A stroll down memory lane

Saint_LB · 02-13-2005, 10:58 AM

I remember one Sunday afternoon as a teen-ager, hanging out at a friend's house, watching the Saints on TV as they were playing the Lions. In typical Saints" fashion, they had just given up a score to the Lions in the waning seconds of the game to put the Lions ahead by a point or two, I can't remember the exact score. Anyway, after the kick-off, the Saints found themselves approximately 80 yards away, and needing a field goal to win the game. There was less than 30 seconds left. Kilmer comes in, and throws a sideline route to Al Dodd, I believe it was, for about 10 or so yards, and follows that with another sideline route to Abramowicz, for about the same amount of yards. So, with about 3 seconds left on the clock, the Saints find themselves around their own 45, and me and my friend start to walk out the door to go throw the football in the front yard. But, I said to him that we should at least just watch the last play, since we had watched the rest of the game up to that point. About that time the announcer starts saying something about the Saints looking like they were sending the field goal team in. My friend and I looked at each other and said something like, "yeah, right!" But, there they came, and there he was...Dempsey lining up for a 63 yard field goal attempt. Well, the rest is history, and I sure am glad that I decided to see that one through. I remember seeing Alex Karrass on the Johnny Carson show later talking about that kick, and saying something like..."Yeah, I decided I would just bump my man and roll over and watch and have a good laugh. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing." This has got to be one of the all-time greatest moments in Saints history, IMHO. The only thing that I can think of that would challenge that moment was the Hakim fumble at the end of our first playoff victory.

saintswhodi · 02-13-2005, 12:18 PM

Nice trip back LB. I don\'t believe I was alive back then(not trying to make you feel old), but I appreciate when people reminisce about their real life experineces with moments in Saints history. That had to be a great feeling. IF you have any more, please share.

JKool · 02-13-2005, 01:14 PM

Nicely done LB.

That was a nice change of pace.

Saint_LB · 02-13-2005, 02:31 PM

Thanks, SW, JK, the change of pace was kinda the intention. We get so focused on debating, often wearing out the same topics, that I thought this would give people a chance to read something just for the pleasure of it, and not feel compelled to debate about it. If you guys would like to share your fondest memories, I would be all ears, or eyes I should say.

SW, I do have stories that pop into my head from time to time, and usually I just keep them to myself for fear of making an idiot of myself, or, look like some old geezer(sp?) just rambling on.

JKool · 02-13-2005, 02:34 PM

We should have a \"Saints Memories\" thread (of course, that means good memories - no \"I remember that -25 yard pass AB threw\"). That would be fun. I\'ve only been a fan since the mid-80s, so there is lots of history I\'d love to hear - especially as told by fans (rather than the somewhat aceptic reports from the news).

Feel free to keep sharing LB.

turbo_dog · 02-13-2005, 02:40 PM

I\'ve seen the replay and was always amazed that with his straight-on style it looked like he didn\'t even kick it that hard.

alsaints113 · 02-13-2005, 02:41 PM

Since I\'m only about 27 years old, by best memory was the Hakim fumble. I yelled so loud that night I lost my voice for a few days. Let\'s hope for some more betterm emories in the future.

saintswhodi · 02-13-2005, 03:43 PM

SW, I am definitely with JKool. If you got more, let\'s hear \'em. Myself, the first memories I had as a fan was when Bum Phillips started coaching here. Those are my first memories as a Saints fan.

Saint_LB · 02-13-2005, 05:14 PM

Here\'s some stuff about Archie that I thought I would share...

Having grown up in Mississippi, naturally I became an Ole Miss fan, and the Archie years at Ole Miss is a time in my life that I will cherish forever. Archie was a lot of fun to watch during his time with the Saints, but it was really his college years that were the most exciting. It really wasn\'t so much what he accomplished there, because the numbers are not all that, but it was the way he went about doing it. There were times when he would scramble from one sideline to the other and then back again before he would hit his receiver down the field for a long gainer, or, just tuck the ball and run for the first down.

It was in his Sr. year at Ole Miss, when a buddy of mine and I were riding around in the neighborhood in his VW beetle, trying to shake the bushes for young ladies. He had to stop at his house for a second, and I was sitting outside in the VW listening to the game on the radio. They were playing Houston, in Houston, on artificial turf. It was with great displeasure that I had to break the news to my buddy that while he was in his house, Archie had gone down on the turf, had put his hand out to break his fall, and instead, broke his arm when the turf did not allow his hand to slide. We were so upset, you would\'ve thought that we had just returned from our best friend\'s funeral, or something.

