Bud Grant- if they are keeping score, i'm playing to win
The 1974 Minnesota Vikings were coached by the well travelled, Bud Grant. Bud was a former 1st round pick(fourteenth selection) of the 1950 Philadelphia Eagles, and 4th round pick of the NBA Minneapolis Lakers. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota so he stayed home to win an NBA title ring in 1950 with the Lakers. In 1952, he joined the Eagles, and led them in sacks. The pay was better north of the border so it was off to Canada.
Following the January 13, 1974 loss in Super Bowl VIII to the Miami Dolphins, the Minnesota Vikings placed great emphasis on returning to the title game. The final exhibition contest was played on September 5th at Metropolitan Stadium, which is now the site of the Mall of America. The sellout crowd wanted payback for the Super Bowl loss. The Dolphins accommodated the Vikings, using hardly any frontline players on offense or defense.
On a rainy Sunday in January 1969, Minnesota Vikings OLB, Wally Hilgenberg lowered his head to tackle Dallas Cowboys tight end Pete Gent in the Playoff Bowl, a game Hilgenberg privately called the "Toilet Bowl." The game, since discontinued, was essentially meaningless, pitting runners-up that had lost playoff games. Just 22,961 fans were in Miami's Orange Bowl for the game. The legendary Super Bowl that would be won by Joe Namath's New York Jets was still a week away.
This was a postseason exhibition game that had the importance of a preseason exhibition. At least, in the preseason, jobs are on the line. Careers and career changes are made on just about every play. It is not strange to wonder why the 1974 Minnesota Vikings placed so much emphasis on their preseason tilt with the Super Bowl Champions, the Miami Dolphins. This was the year of the players’ strike that lasted from July into August. The games were played with all-rookie rosters. This was the year to be a free agent, where playing time was available to those who were in camp. It is how an unknown linebacker from Amherst College, Doug Swift could make the Miami Dolphins and become a starter.
The game was tied at 24 late into the 4th quarter. With precision passing by QB Fran Tarkenton and the running of FB Bill Brown and RB Chuck Foreman, the Vikings got into field goal range. PK Fred Cox delivered for a 27-24 win. The Super Bowl loss was avenged in only 8 months. Fred Cox is the inventor of the Nerf football. The Vikings did reach the Super Bowl, losing in Super Bowl IX to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6.
Bud Grant is the only person to have played in the NBA, NFL and CFL. He led the Canadian Football League in receptions for 3 years, and intercepted 5 passes in a post season game. He became the third most successful coach in professional football with 290 wins, 4 Grey Cups and 3 Super Bowl appearances.
While he did not end up on the winning side in the Super Bowl, Bud Grant was a winner. He made a meaningless Thursday night preseason game as exciting as any playoff game. That has to count for something.
The New England Patriots open their preseason schedule with an August 7th contest against the Washington Redskins. Their final preseason affair is August 28th against the New York Giants. They should probably play a doubleheader so we can get even.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
For more of my articles, click here.
