Storyline: A lot of people remember that Super Bowl XXXIII was played in Houston, but–ah, age is telling–not as many remember Super Bowl VIII.
72,000 fans packed into Rick Stadium to watch the game (photo, Houston Chronicle)
In honor of the Super Bowl being played in Houston this year I’m going to take a look at what happened there over 40 years ago.
On January 12, 1974, to be specific–in Super Bowl VIII. The game was played at Rice Stadium where the Rice University Owls play.
Up until that time the Super Bowl had always been played in LA, Miami, or New Orleans. So it was extraordinary when NFL owners got together in Honolulu in March, 1972 to decide that the ’74 game would be played in Houston.
The game was played between between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins won, 24-7, making them the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Green Bay Packers did it in Super Bowls 1-2.
1974 Super Bowl (photo, MyAmi305)
The game would also offer another first. Miami’s Larry Csonka was named Super Bowl MVP, the first running back to win the award. He won it with 145 rushing yards on 33 carries.
And the game would also be “a last.” It was the last Super Bowl to feature the goal posts in front of the end zone rather than behind the end zones.
The reason the game has meaning for me is because I grew up in Houston as an avid Houston sports fan. My parents had Oilers season tickets so I spent a lot of my Sundays at the Houston Astrodome–considered the 8th Wonder of the World in those days–watching players like Warren Moon and Earnest Givens.
I asked my father if he thought there was ever going to be a Super Bowl in Houston. He told me about Super Bowl VIII. While I didn’t get to see that game, I did see Super Bowl XXXVIII and, soon, I’ll be at Super Bowl LI.
A lot of people remember that SB XXXIII was played in Houston, but–ah, age is telling–not as many remember SB VIII. Thirty years make a difference.
When I tell people about it, they sometimes tell me to move forward. But, every once in a while, it’s good to take a look at the past.
