History in the making? - Uncovering the Past

WHEN MERCURY MORRIS APPEARED on the cover of the December 1972 issue of FOOTBALL DIGEST, the Miami Dolphins were in the midst of making history. The problem was, nobody knew it. Nobody inside or outside the Dolphins locker room seemed to have an inkling that file team was on the verge of putting together the only perfect season ever in the NFL.

It's noteworthy that in the cover story on Morris, there was no mention of a potential perfect season--or even a trip to the Super Bowl, for that matter. Instead, the story focused on more mundane matters, like the Miami running back's training regimen.

That was the way it went for the Dolphins of 1972. They crept up on history, surprising even themselves when they put the finishing touches on their 17-0 season by beating the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl 7.

So how come nobody saw perfection coming? Because Miami's streak continually was in jeopardy. Those Dolphins were far from dominant: Six of their 17 games were decided by seven points or fewer, including their 14-7 victory in the Super Bowl. Somehow, though, they kept winning, even if they didn't earn many style points along the way.

On page 40, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of Miami's undefeated season by taking an inside look at how the events unfolded. Even today, three decades after the fact, there is a sense among the players that their accomplishment never has been fully appreciated. In the article, Hall-of-Famer Larry Little, a guard on that team, says: "We don't get the respect we deserved."

It's a shame they feel that way. After all, the numbers don't lie. Here's one that puts everything in perspective: The Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers had the best starts this season, both going 4-0 before they lost. That's a long, long way from 17-0.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group