Going for First “Three-Peat”

I moved to South Florida during the summer of 1972 and the timing was spectacular.

A lifelong Eagles fan, I expected to become a Floridian for the rest of my life and decided to adopt the Dolphins as my second-favorite NFL team. And Don Shula and the Dolphins decided to make history by putting together the only undefeated season in the NFL’s existence.

The Dolphins culminated that season by defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7 at the L.A. Coliseum in Super Bowl VII and parlayed that with a 24-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Rice Stadium in Houston in Super Bowl VIII the following season.

So there I was with two years in South Florida and two Super Bowl wins for my adopted team. Even though the term “three-peat” had not yet been coined, that’s exactly what I expected for the 1974 season – the Dolphins were going to make it three straight Super Bowl victories.

And why not?

• Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, Mercury Morris, and Paul Warfield were still in their primes – Griese the oldest at 29. And Florida rookie wide-out Nat Moore was already showing signs of becoming a devastating multiple-threat offensive weapon.
• Jim Langer, Bob Kuechenberg, Larry Little, and Norm Evans anchored one of the best offensive lines in NFL history.
• Nick Buonoconti, Vern Den Herder, Manny Fernandez, Tim Foley, Dick Anderson, Jake Scott, Bob Matheson and the rest of the 53/No Name Defense were still intact.
• And Garo Yepremian and Larry Seiple were a top-notch kicking combo.

The Dolphins opened the season 8-and-2, lost to the Jets, and then finished strong with three straight wins over the Bengals, Colts, and Patriots to win the AFC East with a record of 11-and-3. That propelled them into the playoffs to face the Oakland Raiders – who won the AFC West with a record of 12-and-2.

Those Oakland Raiders were ominous foes:

• A defense that featured Bubba Smith, Otis Sistrunk, Phil Villapiano, George Atkinson, Willie Brown – one of the best CBs to ever play the game – and Jack Tatum – one of the fiercest hitters to ever step on the field.
• Ray Guy – the only punter ever selected as a #1 draft pick.
• An offense that featured offensive lineman Jim Otto, Art Shell, and Gene Upshaw – receivers Fred Biletnikoff, speedster Cliff Branch, and rookie tight end Dave Casper – and clutch quarterback Kenny “The Snake” Stabler.

That first-round playoff game was played at the Oakland-Alameda County Stadium in front of a packed house and national TV audience on December 21, 1974. It was a tight-fought affair that saw the Dolphins leading 16-14 at the end of three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Garo Yepremian added a 46-yard field goal to make it 19-14.

Kenny Stabler was quick to answer: connecting with Cliff Branch on a 72-yard TD pass to put the Raiders on top 21-19 after George Blanda added the PAT.

Late in the quarter, the Dolphins started driving and Benny Malone capped the drive with a dash from 23 yards out. Yepremian added the PAT and it looked like the Dolphins were going to pull it out 26-21. All they had to do was stop Kenny Stabler one last time with the clock running out.

But – unless you were a Raiders fan – you never wanted to see “The Snake” get the ball back with time on the clock.

Stabler quickly moved the Raiders down the field and into the Red Zone. With time running out, the Raiders reached the eight – and that’s when “The Snake” struck.

Stabler found an open Clarence Davis in the end zone and fired a pass in his direction. Davis caught the ball and cradled it to his chest. Even after the whistle blew and the referee signaled touchdown, several Dolphins continued to hit Davis in attempting to dislodge the football.

But the attempts were doubly futile:

1. They failed to dislodge the football.
2. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

Snake bites the Dolphins and the game ended 28-26.

I was watching that game on TV and that play and that loss hurt.

Yet even though he just defeated my adopted team and prevented a three-peat, it was impossible to dislike Kenny Stabler. He was so clutch, the kind of guy you wanted to quarterback your team, and he wasn’t the least bit unlikable.

Kenny Stabler was a redneck from the Alabama Riviera who never put on airs. He was proud of who he was and never changed – not when he was an All-American quarterback for Bear Bryant at Alabama and not when he was a Super Bowl XI champion for Al Davis and John Madden.

When Kenny Stabler died yesterday at the age of 69, he was listening to Lynryd Skinner’s “Sweet Home Alabama” at his home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, surrounded by his loved ones.

I shed a tear when I got the news – and there’s a few more flowing as I write this.

Barry Bowe is the author of:

• Born to Be Wild
• 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant
• 12 Best Eagles QBs
• Soon-to-be-released sexy, police-procedural Caribbean Queen