The wisdom of Chuck Noll in Super Bowl X

[Rupert Patrick]

I was always a little surprised that Noll hung onto Walden for two more seasons following that game. I thought for sure the Steelers would have a new punter in 1976 following the punting dilemna that could have cost them Super Bowl X.

[Gary Najman]

I watched recently the 1977 Lions-Colts game when leading by 4, Baltimore punter David Lee's punt was blocked and returned for a TD by Leonard Thompson in the last play of the game, and Detroit won 13-10. The original NBC broadcast was cut short (as it appeared that Baltimore would won) and then switched to a Oakland game.

Both those games were on CBS, since the home teams of the non-conference contests were in the AFC. The Raiders were hosting the Vikings.

You're right, thanks for the correction.

[Gary Najman]

I was always a little surprised that Noll hung onto Walden for two more seasons following that game. I thought for sure the Steelers would have a new punter in 1976 following the punting dilemna that could have cost them Super Bowl X.

It's interesting that when I think of the two players of that era who trully resembled an old person (they were old-timers) were George Blanda and Bobby Walden. Walden appeared to be in his forties when he was 36 years old.

[Bryan]

A field goal would have won, but they would have started from the Michigan 38 with 6-7 seconds left. Maybe they get a quick down and out, but it still would have been a 50-yarder, at least.

Michigan had a 4th and 2 on Michigan State's 47 yard line, not from their own 38. Assuming Michigan's 4th down play fails to get a first down, then MSU would probably need to complete a pass and get out of bounds just to get into hail mary range. I don't know how many times a team has successfully pulled off a hail mary from their own half of the field, but I am guessing the odds are pretty low.