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The High Court |
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Deep Thinkers Only... |
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Superdome Memories |
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Super (Dome) Memories
A photo of the Lousiana Superdome, by John D. Book, November 24, 2002.
I have to tell you the truth. I’m having a tough time writing about anything sports-related right now. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s horrific attack on the Gulf Coast, the business of playing ball seems so hollow. But as the damage to the Gulf Coast and New Orleans is being assessed, it has become clear that one of the Crescent City’s most identifiable landmarks has been ravaged and may end up on the condemned list.
Opening in 1975, The Louisiana Superdome has been the site of some of the greatest moments in sports over the past 30 years (almost none of which include Superdome tenants the Saints), including hosting 6 Super Bowls, 4 NCAA Final Fours and 30 Sugar Bowls. Let’s take a closer look.
NFL Super Bowls
No. Result Super Bowl MVP XII Cowboys 27, Broncos 10 Harvey Martin/Randy White, DAL
Dallas’ Doomsday Defense beat a tattoo (or two) on Broncos QB Craig Morton as two of their Defensive Linemen were named Co-MVP’s. The normally straight-laced Tom Landry opened up the Cowboy playbook in the 4th quarter when Dallas put the game out of reach with a Robert Newhouse halfback option pass to Golden Richards for a 29-yard touchdown.
XV Raiders 27, Eagles 10 Jim Plunkett, OAK
With the nation captivated by the Iran Hostage Crisis, the Raiders became the first wild-card team to win the Super Bowl. After years of injury and disappointment, Jim Plunkett finally displayed the promise he had shown over a decade earlier when he was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner.
XX Bears 46, Patriots 10 Richard Dent, CHI
When the Bears shuffled their way to the Super Bowl, it was just a mere formality as they steamrolled the Pats on the way to NFL with a little help from a fullback called “The Fridge.” Chicago’s vaunted “46” defense produced 7 sacks and held the Pats to only 7 total rushing yards en route to the (big) easy win.
XXIV 49ers 55, Broncos 10 Joe Montana, SF
Montana to Rice. Montana to Jones. Montana to Rice. Montana to Rice. Montana to Taylor. MVP Joe Montana fired five TD passes as the 49ers torched the Broncos by out-gaining them 461-167 in total offense.
XXXI Packers 35, Patriots 21 Desmond Howard, GB
The Packers’ 29-year drought between Super Bowl wins came to an end as Desmond Howard became the only special teams player to be named MVP as he amassed 244 total return yards, highlighted by his 99 yard kickoff return for touchdown that put the Pack ahead by two TD’s.
XXXVI Patriots 20, Rams 17 Tom Brady, NE
The Legend of Tom Brady officially hit the big-time as the cool QB led the 14-point underdog Patriots on a 53-yard drive in the last 1:21 to set up Adam Vinatieri’s game winning 48-yard field goal.
NCAA Final Fours
North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan drives past Georgetown’s Eric (Sleepy) Floyd in the 1982 NCAA Championship game in the Superdome.
Photo courtesy www.bbc.co.uk
Year Participants (Champion in bold, runner-up in italics) Most Outstanding Player 1982 North Carolina, Georgetown, Louisville, Houston James Worthy, NC
Dean Smith finally won his first NCAA title with a little help from the Hoyas. Following freshman Michael Jordan’s 16-foooter that gave UNC the lead, Georgetown guard Fred Brown inadvertently passed the ball directly to Tar Heel James Worthy, sealing the Carolina win.
1987 Indiana, Syracuse, UNLV, Providence Keith Smart, Indiana
With Indiana trailing 73-72 with under 10 seconds remaining, New Orleans native Keith Smart launched himself into Final Four history with game-winning jumper from almost the same place on the floor as Jordan’s six years earlier. Sharpshooter Steve Alford used the first-year three-point line to lead the Hoosiers to a third crown under Bob Knight.
1993 North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas Donald Williams, NC
Somewhere along the way, Dean Smith has found favor with the city of New Orleans. Eleven years after the Georgetown gift, Michigan’s Chris Webber calls a timeout his team didn’t have in closing seconds of the NCAA Final with Carolina leading by only 2. This was the second and final title for Smith, who retired in 1997 as the leader in men’s college basketball coaching victories.
2003 Syracuse, Kansas, Marquette, Texas Carmelo Anthony, SU
Jim Boeheim’s long wait for a championship finally came to an end as Hakim Warrick sailed through the Superdome sky to swat away Michael Lee’s last-ditch three-point attempt. Freshman phenom Carmelo Anthony completed his one and done tour of college hoops with a Final Four MOP performance.
College Football
Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans at sunset from the south, taken before the Sugar Bowl on January 3, 2005 by J. Glover (AUTiger).
Sugar Bowls that produced a team ranked # 1
1977 Pitt d. Georgia (27-3) 12-0 Johnny Majors
1979 Alabama d. Penn State (14-7) 11-1 Bear Bryant
1980 Alabama d. Arkansas (24-9) 12-0 Bear Bryant
1981 Georgia d. Notre Dame (17-10) 12-0 Vince Dooley
1983 Penn State d. Georgia (27-23) 11-1 Joe Paterno
1990 Miami d. Alabama (33-25) 11-1 Dennis Erickson
1993 Alabama d. Miami (34-13) 13-0 Gene Stallings
1997 Florida d. Florida State (52-20) 12-1 Steve Spurrier
2000 Florida St. d. Virginia Tech (46-29) 12-0 Bobby Bowden
2004 LSU d. Oklahoma 13-1 Nick Saban
Notable Sugar Bowl MOP’s
1981 Herschel Walker, Georgia RB 1982 Dan Marino, Pitt QB 1984 Bo Jackson, Auburn RB 1992 Jerome Bettis, Notre Dame RB 1995 Warrick Dunn, Florida St. RB |
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The Powdered Wig presents a very special piece on the Louisiana Superdome. The most recent thoughts surrounding the building are of a terrible tragedy, and it may eventually be destroyed to purge the city of some very troubling memories. If it has played host to its last sporting event, we want to provide you with some much more pleasant memories of the Superdome. Join The Wig as he takes you on a tour of some of the greatest contests played in New Orleans. Share with him your memories of the Superdome at powderedwig@thehighcourtofsports.com. |