49ers Coach Awed by ‘Big Easy’ Win

Barely 12 hours after the rest of America marveled at the world champion San Francisco 49ers, Coach George Seifert admitted he shared that amazement.

“I have to say that I was surprised the way the game worked out,” said Seifert of his team’s 55-10 rout of Denver in Super Bowl XXIV. “There were times when I walked the sidelines and shook my head in awe myself a little bit. It just all came together.”

Rarely has it come together so well for any team. The 49ers, winning their second straight Super Bowl and fourth overall, produced the largest margin of victory in the NFL’s extravaganza.

In a town known as the Big Easy, the 49ers’ performance was just that--big and easy. The only mystery surrounding this team now is whether it can win three straight.

Quarterback Joe Montana, the game’s MVP for a third time, made no predictions today. But he did say of the team’s chances, “I’d like to think they are pretty good.”

“You’re talking about a unique group of guys who love challenges,” Montana said shortly after accepting the keys to a new car given to the MVP. “The thing about this occupation is every year your goals can be the same. You might set a little higher standard for yourself.”

It can’t get much higher. Already, they are being called perhaps the greatest team in history for their string of successes in the 1980s.

Montana is being called the greatest quarterback of all time for his performances in that same time period. In four Super Bowls, Montana has thrown for a record 11 touchdowns with no interceptions.

He was flawless against Denver, completing 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and five touchdowns.

“I think we were all in sync,” Montana said. “It wasn’t just me. When you have everybody playing like that, it’s easy.”

Perhaps all that could keep the 49ers from winning it again is roster and staff changes. The NFL’s Plan B free-agency period begins Feb. 1. The 49ers, like every NFL team, cannot protect all its players.

In addition, offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren is in line for one of the NFL’s head coaching vacancies. Seifert, mainly a defensive coach, would like to keep Holmgren, as would Montana.

“We hope he doesn’t leave too soon,” Montana said, “but I have a feeling he will.”

There’s no telling what changes Denver Coach Dan Reeves will make. The Broncos tied Minnesota for Super Bowl futility with four defeats, including two of the most lopsided losses. They fell 42-10 to Washington in Super Bowl XXII.

The Broncos had promised everyone this year would be different. It was. They played worse than ever.

“On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the worst, we were a 10,” Reeves said. “I’ve had three 10s, so I can’t put it any better than that. If anybody enjoys getting beat 55-10 who’s a coach in the National Football League, I want to meet them.

“Life’s tough, and you have to learn to deal with it. I know that everything that happens to you in life is an experience and there’s a purpose for it. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m going to learn from it.”