They have Calamity Jane for their offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan. Blowing a 10 point Super Bowl lead is child's play for him. He his play calling blew a 28 to 3 Super Bowl lead in the third quarter when he was with Atlanta 4 years ago.
Yeah we did what was called "spearing". A defending player launched himself head first on the run, aiming for the chest or "the numbers" (where the numbers were on the front of the uniform). Totally devastating for the runner, and usually for the defender throwing the spear as well. It was outlawed in the late 70s. About that time the "fair catch" rule was implemented for punt returns. That meant a punt returner could signal his intentions to just catch the ball (hand and arm extended up and waving) punted to him and not try to run the ball. The guys trying to nail (tackle) him had to stop and allow the catch to be made. Then then referee blew the whistle ending the play with no crashing blows. We thought that was the end of football.
That and the touchback are the most boring plays in NFL football. In the Canadian game, all kickoffs and punts are returned.
Football was Turning into a Bloodbath - Until Teddy Roosevelt Stepped In In 1904, eighteen football players died. Some died on the field. Broken spines, a pierced lung or heart from broken ribs, or fractured skulls. Some of these men died in hospitals later on.
The worst licks I ever took were returning kick-offs and punts. I got hit so hard one night returning a kickoff and slapped head-first into the ground. I got up wobbly-legged and headed to the wrong sideline. I'm fully convinced that I had a bad concussion. Looking back at my report card from that six-weeks period, my grades were noticeably lower.
We used to call that, in our profound ignorance, simply getting our 'bell rung'. I had at least 4-5 of those myself, the worst of which was courtesy of a teammate who ran the wrong passing route.
We called it the same thing. I literally got up seeing stars (actually sparkly things, whatever) and didn't really remember the second half of the game, even though I played every defensive play after that and took a couple of punts and kickoffs. When I got older, I decided that if I had sons, I was going to discourage them from playing football. Most of the long-term joint problems and pains I have are a direct result of playing contact football for 9 years in my youth. My last two surgeries were to correct problems in my knee from an injury in the 9th grade that I was told to "walk it off." Kinda hard to do when it was swollen enough to rival a basketball.
I think many football programs and other contact sports will be challenged due to the 'brain injury' issue. Even the word 'concussion' is really a euphemism. I have a friend who is a neurologist and in his experience, even young kids playing soccer are suffering brain injuries from repeatedly heading the ball. He doesn't recommend that until at least age 14.
We used to get skull and crossbones stickers to put on our helmets when you nailed an opponent during a game that resulted in him being carried off the field. That event was called "knocking his dick in the dirt". Ah, the good ole days.
And the sad thing is that whilst the helmet may prevent one breaking a skull it won't stop the brain hitting the inside of that skull - which is also the reason why bikers still die of head injuries.
I think Bomber Harris' "Reap the Whirlwind" quote is going to be appropriate for tonight's LSU vs Alabama game. LSU beat Alabama last year and their coach went on a profanity filled rant about how they would continue to beat Alabama every time they see them from now on. This year Alabama is the number one team in the country and LSU isn't ranked in the top twenty. Alabama has won 17 national championships in football vs LSU winning 4. LSU did win the championship last year and were the best team but showed very poor sportsmanship. I don't think Alabama is going to take their foot off the gas even when the game is in the bag.
You so seldom see 'evisceration' used in a headline anymore Alabama vs. LSU score, takeaways: No. 1 Tide lock up SEC West with historic 55-17 evisceration of Tigers
Watching my home team in the process of losing to my old home team. The canned crowd noise is amusing. I wonder what junior technician is being tasked to choreograph the rise and fall of booing and cheering.
Coach O ran his mouth off last year and it came back to haunt him this year. I suspect it will happen again next year, too.
You want to see American football nuttiness? Check out the last 5 minutes of the recent Raiders game at the N.Y Jets.