A Brief Tribute to the Houston Oilers
Watching the Tennessee Titans play the Pats today in their throwback unis is going to be a sad reminder that some institutions in America simply aren’t as good as they once were. Because make no mistake, the Titans were a much, much cooler franchise back when they were the Houston Oilers. The Oilers might not have had the drama of coming up a yard shy of winning the Super Bowl on the last play or the panache that comes from having their best player shot dead by his insane mistress, but they had a style and class that the Titans will probably never have. For a team that never made it to a Super Bowl (two AFL championships, but who’s counting), they managed to establish some all time NFL superlatives that might never be bested:
Best Fight Song Ever:
“Houston Oilers #1″ captured the hearts of America in a way that pretenders like “San Diego Superchargers” and “Super Bowl Shuffle” could only dream of. And when it was accompanied by 80,000 powder blue pom poms in the Astrodome, it was awe inspiring.
Funniest Head Coach Ever
Bum Phillips was a classic. A drawling, colorful, cowboy hat-clad Texas quote machine who seemed to come out of central casting to play the part of Good Ol’ Boy Football Coach. He refused to wear his hat to home games because his mama taught him to take his hat off indoors. He summed up the life of a struggling coach with the phrase “You don’t know a ladder has splinters until you’re sliding down it.” Bob Costas once asked him why he always took his wife on road trips and he said “’cause she’s too ugly to kiss goodbye.” A true original, and it’s a goddamned shame we’re stuck with a cheap knock off like his son Wade.
Best Power Back Ever
There have been better backs than Earl Campbell, but it’s a short list. Though when it comes to straight up power football, running through traffic and breaking tackles, I’ve never seen anyone better. Campbell had thighs like 50 gallon oil drums and was almost virtually untacklable. As a rookie, he came into Foxboro for the first home playoff game in Pats history (when Chuck Fairbanks had been fired and then reinstated the week before the game) and gashed the Pats for 118 yards. Unfortunately the pounding took a toll, and his career was cut short. But for a 6 year span, Earl was as good as anyone, ever.
Best Moment in Monday Night Football History:
Luv Ya, Blue.
Jerry Thornton | Random Thoughts | 10/18/09, 1:21 pm |
14 People have left comments on this post
Let’s not forget Billy “White Shoes” Johnson…and Dan Pastorini.
UConn’s Howard killed in stabbing
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — A University of Connecticut football player died Sunday following an on-campus stabbing, hours after the team’s victory over Louisville.
Twenty-year-old Jasper Howard of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, was stabbed during a fight early Sunday. A message posted on the university’s Web site said the fight and stabbing happened near Hillside Road, which is near the center of the Storrs campus. The perpetrator was still at large.
University president Michael Hogan told The Associated Press that the stabbing is a tragedy for the entire university community. He says state police are working with campus police.
A message with UConn police was not immediately returned.
Howard was credited with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in UConn’s 38-25 victory Saturday over Louisville. He led the Big East in punt returns last season.
Fucking scumbags everywhere.
how bout them sorry ass dolphins stealing the houston oilers fight song ScuummBAGS
No mention of Warren Fucking Moon?
Let’s not forget the biggest post season collapse of all time.
Jerry,
Great Stuff. I love the videos intermixed with the text.
And the humor is great.
Thanks,
CT
Couple of things about the NFL’s throwback unis. The league’s strategy on this one is fundamentally stupid although I like throwbacks as a rule (NHL’s forzen classics). Here’s why –
*Houston has a football team. If anyone should wear throwbacks – it’s them, not the Tennessee Titans. And for that matter, why did they not just call the new Houston franchise the Oilers??? Duh, that was a no brainer.
*The KC Chiefs play the Dallas Cowboys last week and wear…red Dallas Texans throwbacks. Very, very stupid and just plain dumb. KC is not in Texas but Texas has two football teams, you stupid NFL dolts.
*Shouldn’t the Baltimore Ravens be wearing Cleveland Brown unis? Oh, uh oh. Dumbasses. No the NFL can’t do that cuz you put the Browns back in Cleveland but according to your strategy that should be the case.
Teddy-
are you serious?
Dude, Earl Cambell?? Yeah…if you want an average of 1 fumble every game….Look how he carries that ball. He had 43 career fumbles, and 14 in 1 season. 12 game season.
Yikes.
Pcraig my guess is that you are too young to have ever watched Earl Campbell play. All you see is stats. Well let me tell you, there was never a more feared running back in the NFL. Earl Campbell was Adrian Peterson with more size and strength. Easily one of the top 3-5 backs in history. Let me guess, you think L. Maroney is a better back because he fumbles less?
And don’t forget how much better Pat Patriot was over the Flying Elvis! !!!
Please don’t call me Shirley and yes, I am serious
I’m a little behind on my BSS, but let me say this…
There’s only a few guys around that could write an article like this. BSS is lucky to have the great JT!
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