Striking Similarities Between 2011 San Francisco 49ers and the Franchise’s First Super Bowl Champion in 1981

COMMENTARY | I’ve been rooting for the San Francisco 49ers for a LONG time. Since November 17, 1968 to be exact.

On that Sunday, in game 10 of 14 in the 1968 regular season, the 49ers hosted the then-archrival Los Angeles Rams at old Kezar Stadium. The teams battled to a 20-20 tie. Back then, there was no overtime. 60 minutes was it.

The tie made the 49ers’ record 4-5-1 and the Rams’ record 8-1-1.

At the time, I had just turned 10 years old. I was living where I’ve lived most of my life — in central New Jersey. It just so happened that this 49ers-Rams game was televised as the “late” game by what was then the local CBS affiliate — Channel 10, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, Pa.

After watching that game, I had a favorite team to root for — the 49ers — and a favorite player – 49ers quarterback John Brodie.

As it turned out, there were some other excellent players on that 1968 49ers team, which finished 7-6-1 and did not qualify for the NFL playoffs.

They included linebacker Dave Wilcox and cornerback Jimmy Johnson, who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Brodie is not in the Hall of Fame. But I believe he is deserving of the honor and hope he will be inducted some day.)

And Ken Willard was a strong fullback. In 1968, the fullback was the primary running back, not a blocker as is the case today.

Also keep in mind that in 1968, there were two professional football leagues — the NFL, in which the 49ers competed, and the old AFL (American Football League).

I’ve written the handful of paragraphs above to underscore the fact that I am NOT a bandwagon fan of the 49ers. I was rooting for the 49ers when they were still playing in Kezar Stadium in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and Joe Montana was growing up in western Pennsylvania. In November 1968, Montana, the quarterback who led the 49ers to four Super Bowl championships in the 1980s, was just 12 years old.

Today is January 20, 2012. So I’ve now been a fan of the 49ers for more than 43 years.

The fact is I know my 49ers. I, of course, have the benefit of longevity on my side.

And as I write, the 49ers are back in the National Football Conference playoffs for the first time since 2002 as the champion of the NFC West Division. They earned a first-round bye and a second seed in the NFC playoffs as a result of a 13-3 finish in the 2011 regular season.

The 49ers opened the playoffs by taking a shootout in the divisional round, 36-32, at home — Candlestick Park — on Saturday, Jan. 14, from the third-seed, the New Orleans Saints, the champion of the NFC South.

This Sunday, Jan. 22, the 49ers will host at Candlestick the fourth-seeded New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. The Giants upset the top-seed and the defending Super Bowl champion, the Green Bay Packers, 37-20, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Since I know my 49ers, I’ve decided to share with you some striking similarities between the 2011 49ers and the legendary 1981 team that won the franchise’s first of five Super Bowl championships and began an amazing run of dominance that lasted for more than 20 years.

Bill Walsh was the head coach in 1981. He is in the Hall of Fame along with three players from the 1981 team – Montana, safety Ronnie Lott and defensive end Fred Dean.

Since I know my 49ers, there was no need for the media to remind me of any of this information. All I needed to look up was the home and road records of the 2011 and 1981 teams to confirm my suspicion.

For me as a 49ers fan, it would be incredible if the 2011 team could win out and become Super Bowl champion. It would tie the 49ers with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference for the most Super Bowl championships – six.

But if the 49ers fall short in either the NFC championship game or the Super Bowl, it has been a great season that I didn’t expect and that I’ll always remember, just as the 1981 season was something that I didn’t expect and that I’ll always remember.

Without further adieu, here are the striking similarities fresh from my memory between the 1981 San Francisco 49ers that won Super Bowl XVI and the 2011 49ers, who are hoping to have a chance to win Super Bowl XLVI:

1980 and 2010 regular season record: 6-10

1981 and 2011: nine years since winning last NFC Western Division championship (1972 and 2002)

1981 and 2011 regular season record: 13-3

1981 and 2011 home record: 7-1 (looked this up and was correct)

1981 and 2011 road record: 6-2 (looked this up and was correct)

1981 and 2011: head coach hired by 49ers from Stanford (the “Genius” — Bill Walsh — for the 1979 season and Jim Harbaugh for the 2011 season)

1981 and 2011: a last-second catch wins a playoff game (Montana to Dwight Clark – “The Catch” upsets the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game and Alex Smith to Vernon Davis – “The Grab” – lifts the 49ers past New Orleans in the 2011 divisional round)

1981 and 2011: 49ers have a player wearing uniform 49, which is not always the case — Earl Cooper and now Bruce Miller (Ironically, both players are listed as playing the same position — fullback.)

1981 and 2011: NFC championship game at Candlestick with 49ers looking to made a breakthrough against a team with much more playoff experience (Dallas in 1981 and the Giants in 2011)

1981 and 2011: 49ers in 2011 are wearing the uniforms from the glory era — scarlet, 49ers gold and white.


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