Super Bowl XXVII : THROUGH THE YEARS : Footnotes To History : VIII : FRAN TARKENTON : MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Vikings probably should have known that Super Bowl VIII against the Dolphins wasn’t going to be their day as soon as they showed up for practice at a small school in Houston. They found out that there were no lockers in the locker room. What’s more, of the 15 locker-room shower heads, 12 weren’t working and sparrows had built nests in two of them.

Viking defensive end Jim Marshall was moved to make this now-famous comment: “Men, consider yourself honored--it is the first time we have ever showered in an aviary.”

And the Vikings went from aviary to cattle drive, once the game began at Rice Stadium. There, Miami running back Larry Csonka laid claim to the turf, rushing 33 times for 145 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

Quarterback Fran Tarkenton of the Vikings completed 18 of 28 passes, but the Vikings gained only 72 yards on the ground and simply had no luck running the ball against Miami defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger’s newfangled alignment, called the “53,” in which the Dolphins substituted a linebacker for a tackle.

“Quite frankly, we didn’t know how to block it,” Tarkenton said.

Tarkenton said the Vikings experienced two major problems in the game: “We didn’t stop the run and we didn’t run.”

The Dolphins got off quickly, which was another big turning point. Miami took the opening kickoff and scored, the Vikings ran three plays and punted, then Miami scored again.

“We were 14-0 down before we could have a cup of coffee,” Tarkenton said.

There was just one more chance for the Vikings to see daylight and it occurred just before the half, down, 17-0. But on fourth and one at Miami’s six-yard line, the Vikings passed up a field goal and went for the touchdown. Running back Oscar Reed fumbled.

Said Tarkenton: “He just missed the hole.”

The Vikings would appear in two more Super Bowls. They lost them, too. They just missed.

* 1974 AT HOUSTON

Minnesota 0 0 0 7 -- 7 Miami 14 3 7 0 -- 24

Mia--Csonka 5 run (Yepremian kick)

Mia--Kiick 1 run (Yepremian kick)

Mia--FG Yepremian 28

Mia--Csonka 2 run (Yepremian kick)

Min--Tarkenton 4 run (Cox kick)

A--71,882

Winning Coach--Don Shula

MVP--Larry Csonka