Some Great Thoughts of Super Bowls Past

Just about everybody has been quoted on what’s going to happen in Super Bowl XXI, so for a change of pace, let’s go back and see what they were saying about some of the other classics.

Doug Plank, who wore No. 46, after which the Chicago Bears’ defense was named, on his playing days with the Bears: “I went into a game with two goals. One, just try to knock somebody into next week. And two, just make sure they weren’t looking when I did it.”

Bill Walsh, San Francisco coach, announcing that the 49ers would use their regular practice field to prepare for the 1985 game at Stanford Stadium: “We’ve got our meeting room, lockers and training facilities. Plus, there’s a good deli near by.”

Roger Craig, 49er running back, asked what he was thinking as he scored his record third touchdown: “I was thinking I had just crossed the goal line.”

Matt Millen of the Raiders, before the 1984 game, explaining how the team operated: “We’re like the guys in senior class who take wood shop. We get the project done, but nobody cares how we do it. Individually, we have a bunch of guys with the demeanor of ax murderers.”

Dexter Manley of the Washington Redskins, asked the difference in playing the Raiders after facing the Miami Dolphins the year before: “One of the big differences is we’re playing a bunch of maniacs.”

Lyle Alzado of the Raiders, asked if he felt any pressure the day of the game: “The only pressure I’ve felt all week was when this big woman sat on me in a bar. I couldn’t get her off me.”

Pat McInally, Cincinnati punter and receiver in 1982, asked how his major of art history at Harvard prepared him for a career with the Bengals: “Well, we do have a draw play.”

Forrest Gregg, Bengal coach, asked why he allowed his players to sleep with their wives the night before the game: “They’re married to them.”

Pete Rozelle, NFL commissioner, asked before the 1981 game what he would say if he had to present the trophy to Raider owner Al Davis: “I’ll take a crash course from Bowie Kuhn on what he said when he presented the World Series trophy to Charlie Finley.”

John Matuszak of the Raiders, asked what he was doing on Bourbon Street at 3 a.m. on the Thursday before the game: “I am the enforcer. That’s why I was out on the streets--to make sure no one else was.” (Note: The enforcer was fined $1,000).

Vince Ferragamo, Ram quarterback, setting a Super Bowl record for malaprops with these gems in 1980:

--On his past performances: “I don’t like to look back in retrospect.”

--On the oddsmakers favoring Pittsburgh by 10 1/2 points: “How they arrived at their conclusions behooves me.”

--On Coach Ray Malavasi: “He never relinquishes my disbelief.”

Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh coach, on the boasts of Dallas linebacker Thomas (Hollywood) Henderson before the 1979 game: “Empty barrels make the most noise.”

Blaine Nye, Dallas tackle: “It’s not whether you win or lose but who gets the blame.”

John Madden, Oakland coach, on what he said in the dressing room before the 1977 game: “I never knew what it meant, but I told the players, ‘Don’t worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon.’ ”