Chicago Just May Zero In On Rams
Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder favors the Chicago Bears by 10 points, but at least two people give the Rams a chance next Sunday in Chicago.
“I’m much more impressed with the Rams now,” said Dallas quarterback Danny White after Saturday’s 20-0 loss at Anaheim. “Maybe coming in I didn’t give them enough credit. They have a chance to beat anyone. It will be an interesting game.”
Said Eric Dickerson of the Rams: “The first two years I didn’t feel we had a great team. This year, I think our chance is just as good as the Chicago Bears. I think we can go all the way.”
Dickerson confessed, however, that he doesn’t know what to expect from the weather.
“I’ve never played in sub-zero weather,” he said. “I don’t know how I’ll react to sub-zero.”
The Prophet: Said Chicago Coach Mike Ditka Saturday when asked about the cold: “I don’t think it will be a big factor. What could be a factor is the wind. If it comes across the lake, it could be difficult for kicking.”
Add Ditka: Of quarterback Jim McMahon, who celebrates touchdowns by butting helmets with his linemen, he said: “He goes to his own drummer, not that that’s good or bad. I see a lot of myself in him when I was his age.”
Add Bears: Steve McMichael, the defensive tackle they call Mongo, was answering a question in the dressing room when somebody mentioned that Kevin Butler missed three field-goal attempts.
That spurred McMichael into action.
“Like to go on, fellas,” McMichael said, excusing himself, “but I’ve got to find that boy. I’m going to kick his butt.”
Trivia Time: Name the only college football coach to win a national championship in his first season as head coach. (Answer below.)
For What It’s Worth: This will be only the second time in history the Rams and Bears have met in a playoff.
In 1950, in a National Conference playoff at the Coliseum, the Rams beat the Bears, 24-14. Bob Waterfield hit Tom Fears on touchdown pass plays of 68 and 27 yards. On the second one, Fears caught a short pass and then made a spectacular run down the sideline, eluding six would-be tacklers.
In the NFL championship game at Cleveland, the Browns beat the Rams, 30-28, on a field goal by Lou Groza with 28 seconds left.
Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer, asked about his “Bad Barry” image, told Mark Blaudschun of the Dallas Morning News: “I’ll tell you how it all started. I took over from Chuck Fairbanks when I was 36. After each game, everyone came over to my house for a party. It was a big, old place, about 4,000 square feet with a 43-foot fireplace. The media from all over the country used to come by. I gave them food and drinks. No one showed them a better time than I did.
“Added to that was the fact that I was divorced and I did like to go out and have a few drinks. I’ll admit that. I was young and aggressive and I liked to have a good time. I had friends in the oil business. But I was never as wild as people who hadn’t ever talked to me thought I was. Everyone thought my entire life style was like that.”
Trivia Answer: Bennie Oosterbaan at Michigan in 1948. He took over from Fritz Crisler who moved up to athletic director after a perfect season in 1947. Under Oosterbaan, the Wolverines had another perfect season.
Quotebook
New York Giants Coach Bill Parcells, asked by a reporter if his offensive line was outplayed by the Chicago Bears’ defensive line: “Did you see the game?”