That was somewhere around the 6th or 7th game of the season, and we were sure that we had seen the last of Archie for that year. However, in the last regular game of the season, against, you guessed it, LSU, Archie came back and played with a cast from his shoulder to his wrist, Obviously it was his left arm, so he could still throw the ball, but it was very awkward looking. I\'m talking about a full-blown cast like you always see on someone with a broken arm, and there he was, playing against LSU. In Ole Miss\' first possession, he led them to a TD, and I don\'t know if I have ever been more excited in my life. The excitement was short-lived, however, because LSU ended up pounding Ole Miss something like 69-17. To make matters worse for me, a friend of mine at school who was a big LSU fan, offered me Ole Miss and 50 points, to which I jumped on immediately...for like a dollar. I lost.

Anyway, Archie went on to play in the Gator Bowl that year, and the Hula bowl. As time went on, the cast got smaller. It seems to me, though, that he played his whole career with some sort of pad over that part of his arm, because I think they installed a plate in that part of his arm.

Later, in the spring of the following year, Archie was selected in the first round of the draft by the Saints, and I think he was the second player selected overall. He had finished 4th in the Heisman his Jr. year, and 3rd his Sr. year, behind Theisman (2nd), and Plunkett, who won it.

In his debut game with the Saints, he started against the Rams. The game came down to one play at the end of the game, where Archie kinda bootlegged the ball to the left, if my memory serves me correct, and was met at the goal-line by Deacon Jones. Archie dove head-first into Jones and the pile, and was able to stretch the ball over the goal-line for a game-winning TD. One final note, however. I believe that if they would have had instant replay challenges back then, the score would have been negated, because it seems that when I remember looking at that replay, his knee actually hit before the ball got across the goal line...but it was close, very close.

saintswhodi · 02-13-2005, 05:18 PM

Now that is classic. I always enjoy highlights of Archie. Since I never got to see him live, it\'s all i\'ve got. I have seen Saints highlights but NEVER Ole Miss highlights of Archie. Thanks.

02-13-2005, 10:58 AM	#1
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	A stroll down memory lane I remember one Sunday afternoon as a teen-ager, hanging out at a friend's house, watching the Saints on TV as they were playing the Lions. In typical Saints" fashion, they had just given up a score to the Lions in the waning seconds of the game to put the Lions ahead by a point or two, I can't remember the exact score. Anyway, after the kick-off, the Saints found themselves approximately 80 yards away, and needing a field goal to win the game. There was less than 30 seconds left. Kilmer comes in, and throws a sideline route to Al Dodd, I believe it was, for about 10 or so yards, and follows that with another sideline route to Abramowicz, for about the same amount of yards. So, with about 3 seconds left on the clock, the Saints find themselves around their own 45, and me and my friend start to walk out the door to go throw the football in the front yard. But, I said to him that we should at least just watch the last play, since we had watched the rest of the game up to that point. About that time the announcer starts saying something about the Saints looking like they were sending the field goal team in. My friend and I looked at each other and said something like, "yeah, right!" But, there they came, and there he was...Dempsey lining up for a 63 yard field goal attempt. Well, the rest is history, and I sure am glad that I decided to see that one through. I remember seeing Alex Karrass on the Johnny Carson show later talking about that kick, and saying something like..."Yeah, I decided I would just bump my man and roll over and watch and have a good laugh. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing." This has got to be one of the all-time greatest moments in Saints history, IMHO. The only thing that I can think of that would challenge that moment was the Hakim fumble at the end of our first playoff victory.
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894

02-13-2005, 12:18 PM	#2
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	A stroll down memory lane Nice trip back LB. I don\'t believe I was alive back then(not trying to make you feel old), but I appreciate when people reminisce about their real life experineces with moments in Saints history. That had to be a great feeling. IF you have any more, please share.

02-13-2005, 01:14 PM	#3
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	A stroll down memory lane Nicely done LB. That was a nice change of pace.

02-13-2005, 02:31 PM	#4
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	A stroll down memory lane Thanks, SW, JK, the change of pace was kinda the intention. We get so focused on debating, often wearing out the same topics, that I thought this would give people a chance to read something just for the pleasure of it, and not feel compelled to debate about it. If you guys would like to share your fondest memories, I would be all ears, or eyes I should say. SW, I do have stories that pop into my head from time to time, and usually I just keep them to myself for fear of making an idiot of myself, or, look like some old geezer(sp?) just rambling on.
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!

