered a broken vertebra, a broken clavicle, and a severe concussion; it was the last play of Forystek's sports career.[8] Devine inserted Lisch back into the game before Montana finally had the opportunity to play. Montana entered with approximately 11 minutes remaining and Purdue leading 24-14; he threw for 154 yards and one touchdown, and Notre Dame won the game 31-24.[8]

After the game, Devine made Montana the first quarterback on the depth chart[1] and the team won their remaining nine games. In their final game of the season, Notre Dame defeated the number one ranked University of Texas by a score of 38-10 in the 1978 Cotton Bowl.[11] Notre Dame's record of eleven wins and one loss earned them the NCAA national title; the only title the school won while Devine was coach.

The following year, Montana helped Notre Dame to a come from behind win against the University of Pittsburgh. He almost pulled off a second one against the University of Southern California, Notre Dame's primary rival. Trailing 24-6 in the second half, Montana ignited a furious fourth-quarter rally to put Notre Dame ahead, 25-24 with 45 seconds remaining, only to see the Trojans win, 27-25, on a last-second field goal.

1979 Cotton Bowl

Main article: Chicken Soup Game

On January 1, 1979, Notre Dame played the University of Houston in that year's Cotton Bowl. Montana's performance in the game was one of his most noted performances in his entire football career;[8] and, the circumstances of the game have led to it being referred to as the "Chicken Soup Game".

Montana fell ill during the game, but returned during the fourth quarter. Notre Dame ran their last offensive play with two seconds remaining on the game clock. They scored a touchdown and won the game 35 to 34. As a result of the game, Notre Dame went on to produce a promotional film called Seven and a Half Minutes to Destiny. Coach Devine later referred to the piece as a "Joe Montana film."

Mule, you just never learn do you? This is like boxing with a drunken third grader.

Joe Montana stats at Notre Dame:

Total regular season TD's......25
Total regular season INT's.....25

Total Bowl game TD's..........2
Total Bowl game INT's.........4

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by WI wide body

Actually it's over then since he did most of that in '93.

I'm afraid not as it's 16 years on 15 year old news. It's a dynamic scale.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I'm afraid not as it's 16 years on 15 year old news. It's a dynamic scale.

"Originally Posted by lendaddy
14 years"

Hmm....you might have a political career with that kind of flip-flopping.

[Mule]

Maybe like boxing with Mike Tyson when he was in 3rd grade, at 17.

Montana was comeback king
By Larry Schwartz
Special to ESPN.com
There's an old cartoon that shows everybody panicking, except for one guy, who is unruffled as he does his assigned task. In real life, that person is Joe Montana.

Joe Montana
Joe Montana was MVP in three of his four Super Bowls, and led his team on The Drive in the other.

He possessed an almost mystical calmness in the midst of chaos, especially with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. While others saw turmoil and danger after the snap, Montana saw order and opportunity. He was Joe Cool, the unflappable king of the comeback.

Take the 1989 Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. The San Francisco 49ers were down by three points with 3:20 left when Montana spotted -- no, not an open receiver -- but a personality. "There, in the stands, standing near the exit ramp," Montana said to tackle Harris Barton. "Isn't that John Candy?" And then he led the 49ers 92 yards, throwing for the winning touchdown with 34 seconds left.

This was one of Montana's 31 fourth-quarters comeback in the NFL.

Montana was neither exceptionally fast nor tall nor did he have a bazooka for an arm. The man whom his high school quarterbacks coach said "was born to be a quarterback" won by wits and grace, style and reaction. It was if he saw the game in slow motion. Whether it was with Notre Dame or the 49ers, whether the game was played in an ice storm in Dallas or in the humidity of Miami, Montana was The Man in the fourth quarter.

"There have been, and will be, much better arms and legs and much better bodies on quarterbacks in the NFL," said former 49er teammate Randy Cross, "but if you have to win a game or score a touchdown or win a championship, the only guy to get is Joe Montana."

Sports Illustrated headlined a story on the fragile-looking quarterback as "The Ultimate Winner." Montana won four Super Bowls in four appearances and became the only player to earn the Roman numeral game's MVP three times (and the other contest was the game-winning drive).

