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Those that know me best know that I am a bit of an encyclopedia of useless trivia. Since I have not been on a TV game show, such trivial knowledge has been reserved for such more mundane events as trivia board games or Super Bowl parties. At Super Bowl parties, I like to think that such knowledge “adds color” to the watching of the game. Maybe not as much color as say the airing of the latest Pepsi commercial during a break in the action, but then my comments are not the off-spring of a million dollar production budget. But for those who do not wish to clutter their brains with such tidbits of information as I have, I will offer a simple “cheat sheet” of trivia that can be used at next year’s Super Bowl party.
Back before the Game was called “Super”: The AFL - NFL Championship game.
Originally named the AFL - NFL Championship game, the Super Bowl would not receive its current name until the New York Jets met the Baltimore Colts for Super Bowl III. The name was then retro-actively assigned to the first two Championship games played.
Fewest Points scored in a Game: Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl VI.
Just a year before they were to have an undefeated season and win back to back titles, the Miami Dolphins fell a little bit short of “super” in their 1972 Super Bowl VI meeting with the Dallas Cowboys. Even though the Dolphin team had some of the same key players that would be vital to their success over the next few seasons, they managed to set a record for Super Bowl futility by just scoring three points against the Cowboys.
If at First you don’t succeed: Mike Lodish, most Super Bowl Appearances.
Mike Lodish holds the record for most appearances by a player in the Super Bowl with six. Mike a Defense of Tackle played his first four Super Bowls (XXV-XXVIII) as a member of the Buffalo Bills, who promptly lost all four. Mike then went on to play for the Denver Broncos who won Super Bowl’s XXXII and XXXIII. A side note to his record number of appearances is the fact that by playing in 6 Super Bowls Mike had to be on the side of six AFC Championship game winners.
Reaffirming who was the Best Defense of the 1970’s: Pittsburg Steelers, most Safeties by a Team.
There have only been five safeties scored in the History of the Super Bowl. Amazingly enough two of these came from one of the greatest defenses of all-times, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the mid seventies. The Steelers scored back to back safeties in their Super Bowls verses the Vikings (IX) and the Cowboys (X).
Best placed to have a career Day: Timmy Smith, most yards rushing in a game.
There is a long history of great running backs to have had memorable performances at the Super Bowl. This list includes performances by Larry Csonka, Franco Harris, John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Emmitt Smith and Terrell Davis, to name just a few. Yet the record for most yards rushing in a game is held by none of them. The record belongs to an obscured back who saved the best game of his short career for his Super Bowl appearance. Timmy Smith rushed for 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII. At the time Smith was making his first start in the NFL. No other player in Super Bowl history has broken the 200 yard mark.
Why pass when you can run: Miami Dolphins, Fewest Passes Attempted in a game.
There was a time in the NFL, when Super Bowls were dominated by defense and the running game. The Super Bowls of the early seventies were often “three yards and a cloud of dust” affairs, and no team exemplified this style better than the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowls VII and VIII. In both Super Bowls combined, Dolphin quarter back Bob Griese attempted just 18 passes. In the process Griese set the record for least passes attempted, first in Super Bowl VII with 11, and then in Super Bowl VIII with seven. Since then, the game has change so much that the record might never be broken.
Like Father like Son: Father and Son’s who have appeared in the Super Bowl.
There have been five sets of father and sons to have appeared in the Super Bowl. The most recent pair was Julius Adams (Patriots, XX), and his son Keith Adams Eagles (XXXIX). Before that there was Brian Griese (Denver, XXXIII) and his father Bob Griese (Dolphins VI, VII, VIII); Frank Cornish (Dolphins (VI), and his son Frank, Jr. Cowboys, XXVII and XXVIII); Tony Dorsett (Cowboys, XXII and XXIII), and Anthony Dorsett (Titans, XXXIV, XXXVII); Manu Tuiasosopo (49ers, XIX) and Marques Tuiasosopo (Raiders, XXXVIII).
So when every one else at the party is tossing around the same old Super Bowl trivia, you will be ready to impress them with a few more obscure facts.
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