02-13-2005, 02:34 PM	#5
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	A stroll down memory lane We should have a \"Saints Memories\" thread (of course, that means good memories - no \"I remember that -25 yard pass AB threw\"). That would be fun. I\'ve only been a fan since the mid-80s, so there is lots of history I\'d love to hear - especially as told by fans (rather than the somewhat aceptic reports from the news). Feel free to keep sharing LB.

Latest Blogs
2023 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Last Blog: 08-01-2023 By: MarchingOn Puck the Fro Browl! Last Blog: 02-05-2023 By: neugey CFP: "Just Keep Doing What You're Doing" Last Blog: 12-08-2022 By: neugey

02-13-2005, 02:40 PM	#6
turbo_dog 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,592	A stroll down memory lane I\'ve seen the replay and was always amazed that with his straight-on style it looked like he didn\'t even kick it that hard.

02-13-2005, 02:41 PM	#7
alsaints113 Registered Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 95	A stroll down memory lane Since I\'m only about 27 years old, by best memory was the Hakim fumble. I yelled so loud that night I lost my voice for a few days. Let\'s hope for some more betterm emories in the future.
alsaints113 Registered Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 95

02-13-2005, 03:43 PM	#8
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	A stroll down memory lane SW, I am definitely with JKool. If you got more, let\'s hear \'em. Myself, the first memories I had as a fan was when Bum Phillips started coaching here. Those are my first memories as a Saints fan.

02-13-2005, 05:14 PM	#9
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	A stroll down memory lane Here\'s some stuff about Archie that I thought I would share... Having grown up in Mississippi, naturally I became an Ole Miss fan, and the Archie years at Ole Miss is a time in my life that I will cherish forever. Archie was a lot of fun to watch during his time with the Saints, but it was really his college years that were the most exciting. It really wasn\'t so much what he accomplished there, because the numbers are not all that, but it was the way he went about doing it. There were times when he would scramble from one sideline to the other and then back again before he would hit his receiver down the field for a long gainer, or, just tuck the ball and run for the first down. It was in his Sr. year at Ole Miss, when a buddy of mine and I were riding around in the neighborhood in his VW beetle, trying to shake the bushes for young ladies. He had to stop at his house for a second, and I was sitting outside in the VW listening to the game on the radio. They were playing Houston, in Houston, on artificial turf. It was with great displeasure that I had to break the news to my buddy that while he was in his house, Archie had gone down on the turf, had put his hand out to break his fall, and instead, broke his arm when the turf did not allow his hand to slide. We were so upset, you would\'ve thought that we had just returned from our best friend\'s funeral, or something. That was somewhere around the 6th or 7th game of the season, and we were sure that we had seen the last of Archie for that year. However, in the last regular game of the season, against, you guessed it, LSU, Archie came back and played with a cast from his shoulder to his wrist, Obviously it was his left arm, so he could still throw the ball, but it was very awkward looking. I\'m talking about a full-blown cast like you always see on someone with a broken arm, and there he was, playing against LSU. In Ole Miss\' first possession, he led them to a TD, and I don\'t know if I have ever been more excited in my life. The excitement was short-lived, however, because LSU ended up pounding Ole Miss something like 69-17. To make matters worse for me, a friend of mine at school who was a big LSU fan, offered me Ole Miss and 50 points, to which I jumped on immediately...for like a dollar. I lost. Anyway, Archie went on to play in the Gator Bowl that year, and the Hula bowl. As time went on, the cast got smaller. It seems to me, though, that he played his whole career with some sort of pad over that part of his arm, because I think they installed a plate in that part of his arm. Later, in the spring of the following year, Archie was selected in the first round of the draft by the Saints, and I think he was the second player selected overall. He had finished 4th in the Heisman his Jr. year, and 3rd his Sr. year, behind Theisman (2nd), and Plunkett, who won it. In his debut game with the Saints, he started against the Rams. The game came down to one play at the end of the game, where Archie kinda bootlegged the ball to the left, if my memory serves me correct, and was met at the goal-line by Deacon Jones. Archie dove head-first into Jones and the pile, and was able to stretch the ball over the goal-line for a game-winning TD. One final note, however. I believe that if they would have had instant replay challenges back then, the score would have been negated, because it seems that when I remember looking at that replay, his knee actually hit before the ball got across the goal line...but it was close, very close.
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!

02-13-2005, 05:18 PM	#10
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	A stroll down memory lane Now that is classic. I always enjoy highlights of Archie. Since I never got to see him live, it\'s all i\'ve got. I have seen Saints highlights but NEVER Ole Miss highlights of Archie. Thanks.