In these four games, he put up Super numbers, completing 83-of-122 passes (68 percent) for 1,142 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. His quarterback rating was 127.8 (while nobody outside the Elias Sports Bureau knows how to compute this rating, or even what it means, it is known that 127.8 is a figure beyond that of mortal men).

He made the throw on the play that became known as The Catch. That's when a scrambling Montana, with three Cowboys closing in for the kill, lofted the ball in the end zone to Dwight Clark. The six-yard touchdown pass, with 51 seconds left, gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over Dallas for the 1981 NFC championship.

"At his best, when Joe was in sync, he had an intuitive, instinctive nature rarely equaled by any athlete in any sport," said Bill Walsh, his San Francisco mentor and coach, said about the two-time NFL MVP.

As a redshirt junior at Notre Dame in 1977, after sitting out the previous season because of a separated shoulder, Montana took the Irish to a national championship. In his career he led them to five improbable fourth-quarter comebacks (deficits ranging from eight to 22 points).

The most dramatic of them was his last collegiate game, at the 1979 Cotton Bowl, when he fought hypothermia in the ice and wind in Dallas. After being fed bouillon during the second half to get his temperature back near normal, he led Notre Dame from a 34-12 deficit to a 35-34 victory in the final 7:37, throwing a perfect pass to Kris Haines for a touchdown with no time remaining.

"Joe was born to be a quarterback," said Jeff Petrucci, his high school quarterback coach. "You saw it in the midget leagues, in high school -- the electricity in the huddle when he was in there. How many people are there in the world, three billion? And how many guys are there who can do what he can do? Him, maybe (Dan) Marino on a good day. Perhaps God had a hand in this thing."

Montana had a quick setup, nifty glide to the outside, the ability to scramble but under control, buying time, looking for a receiver underneath. And this was when he still was in high school.

Montana's roots are in western Pennsylvania, the cradle of quarterbacks. Marino, Johnny Unitas, Johnny Lujack, Joe Namath, George Blanda, Jim Kelly and Terry Hanratty are from the area. All were tough, dedicated, hard workers and competitive. "We had a no-nonsense, blue-collar background," Unitas said.

Montana was born in New Eagle on June 11, 1956, the only child of Joe Sr. and Theresa, and raised in nearby Monongahela. The family lived in a two-story frame house in a middle-class neighborhood and Joe Sr. helped his son get involved with sports.

Young Joe played baseball (three perfect games in the Little League) and basketball (he was offered a scholarship to North Carolina State), but after becoming a Parade All-American quarterback as a high school senior, he followed his idol, Hanratty, to Notre Dame.

At one-time a seventh-string quarterback, he was still No. 3 when the 1977 season started. But in the third game, with once-beaten Notre Dame losing 24-14 to Purdue, The Comeback Kid came off the bench to throw for 154 yards and a touchdown in the final 11 minutes to lead the Irish to a 31-24 victory.

Coach Dan Devine finally saw the light and installed Montana as his starter. Notre Dame didn't lose again, and won the national title by defeating No. 1 Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl.

After capping his collegiate career with the comeback against Houston the following January, Montana was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 1979 draft, the No. 82 overall selection. Walsh brought him along slowly and it wasn't until late in his second season that Montana became the starter.

ZONE POLL


In 1981, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Montana was in complete control of Walsh's West Coast offense, and he led he 49ers to a 13-3 record. They won the NFC title with The Catch, and defeated Cincinnati 26-21 in the Super Bowl.

Returning to the Super Bowl three years later against the Miami Dolphins, Montana upstaged Marino, who had thrown for a record 48 touchdowns. He passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-16 San Francisco rout.

Montana suffered a ruptured disk throwing a pass in the 1986 opener and underwent two-hour back surgery. Doctors told him it might be better for his health if he gave up football. Two months later, he was back, throwing three touchdown passes to Jerry Rice. But the season ended the way it had began -- in pain. Montana was knocked out of a 49-3 playoff loss to the Giants when noseguard Jim Burt, a future teammate, buried his helmet under Montana's chin.

Three years later, Montana had another Super Bowl ring. After spotting Candy in the stands, Joe Cool smoothly hit eight-of-nine passes, with his 10-yard strike to John Taylor giving the 49ers a 20-16 victory in Miami.

