g-dawg Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I was born in 1966 and we moved to Atlanta are when I was only 4 years old in 1970. I probably became interested in pro football by the time I was 7 years old in 1973. The 1970's were dominated by a handful of teams - Steelers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Vikings and Raiders - it was really a golden age of football as there was not much parity but these teams above and a handful of others were really good - and each team really seemed to have their own style.While I quickly became a Falcon fan, the 70's were mostly forgettable as a Falcon fan except for one year when we had a really boss defense in the Humphrey/Zook days.By 1975, I had adopted the Raiders as my favorite "non-Atlanta" team. They were a collection of misfit toys that were assembled together - guys with swagger, toughness and a willingness to play to the whistle and a little past and a desire to just go out and kick total azz. There were guys like Dave Casper(TE), Fred Bilitenkoff(WR), Cliff Branch(WR), Gene Upshaw(OL), Art Shell(OL), Mark Van Eegan(FB), Ted Hendricks(LB), Phil Villipiano(LB), Otis Sistrunk(DE), Jon Matuzak(DE), Willie Brown(CB), George Atkinson(SS), and Jack Tatum(FS) - these guys were straight nasty!Well the leader of them all was the Quarterback himself - Kenny "The Snake" Stabler. He grew up in the country in Foley, Alabama and played for none other than Bear Bryant at Roll **** Tide Nation - Bear Bryant said he was the best QB he ever had - and that is saying something. Stabler had the long hair, the beard and the confident swagger that seemed out-of-place to go with his country boy southern twang - but make no mistake - Stabler was a competitor through and through and had nerves of steel - with the game on the line, you wanted the ball in #12's hands - he was a riverboat gambler. Stabler was one of the first QBs that called his own plays. While his stats were not prolific, Ken Stabler had a HOF career in an age where QB stats don't stack up to today's game.Stabler led the Oakland Raiders to a SuperBowl victory in the 1976/1977 season where they crushed Fran Tarkenton and the Minnesota Vikings in Superbowl XI. Had it not been for the Steelers and Dolphins excellent teams, Stabler could have had another 2-3 more SB wins - they were always in the mix and a tough out.Stabler passed away yesterday at the age of 69 from colon cancer. He will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romfal Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 real shame he is not in the HoF. RIP Ken. Always fun to watch highlights from that era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Man was a dog - but he was a dog that stood on his own ground. May he RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrimsonFalcon Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 As a distant relative of the Snake, I can tell you he will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5CTKlF45Ds^^^The Autumn Wind is a Raider....for you youngsters that don't know what the old, nasty Raider teams were like - this one minute video is a good introduction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazbykr Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Raiders were Badasz when he was there. They were fun to watch. rip Kenny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 Kenny Stabler - "bad to the bone"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtOOmr5b7QEhere is 9 minute vid featuring Stabler....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6_PY4WbrDo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHEC Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Not falcons related, but RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironhead1956 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 One of my favorites. R.I.P.. Met him at old Fulton County Stadium when he was broadcasting the game on radio. We had a few drinks and shot the shat. He was COOL. Dam shame those bastads didn't put him in the hall while he was alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadfishtom Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) One of the all time great players,its a crime that he's not in the HOF Edited July 10, 2015 by toadfishtom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 One of my favorites. R.I.P.. Met him at old Fulton County Stadium when he was broadcasting the game on radio. We had a few drinks and shot the shat. He was COOL. Dam shame those bastads didn't put him in the hall while he was alive.so jealous - that would have been cool to sit down and have a drink with the Snake - God rest his soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 btw you 40+ yr olds, get your azz checked out w/ a colonoscopy every 5 years - it sucks but better than dying. I get to experience the joy of this fun procedure in 10 days.Very curable disease if caught early - but us men hate going to the doc - especially azz related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironhead1956 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 btw you 40+ yr olds, get your azz checked out w/ a colonoscopy every 5 years - it sucks but better than dying. I get to experience the joy of this fun procedure in 10 days.Very curable disease if caught early - but us men hate going to the doc - especially azz related.Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Door Gunner Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I was born in GA, but grew up in Santa Cara less than 10 minutes from where Levi stadium was built. I was a huge Raider fan growing up. I still have my silver and black attack shirt packed away somewhere. Then Mr Davis %$#ed us fans and moved to LA. The Snake was one of the best. He will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironhead1956 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 so jealous - that would have been cool to sit down and have a drink with the Snake - God rest his soul.It was! I just lucked out. With the right friends of course. Also met Summerall (sp.) and saw Brent musberger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 It was! I just lucked out. With the right friends of course. Also met Summerall (sp.) and saw Brent musberger.I sat next to Summerall in first class from ATL to CHI - looked over before we took off and said "are you Pat Summerall?" - in the trademark deep voice he say "yes" - he was drinking his orange juice and vodka - i could tell he did not want to be bothered so that was all that was said - dude is tall - like 6'4" - I'm 6'0" and felt like a midget next to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_Lo_Touchdowns Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 A bit before my time but I heard stories of this guy thru my uncles. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironhead1956 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 I sat next to Summerall in first class from ATL to CHI - looked over before we took off and said "are you Pat Summerall?" - in the trademark deep voice he say "yes" - he was drinking his orange juice and vodka - i could tell he did not want to be bothered so that was all that was said - dude is tall - like 6'4" - I'm 6'0" and felt like a midget next to him.Cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hashbrown3 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 I was born in 1966 and we moved to Atlanta are when I was only 4 years old in 1970. I probably became interested in pro football by the time I was 7 years old in 1973. The 1970's were dominated by a handful of teams - Steelers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Vikings and Raiders - it was really a golden age of football as there was not much parity but these teams above and a handful of others were really good - and each team really seemed to have their own style.While I quickly became a Falcon fan, the 70's were mostly forgettable as a Falcon fan except for one year when we had a really boss defense in the Humphrey/Zook days.By 1975, I had adopted the Raiders as my favorite "non-Atlanta" team. They were a collection of misfit toys that were assembled together - guys with swagger, toughness and a willingness to play to the whistle and a little past and a desire to just go out and kick total azz. There were guys like Dave Casper(TE), Fred Bilitenkoff(WR), Cliff Branch(WR), Gene Upshaw(OL), Art Shell(OL), Mark Van Eegan(FB), Ted Hendricks(LB), Phil Villipiano(LB), Otis Sistrunk(DE), Jon Matuzak(DE), Willie Brown(CB), George Atkinson(SS), and Jack Tatum(FS) - these guys were straight nasty!Well the leader of them all was the Quarterback himself - Kenny "The Snake" Stabler. He grew up in the country in Foley, Alabama and played for none other than Bear Bryant at Roll **** Tide Nation - Bear Bryant said he was the best QB he ever had - and that is saying something. Stabler had the long hair, the beard and the confident swagger that seemed out-of-place to go with his country boy southern twang - but make no mistake - Stabler was a competitor through and through and had nerves of steel - with the game on the line, you wanted the ball in #12's hands - he was a riverboat gambler. Stabler was one of the first QBs that called his own plays. While his stats were not prolific, Ken Stabler had a HOF career in an age where QB stats don't stack up to today's game.Stabler led the Oakland Raiders to a SuperBowl victory in the 1976/1977 season where they crushed Fran Tarkenton and the Minnesota Vikings in Superbowl XI. Had it not been for the Steelers and Dolphins excellent teams, Stabler could have had another 2-3 more SB wins - they were always in the mix and a tough out.Stabler passed away yesterday at the age of 69 from colon cancer. He will be missed. Man that list of dudes just brings back memories. The list of names you mention above were the very guys who actually burned in the legend of nastiness that lives today!!! Straight nasty is right man... rest easy snake you were one fierce competitor!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBird8711 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) As a Longtime Falcon fan who also has a high level of respect for the raiders.....This Sucks R.I.P Stabler....... This is definitely a dark time for the Raider Nation.... Edited July 11, 2015 by DirtyBird8711 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Francis Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 He will be missed. Roll Tide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconfootballfan Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 There is a special on one of the sports channels that has been looped this weekend showing an exciting 1977 playoff game between the Baltimore Colts and the Oakland Raiders. It is the famous "Ghost to the Post" game with Dave Casper catching the winning touchdown in double overtime in a great game. Ken Stabler is featured prominently but there is a lot of information about both teams and the high quality of both rosters is highlighted. (Matt Ryan and the Falcons desperately need a skilled tight end like Casper.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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