Flashback: Super Bowl XIII Between Steelers and Cowboys Would Have Been Amazing on Social Media
By Jason Lisk
The late Seventies are their own special time period in American culture. I was four years old at the time, and had only seen the Super Bowl NFL Films highlights. So I thought I would go back and watch Super Bowl XIII, available in the archives on the NFL Game Pass. This one is notable for several reasons. It included the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, in a Super Bowl rematch from three years earlier. It was the first season of the 16-game schedule and the loosening of passing rules, and it produced the highest combined score at the time. It had Swann catches and Jackie Smith’s famous drop.
But now, I could look back and see all the warts and entertaining little items. Here’s some observations, big and small:
It Wasn’t Always Pretty
The first quarter saw several big plays, but not always of the pretty variety. Dallas was marching on the opening drive. Then they ran a reverse where a fumble occurred on the exchange between Tony Dorsett and Drew Pearson. Terry Bradshaw threw an interception right to D.D. Lewis. Staubach tripped over Dorsett, fumbled, recovered it, and threw an awkward incomplete pass. And then Bradshaw did him one better, by fumbling it, recovering it, only to get it stripped by Hollywood Henderson and returned for a TD in a play for the ages.
Twitter would have melted down on that one. For background, Henderson had just uttered his quote that week about Bradshaw not being able to spell CAT if you spotted him the C and the A. Then he scored on a wild play. Bradshaw would get the last laugh and have perhaps the game of his career to that point, after the fumble.
John Stallworth’s Opening TD Probably Would Not Have Counted Under Current Rules
Nowadays, we get a close play along the sideline for a touchdown, we sit and wait for replay, and look at angles over and over. There is no longer a force out rule. Then, though, there was no question as Stallworth was hit out of bounds. In 2015, I suspect that same play gets overturned as his knee appears to hit on the white sideline before the second foot hits inbounds. And regardless, we would have spent four minutes before knowing.
The Player Intro Shots are Amazing
During this broadcast, they ran a quick graphic of the starters at each position group for both teams, throughout the first quarter. All of them are their own special container in a time capsule. But let’s highlight the Cowboys’ Doomsday Defense linemen.
What is Larry Cole doing with his hands here? This would have gone viral. Von Miller has nothing on Cole.
Merlin Olsen’s Beard is Enticing
Why don’t we have three-man booths as much anymore? Because some people just can’t keep their hands to themselves.
Coming back from the break between quarters, immediately after Dallas tied it with a Staubach pass to Drew Hill, John Brodie got distracted by Merlin Olsen’s beard and had to treat himself to a tug. Curt Gowdy looks enthralled.
Game Day Signs Have Come a Long Way Since 1979
This sign was shown on the broadcast. We’ve come a long way in our gameday signs in 37 years. I mean, there’s a lot going on here. This is your reminder that truck drivers and CBs were quite the rage in 1979. One of the most popular shows involved a truck driver and a chimpanzee, which is why it may not have been unusual to see a chimp at a football game. So that’s the background, but who has time to read and process all this? Probably dated, but not funny. (cue people wondering why there is a sign about “dabbing” in 30 years).
We were still in the infancy of getting fan signs on TV, so I guess we can forgive this monstrosity.
The Play Diversity Was More Than I Would Have Thought
I watched the first quarter of the Dolphins’ Super Bowl win over Washington to finish the season undefeated recently. For my 2016 eyes, it was tedious and uninspiring football. I was shocked, then, by how much things changed in just six years with this Super Bowl. I’m not saying it looks exactly like today (split backs, etc.) but there was a lot more diversity than just a few years prior in the same game.
Dallas used multiple formations and personnel groupings on offense. The tight ends would interchange with a third wide receiver. An offensive lineman, #66 Burton Lawless, was shown running play calls on to the field to give to Roger Staubach. Drew Pearson was motioning all over the place, sometimes even starting in the backfield and moving outside.
Pittsburgh didn’t do as much of that, but still did several things that may not fit your mental image. We picture the deep bombs from Staubach to Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. I saw three plays that fit spiritually in with today’s bubble screens. There weren’t multiple receivers, but on all three the tight end and linemen to that side immediately sprinted out in front of Swann, who doubled back so the pass was behind the line. He got a 20+ yard gain on the first, the second was low and he couldn’t catch it, and the final one he picked up four yards before getting crunched.
Oh, and Terry Bradshaw was pretty great in this game outside the two early turnovers. They ran an almost unbelievable graphic. He had around 250 passing yards by halftime. They showed a graphic that he had never had a 300 yard game (this was his first).
Who Needs Deflated Balls When You Have Stickum
Right before the Jackie Smith drop in the end zone–and let me stick up for the veteran slightly and say he was wide open and the pass was low, forcing him to slide (still a bad drop, but the pass didn’t help)–the cameras showed Hollywood Henderson on the sideline. We had a minor meltdown on social media because Salvador Perez’ muddy shin guards appeared to have a substance on them. You don’t think this would have spawned a thousand jokes?
And he was just lathering himself up with stickum. Like a disgusting amount. That prompted Merlin Olsen to quip, “he might be stuck on himself.”
Lynn Swann’s Big Fourth Quarter Touchdown Catch Was Pure Joy, and Would Be Penalized Today
Halfway through the fourth quarter, with a 21-17 lead, Pittsburgh went on a scoring drive, then recovered a fumble on the following kickoff. Terry Bradshaw then threw the dagger that was snagged by Lynn Swann that appeared to clinch the title. It was a great throw, great catch, and pure sporting joy as the celebration began.
Swann spiked it over his head, then raised his finger aloft as teammates hoisted him up and surrounded him. We have had this discussion about celebrations. I’m all for spirit and emotion and joy–and opposed to those who get upset about natural shows of emotion. I’m not for taunting and ill behavior. It’s too bad that a moment of sure pleasure like this would probably get penalized today as a group celebration. Of course there was a celebration, in this, the year of “We are Family.”