OT: 1976 Patriots - The Birth of a Contender

[Family]

Fairbanks was brilliant.

So true!

I never understood what happened to his brilliance after the Patriots.

 

[Steve102]

Yup. Somebody should've sent Inigo Montoya to have a a few words with Sullivan. 3 words in particular

 

[maust]

Which was the single losing season for the Patriots in a 13 year stretch.

A 13 year stretch during which they won the division once and made the playoffs 5 times. Year after year the pall of the Sullivans just hung over the team, like Jete stank lite. You know it, I know it. Anyone who was past the age of reason knew it. We were always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

 

[maust]

The wins remain in the record books, for anyone who chooses to look them up. Most of them are directly attributable to Steve Grogan.

John Hannah made most of what Grogan did possible. Between the two they willed the Pats to those wins. Any football fan who never saw Hannah probably thinks we're crazy when we talk about a left guard dominating games. The Hog was the best, most complete football player I've ever seen. He was to o-lineman what Jim Brown was to running backs and LT was to pass rushers, the gold standard.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

So true!

I never understood what happened to his brilliance after the Patriots.

Colorado paid him a fortune, but I think his heart was left in Oklahoma, and here.

He coached the Generals later, but he really peaked right here.

 

[p8ryts]

Many of those QB's were unable to pick themselves up. Stabler flopped in desperation, Dreith fell for it, and his teammates helped him up.

But it wasn't only one call. The whole game, and then the fourth quarter down the stretch. It was a debacle, but many felt the Patriots deserved it due to Sullivan.

I know, I repeat myself, but damn, Sam Bam running out of bounds was a killer.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I remember the play well and it was great!

But how did that play have any impact on subsequent years?

It's nothing like Brady's drive to win the first Super Bowl or the snow game.

The most spiritual event from that team was the roughing the passer call on Sugar Bear.

It was like Ground Hog Day, only the shadow meant fifteen more years of a directionless franchise.

Indeed, hopelessness punctuated the Patriots experience. The only drama was what unique misfortune would befall them. The Orange Bowl wasn't the only jinx to face; only a Super Bowl win would exorcise their demons.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

A 13 year stretch during which they won the division once and made the playoffs 5 times. Year after year the pall of the Sullivans just hung over the team, like Jete stank lite. You know it, I know it. Anyone who was past the age of reason knew it. We were always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

They won the division twice, but I see what you mean.

They had local and national media and their own owner against them.

But that only makes it more heinous that Adams, Francis and Tatupu aren't in their Hall. They acquitted themselves like champions despite their surroundings.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I know, I repeat myself, but damn, Sam Bam running out of bounds was a killer.

Ask Hog Hannah about it

 

[NCPATSFAN1971]

I was like 7 or 8z Didn’t even know they were playing. Somehow I still get mad about it though.

Through lore and studying I learned that it was the best rushing team of all time. A record that stood for over 40+ years. Imagine the Ravens trying to run in 76 when all football teams main objective was to stop the run first and foremost?

I’ve also seen the footage of the call many times and didn’t even realize there was roughing the passer back then. All the football I watched in the 80’s and 90s was the QB picking himself off the ground, completion or not. They didn’t
Even install the 3 step rule into effect until 6 qbs went down on one Sunday back in 86 or 87. So watching the play se were robbed of I can Imagine it was so tic tak and absurd given the times.

Funny thing is Patriots destroyed the Raiders in the regular season that same season. Oakland needed all the help they could get. It really was one of the worst calls ever and I have no sympathy for any Raider fan regarding the tuck rule if they are oblivious to the Hamilton call.

"Funny thing is Patriots destroyed the Raiders in the regular season that same season. Oakland needed all the help they could get. It really was one of the worst calls ever and I have no sympathy for any Raider fan regarding the tuck rule if they are oblivious to the Hamilton call."

I was at that game in Foxboro and yes we definitely ran all over the Raiders 48 to 17. When that bad call went against the Pats at Oakland during the playoffs it was devastating. So the Tuck Rule was payback even though it was the right call.

And yes it felt the same as the end of the Red Sox's 1967 World Series.

 

[p8ryts]

Ask Hog Hannah about it

I would be interested to know if he ever said anything about it.