Super Bowl XII (1978) - Dallas and Denver in the Superdome in New Orleans
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The document recounts a firsthand account of a 1978 road trip to Super Bowl XII in New Orleans with college friends, highlighting the adventures and experiences during their journey. The author emphasizes the authenticity of the story, detailing encounters with NFL players and moments from the game itself. It reflects on the nostalgia of the trip, the camaraderie of friends, and the lasting impact of that once-in-a-lifetime event.
Super Bowl XII (1978) - Dallas and Denver in the Superdome in New Orleans
- 1. Super Bowl XII - 1978 I personally attest that this pictorial review of my road trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans thirty 鍖ve years ago with three college buddies includes absolutely no embellishment. I have told and heard this story told many times. Regardless of whether its the Bumper Sticker, Readers Digest or the War & Peace version, there has never been any embellishment included in the story. All names are real and all activities occurred as documented herein. It is my belief and understanding that no laws were broken during this trip. I was inspired to assemble this information for three reasons; 鍖rst our trip was 35 years ago in the same location as the Super Bowl this year. Next, I watched a You Tube vignette about a couple of Savannah State students who snuck into the game this year. And 鍖nally, I thought it would be a good idea to document the kind of once in a lifetime trip you can take if your willing to invest your entire life savings . . . or ($67). Dennis ONeill Mizzou Sophomore 1978
- 2. Super Bowl XII - 1978 Im at Harpos Friday night Jan. 13th talking Cowboys vs Broncos with: Jim Stewart - Fonzi Senior - Broadcast Journalism Jim Black - Rev Junior - Business; Finance Brian Zimmerman - Zim Junior - Business; Marketing Fonzi had an idea . . . we quickly pack a suit and piled in Zims 68 Impala I was able to gather $67 for my Super Bowl roadtrip to New Orleans. We were welcomed by our Tulane Brothers just as they would have welcomed General William T Sherman back in 1864. Saturday night we invited ourselves to the NFLPA VIP party extravaganza . . . and 鍖nally, its Game Day !
- 3. NFL Players Association VIP Party Tony Dorsetts spectacular entourage entrance created the perfect diversion for our entry Too many VIPs and celebrities from from Sports, Movies, TV, politics and music to count Oysters on the Half-Shell being shucked faster than we could eat Lee Street Juicy Burgers Champagne, not Andres , 鍖owing glass after glass, after glass . . . A very fortuitous chat with Ed Garveys (President of NFLPA) niece Melissa.
- 4. Super Sunday Morning Sharing several morning Hurricanes with generous Colorodans darn near turned us into Orange Crush fans . . . I cant recall one Texan buying us a drink.
- 5. . . . a Hope and a Prayer It was a Sunday, so we stopped by St Louis Cathedral for a Pre-Game prayer.
- 6. The Formidable Monstrosity The Super Dome did not appear to be the easiest place to enter without a ducat. So we split up in pairs with the thought of increasing our odds of achieving success.
- 7. Inside . . . not as formidable as we thought The very 鍖rst thing Rev and I do is visit the 鍖eld. A Security Guard followed. My aforementioned chat with Melissa Garvey came in handy as I informed the guard that she was my 鍖ancee and that my friend here just had to come down and stand on the 鍖eld. But I just wanted to get back up to the party and stay out of trouble. Since I could not remember where the party was, he escorted us to a VIP Suite and opened the door asking; is this it? In one view, I saw Deacon Jones and Jack Nicklaus and quickly thanked the guard for taking such good care of us and for helping me 鍖nd my way back to my Melissa!
- 8. Fonzi and Zim at Home in the Dome Phyllis George: Miss America 1971, pioneer sportscaster 1974, friend of Jim Stewart 1978 All of the men and some of the women in the Super Dome wanted to, Brent Musberger certainly wanted to but Phyllis George kissed only one guy all day. Congrats Fonzi !
- 9. The 鍖nest things in life are timeless . . . Exactly thirty 鍖ves years prior to stammering and stuttering WOW during the 2013 BCS Championship Game . . . Brent was thinking WOW in 78
- 10. Rookie Ricky - Lonely VIP Brunch Speaker Ricky Bell: USC National Champion 75 - Heisman Runner-Up 76 - AFC Rookie of the Year 77 - Died 84 American Express VIP Brunch speaker-turned new friend at Pre-Game Party Rev and I spent an hour visiting with Ricky during brunch. Ricky, who referred to himself as Rookie Ricky, had recently signed the highest rookie contract in NFL history but more importantly, he was a great guy and fun to be with. Ricky also con鍖rmed for us that it was actually his older brother Archie, of Archie Bell & The Drells, that got all the girls. Archie sung Tighten Up back in 1968. Deacon Jones was a great speaker . . . Jack Nicklaus was boring and seemed a perfect choice for the sedate AMEX Execs.
- 11. Game Time Rev and I glide 30 feet out of the AMEX party into some nice seats on the 47 yard line We were inconvenienced one time when we were asked to scoot two seats to the left Zim and Fonzi 鍖nd us with three minutes left in the game and gave us the Bumper Sticker version of their incredible exploits and the War & Peace version of the Phyllis-Kissing. At the 2:00 Minute Warning we walked on the 鍖eld and watched the remainder of the game on the Dallas Cowboy sideline. I nearly lost my hand in a High Five with Ed Too Tall Jones. Proceed to the next slide to see what happened next . . . 69 Tall - 106 career sacks
- 12. Cowboy Victory Dallas 27 Denver 10 Cowboy Celebration . . . No doubt about it, Rev is looking grand on the 鍖eld!
- 13. Cowboy Victory On-Field Celebration with Tom Landry For some reason, I dont have many, make that any, horizontal striped sweaters in my closet anymore . . .
- 14. Greeked-Out & Ready Zim Greeked-Out and looking sharp as he stands On-Deck for interview
- 15. Neigbors see and know EVERYTHING Neighbor/Friend Ann Brand runs next door to ask Don Do you know where Denny is? Don replies . . . the games over so hes probably back at the library
- 16. . . . so then Ann says I Told You So! Now Don revises his reply. . .It looks like Denny and that 鍖ne young man, Jim Stewart, are doing some team study in the locker-library with Tony Dorsett.
- 17. The Jersey Efren Herrara responded I dont need it anymore so I then owned his jersey. It served us well, my brother Kevin used it as a practice jersey while toiling away for the Kirkwood Cardinals.
- 18. The Super Bowl Shrine Rev visited the despondent Bronco locker room and found Steve Foleys jersey. Shultz, Revs stunning and personable college sweetheart (Mary) assembled the above Super Bowl Shrine after 20 years of marriage.
- 19. Back to State U We did NOT run off the road as we did in icy conditions on our way down to New Orleans. Our waitress somewhere in Arkansas informed us that Fonzi and Rev were in her newspaper. As I recall, we gave her a nice tip and she gave us her newspaper. I cant recall a minute during the drive that we werent sharing and comparing stories. All of our buddies back at State U saw us on TV; some were happy for us, some were not. A group of us went to Bogarts Monday night to celebrate . . . we got involved in a Dust-Up with some guys. Maybe we shouldnt have worn our jerseys Fonzi, Zim Rev and I have never had an of鍖cial Super Bowl Reunion . . . Maybe its time!