The next season, under George Seifert, Montana took the 49ers to a 14-2 record. San Francisco won its postseason games by 28, 27 and 45 points (55-10 over Denver in the Super Bowl) and Montana completed 78 percent of his passes for 800 yards, 11 touchdowns (five against Denver) and no interceptions.

An elbow injury caused Montana to miss 1991 and further complications caused him to sit out until the final game of 1992. With Steve Young entrenched at quarterback, Montana was traded to Kansas City in 1993. He led the Chiefs into the playoffs in his two seasons with them before deciding that, at age 38, he was finally weary of the game.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Mule

Maybe like boxing with Mike Tyson when he was in 3rd grade, at 17.

Montana was comeback king
By Larry Schwartz
Special to ESPN.com
There's an old cartoon that shows everybody panicking, except for one guy, who is unruffled as he does his assigned task. In real life, that person is Joe Montana.

Joe Montana
Joe Montana was MVP in three of his four Super Bowls, and led his team on The Drive in the other.

He possessed an almost mystical calmness in the midst of chaos, especially with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. While others saw turmoil and danger after the snap, Montana saw order and opportunity. He was Joe Cool, the unflappable king of the comeback.

Take the 1989 Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. The San Francisco 49ers were down by three points with 3:20 left when Montana spotted -- no, not an open receiver -- but a personality. "There, in the stands, standing near the exit ramp," Montana said to tackle Harris Barton. "Isn't that John Candy?" And then he led the 49ers 92 yards, throwing for the winning touchdown with 34 seconds left.

This was one of Montana's 31 fourth-quarters comeback in the NFL.

Montana was neither exceptionally fast nor tall nor did he have a bazooka for an arm. The man whom his high school quarterbacks coach said "was born to be a quarterback" won by wits and grace, style and reaction. It was if he saw the game in slow motion. Whether it was with Notre Dame or the 49ers, whether the game was played in an ice storm in Dallas or in the humidity of Miami, Montana was The Man in the fourth quarter.

"There have been, and will be, much better arms and legs and much better bodies on quarterbacks in the NFL," said former 49er teammate Randy Cross, "but if you have to win a game or score a touchdown or win a championship, the only guy to get is Joe Montana."

Sports Illustrated headlined a story on the fragile-looking quarterback as "The Ultimate Winner." Montana won four Super Bowls in four appearances and became the only player to earn the Roman numeral game's MVP three times (and the other contest was the game-winning drive).

In these four games, he put up Super numbers, completing 83-of-122 passes (68 percent) for 1,142 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. His quarterback rating was 127.8 (while nobody outside the Elias Sports Bureau knows how to compute this rating, or even what it means, it is known that 127.8 is a figure beyond that of mortal men).

He made the throw on the play that became known as The Catch. That's when a scrambling Montana, with three Cowboys closing in for the kill, lofted the ball in the end zone to Dwight Clark. The six-yard touchdown pass, with 51 seconds left, gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over Dallas for the 1981 NFC championship.

"At his best, when Joe was in sync, he had an intuitive, instinctive nature rarely equaled by any athlete in any sport," said Bill Walsh, his San Francisco mentor and coach, said about the two-time NFL MVP.

As a redshirt junior at Notre Dame in 1977, after sitting out the previous season because of a separated shoulder, Montana took the Irish to a national championship. In his career he led them to five improbable fourth-quarter comebacks (deficits ranging from eight to 22 points).

The most dramatic of them was his last collegiate game, at the 1979 Cotton Bowl, when he fought hypothermia in the ice and wind in Dallas. After being fed bouillon during the second half to get his temperature back near normal, he led Notre Dame from a 34-12 deficit to a 35-34 victory in the final 7:37, throwing a perfect pass to Kris Haines for a touchdown with no time remaining.

"Joe was born to be a quarterback," said Jeff Petrucci, his high school quarterback coach. "You saw it in the midget leagues, in high school -- the electricity in the huddle when he was in there. How many people are there in the world, three billion? And how many guys are there who can do what he can do? Him, maybe (Dan) Marino on a good day. Perhaps God had a hand in this thing."

