fun facts

[JohnH19]

That's hilarious!

[Gary Najman]

That's hilarious!

Another hilarious story (for the record, the referee of that game was Tom Dooley (#6)).

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... id-referee

Steve Young might be the only player in football history to get a call because a referee wanted him to make a call.

In the Hall of Famer's new autobiography -- a section of which showed up in Peter King's MMQB column this week -- Young describes an incident early in his NFL career that is quite literally hard to believe.

Partway through the second quarter I'm in the huddle when the head referee taps me on the shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he says. I step away from the huddle. "Hey, listen, my daughter's going to BYU," he whispers. Next thing I know he starts trying to convince me that I should meet his daughter. "I'd like you to take her out," he says. I cannot believe this. We're in the middle of a game! "Oh, okay," I said. "What's her name?" He tells me and I return to the huddle.

If that was the end of it, it'd still be an excellent tale worthy of inclusion in any life story. But Young has a kicker that takes things to the next level.

Late in the game we're down 31-23 and I'm trying to mount a comeback. I scramble out of the pocket and take a brutal hit. It causes me to fumble just before the whistle blows to stop the play. I am lying on the ground when the defense recovers the loose ball, all but sealing our defeat. Suddenly out of nowhere a yellow flag lands next to me. The referee whose daughter is headed to BYU calls a personal foul on the defense. First down, Tampa Bay. I get up and brush myself off. Then the ref walks past me and whispers she likes Italian food.

After consulting the ever-valuable Pro-Football-Reference.com, we can say the game in Young's story took place on Dec. 15, 1985. Even with the mystery official's assistance, the Bucs still lost 31-23 on their way to a 2-14 finish.

Did Young ever call that BYU incoming freshman? It's unclear, but you can preorder Young's book now.

[BD Sullivan]

FWIW, Young didn't get married until 2000 and his wife went to Arizona. They didn't meet until the early 1990's.

[JWL]

Wade Key- Wade raises quarter horses during the off-season.
Steve Dils- Steve enjoys reading during his leisure time.
Mike Dawson- Mike enjoys training dogs.
Bob Vogel- Bob is a partner in a hog raising enterprise!
Charlie Sanders- Charlie's hobby is woodwork.
Dwight Harrison- Dwight is interested in forestry.
Stu Voigt- Stu enjoys reading.
Bill Sandeman- Bills works as an abalone diver.
Ken Greene- Ken has a golden retriever named Louis.
Garo Yepremian- Garo makes neckties during the off season.
Gary Barbaro- Gary played the trombone in his high school band.

[Todd Pence]

Cards that never made it--
2007: "Michael trains dogs for sport."
2009: "Plaxico has become a believer in gun safety."
2015: "Tom misplaced his cellphone."

2007: "O.J. is an avid collector of sports memorabilia."

"O.J. often has trouble getting his glove to fit on before a game."

[JWL]

Jim Turner- Jim does charity work for a hamburger company.
Toni Fritsch- Toni once worked as an importer-exporter of antiques in Austria.
Jack Reynolds- Jack once used a hacksaw to cut a 1953 Chevy in half.
Jerrel Wilson- Jerrel made an instructional film on the art of punting.
Ralph Anderson- Ralph enjoys horseback riding.
Donny Anderson- Donny is a left-footed punter.
Cas Banaszek- Cas is an excellent golfer.
Dan Conners- Dan is associated with a firm which manufactures athletic mouthguards.

[Reaser]

Jerrel Wilson- Jerrel made an instructional film on the art of punting.

This would be cool to see.

[Todd Pence]

Ralph Anderson- Ralph enjoys horseback riding.

Is that the same Ralph Anderson who was leading the Chargers in receiving in their inaugural season in LA, only to drop dead the morning of a game in which he was scheduled to play in?

[JWL]

Ralph Anderson- Ralph enjoys horseback riding.

Is that the same Ralph Anderson who was leading the Chargers in receiving in their inaugural season in LA, only to drop dead the morning of a game in which he was scheduled to play in?

No, it was a Ralph Anderson who played with the Patriots.

[sheajets]

That's hilarious!

Another hilarious story (for the record, the referee of that game was Tom Dooley (#6)).

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... id-referee

Steve Young might be the only player in football history to get a call because a referee wanted him to make a call.

In the Hall of Famer's new autobiography -- a section of which showed up in Peter King's MMQB column this week -- Young describes an incident early in his NFL career that is quite literally hard to believe.

Partway through the second quarter I'm in the huddle when the head referee taps me on the shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he says. I step away from the huddle. "Hey, listen, my daughter's going to BYU," he whispers. Next thing I know he starts trying to convince me that I should meet his daughter. "I'd like you to take her out," he says. I cannot believe this. We're in the middle of a game! "Oh, okay," I said. "What's her name?" He tells me and I return to the huddle.

If that was the end of it, it'd still be an excellent tale worthy of inclusion in any life story. But Young has a kicker that takes things to the next level.

Late in the game we're down 31-23 and I'm trying to mount a comeback. I scramble out of the pocket and take a brutal hit. It causes me to fumble just before the whistle blows to stop the play. I am lying on the ground when the defense recovers the loose ball, all but sealing our defeat. Suddenly out of nowhere a yellow flag lands next to me. The referee whose daughter is headed to BYU calls a personal foul on the defense. First down, Tampa Bay. I get up and brush myself off. Then the ref walks past me and whispers she likes Italian food.

After consulting the ever-valuable Pro-Football-Reference.com, we can say the game in Young's story took place on Dec. 15, 1985. Even with the mystery official's assistance, the Bucs still lost 31-23 on their way to a 2-14 finish.

Did Young ever call that BYU incoming freshman? It's unclear, but you can preorder Young's book now.

Interesting tale, but some gift call. In the pre 2pt conversion era this game was likely over anyway. Young needed those calls when the Bucs went up 23-17 in the 4th and the Colts were trying to take the lead back.

I actually took it upon myself as an aborted midnight challenge to identify who the ref is...I'm sure there is game film somewhere where you can find out (or surviving programs)

Though there is this nagging part of me kind of troubled by this account. Even if it was between two bottom feeding teams in a game likely over already.