|
Wednesday, 07 December 2005 09:24 |
| Brad Norman
|
BOONE ?? Super Bowl champions are celebrated and recognized for achieving greatness, but rarely are they remembered.
Sure, fans of the team will remember the game, and the players and coaches will always remember the win, and likely find time to show off their Super Bowl rings whenever they can.
But if someone were to ask an average football fan who won the Super Bowl during the 1986-87 season, could they answer the question?
Not likely. (The answer, by the way, was the Denver Broncos, who defeated the N.Y. Giants 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI. And yes, I had to look it up.)
Then, pose a different question to that same football fan: What was the only undefeated team in NFL history?
The 1972 Miami Dolphins.
Most football fans would probably know it was the Dolphins.
The point is this: An undefeated team will be remembered forever, while Super Bowl winners fade away throughout the years.
The Indianapolis Colts, who are 12-0, have a legitimate shot at perfection ?? a storied 19-0 season.
While the Colts have, in years past, lived and died and won and lost
based on Peyton Manning??s performance, the strategy has altered this
year. And it was a good alteration.
Manning set numerous records last season ?? the quarterback from the
University of Tennessee passed for more than 4,500 yards and tossed 49
touchdowns, an all-time NFL record.
Despite the gaudy numbers, Manning played his worst football of the
season when it mattered the most: during the playoffs, in a 20-3 loss
against New England.
Manning attempted 42 passes in the loss, which is ridiculous given the
conditions. The Patriots had one of the best pass defenses in the
league, and the game was played in the snow, making it harder to throw
and catch footballs.
The Colts?? inability, or maybe their lack of desire, to consistently
run the ball has been one of the two reasons they could never ?®get over
the hump,?∆ so to speak.
This year, however, is an entirely different story.
Playing in a contract year, Colts starting running back Edgerrin James
is having perhaps his best season ever. James has already rushed for
1,347 yards in 12 games, which is second in the league behind Seattle
Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.
James has had more than 20 carries in every game this season, and has
averaged 4.4 yards per carry. He has also scored 13 touchdowns on the
ground.
Having a back that can be counted on to carry the ball 20 times every
game like James is like getting dealt pocket aces in a game of no-limit
Texas Hold ?¥Em: it may not fully guarantee you a win, but your chances
of success are extremely high.
Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a defensive mastermind, has also finally reached the Colts defense.
The Colts have 15 interceptions, 35 sacks and have given up only 18 touchdowns all season (compared to scoring 46).
Mixing a successful defense with an offense that is more reliant on the
run game, but still has the firepower to score 45 points, equals a team
that can go undefeated.
While the players and coaches are fully aware of their position, one wouldn??t know it from reading a newspaper article.
Dungy has led the ?®coach speak?∆ barrage, essentially saying the Colts??
main goal this season is to win a Super Bowl, and that the team
collectively does not care about finishing the regular season 16-0. And
that may be completely true.
Dungy, however, would be doing a disservice to the rest of his coaches
and players if he truly meant that going 16-0 was not a top priority.
Winning a Super Bowl should be the No.1 goal for every team in the
preseason. But once the season starts, goals always change. In lieu of
a 12-0 start and having the necessary ingredients to remain undefeated,
the
Colts should definitely shoot for a 19-0 overall season.
Dungy should recognize this opportunity and not bench starters the last
two weeks of the season so they will be well-rested in time for the
playoffs.
The Colts will earn a first-round bye, giving them time to rest. The
chance of injury will be the same in week 15 as it would be in the AFC
Title game.
Teams can compete for the Super Bowl every year. There will ALWAYS be a Super Bowl winner.
The chance of going undefeated rarely comes along. Dungy and the Colts should stop being a bunch of pansies and go for it.
?ÿ
Brad Norman, a senior at Appalachian State University, is the
editor-in-chief of The Appalachian, ASU??s twice-weekly student
newspaper.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