Montana had a quick setup, nifty glide to the outside, the ability to scramble but under control, buying time, looking for a receiver underneath. And this was when he still was in high school.

Montana's roots are in western Pennsylvania, the cradle of quarterbacks. Marino, Johnny Unitas, Johnny Lujack, Joe Namath, George Blanda, Jim Kelly and Terry Hanratty are from the area. All were tough, dedicated, hard workers and competitive. "We had a no-nonsense, blue-collar background," Unitas said.

Montana was born in New Eagle on June 11, 1956, the only child of Joe Sr. and Theresa, and raised in nearby Monongahela. The family lived in a two-story frame house in a middle-class neighborhood and Joe Sr. helped his son get involved with sports.

Young Joe played baseball (three perfect games in the Little League) and basketball (he was offered a scholarship to North Carolina State), but after becoming a Parade All-American quarterback as a high school senior, he followed his idol, Hanratty, to Notre Dame.

At one-time a seventh-string quarterback, he was still No. 3 when the 1977 season started. But in the third game, with once-beaten Notre Dame losing 24-14 to Purdue, The Comeback Kid came off the bench to throw for 154 yards and a touchdown in the final 11 minutes to lead the Irish to a 31-24 victory.

Coach Dan Devine finally saw the light and installed Montana as his starter. Notre Dame didn't lose again, and won the national title by defeating No. 1 Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl.

After capping his collegiate career with the comeback against Houston the following January, Montana was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 1979 draft, the No. 82 overall selection. Walsh brought him along slowly and it wasn't until late in his second season that Montana became the starter.

ZONE POLL


In 1981, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Montana was in complete control of Walsh's West Coast offense, and he led he 49ers to a 13-3 record. They won the NFC title with The Catch, and defeated Cincinnati 26-21 in the Super Bowl.

Returning to the Super Bowl three years later against the Miami Dolphins, Montana upstaged Marino, who had thrown for a record 48 touchdowns. He passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-16 San Francisco rout.

Montana suffered a ruptured disk throwing a pass in the 1986 opener and underwent two-hour back surgery. Doctors told him it might be better for his health if he gave up football. Two months later, he was back, throwing three touchdown passes to Jerry Rice. But the season ended the way it had began -- in pain. Montana was knocked out of a 49-3 playoff loss to the Giants when noseguard Jim Burt, a future teammate, buried his helmet under Montana's chin.

Three years later, Montana had another Super Bowl ring. After spotting Candy in the stands, Joe Cool smoothly hit eight-of-nine passes, with his 10-yard strike to John Taylor giving the 49ers a 20-16 victory in Miami.

The next season, under George Seifert, Montana took the 49ers to a 14-2 record. San Francisco won its postseason games by 28, 27 and 45 points (55-10 over Denver in the Super Bowl) and Montana completed 78 percent of his passes for 800 yards, 11 touchdowns (five against Denver) and no interceptions.

An elbow injury caused Montana to miss 1991 and further complications caused him to sit out until the final game of 1992. With Steve Young entrenched at quarterback, Montana was traded to Kansas City in 1993. He led the Chiefs into the playoffs in his two seasons with them before deciding that, at age 38, he was finally weary of the game.

Mule, keep posting those inane cut & pastes, it's much wiser than you trying to actually speak.

But do explain his one-to-one ratio of INT/TD during the seasons and then his DOUBLE INT ratio in Bowl Games at ND? Good luck.

[Mule]

My apologies for failing to remember your limitations.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Mule

My apologies for failing to remember your limitations.

You seem afraid to even address Joe's ND stats. Gee, I wonder why?

Maybe you could find a YouTube video to say it for you.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

How 'bout them Lions!

Matt must have pics of the Ford family in some very compromising positions!

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by dd74

So Favre is running for Governor of WI?

Actually, today the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had a full size 12 page special section devoted to Favre!

Not Gov. Doyle or Prez Bush ever topped that.

[frogger]

Best buds, retired the same day...

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by frogger

Best buds, retired the same day...

Yeah, they interviewed Sapp last night and he said that Brett was the only QB that he knocked down who got up and head butted him back!

[Seahawk]

Did any of you guy ever play quarterback at any level?

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Did any of you guy ever play quarterback at any level?

Actually no...but I did hit one once...I think.