THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501290169
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jim Ducibella
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Long : 133 lines
Upset with the way the lowly San Diego Chargers have been treated leading up to tonight's Super Bowl XXIX with San Francisco?
History shows us there have been other longshots given even less of a chance of winning who have overcome the odds.
Here are five:
1. Baseball's New York Mets, a circus act their whole existence, were 100-1 longshots to win the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. You could identify most of the American League champs with just one name: Frank and Brooks, Boog and Belanger.
It wasn't supposed to be close - and it wasn't. The Mets won in five games.
2. Yeah, Al Michaels, we believe in miracles. What choice did we have after a 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team composed of collegians and minor leaguers that was ranked seventh out of the 12 Olympic entrants shocked the world by capturing the gold medal?
The Americans beat Finland in the finals, but the game everyone remembers happened Feb. 22, against the Soviets, who were the reigning world champions and hadn't lost a gold-medal game in 20 years.
At the end of the second period, the Soviets pulled legendary Vladislav Tretiak from goal. By the end of the game, they were 4-3 losers and Americans were dancing in the streets.
3. The Georgetown basketball team already had beaten Villanova three times in the 1983-84 season. The Hoyas were 9 1/2-point favorites to do it a fourth time, a victory that would make them the first NCAA champion to successfully defend its title since UCLA.
Villanova had been beaten 10 times and hadn't once appeared in what was then a top-20 poll. Georgetown had a 35-2 record entering the title game.
The Hoyas played well, making 29 of their 53 shots. Villanova was better, making 22 of 28 to win, 66-64.
4. All Las Vegas laughed at the thought of Buster Douglas fighting heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 1990. It was such a joke, you could win $35 for every $1 you bet - if Douglas could beat an opponent who was undefeated after 37 fights, 33 of them by knockout.
Douglas had one thing in his favor - a 12-inch reach advantage. Though Tyson slugged him to the canvas once, Douglas used that reach to pepper Tyson's face, ultimately closing his left eye. In the 10th round, Douglas rocked him with an uppercut, then put him down for good with four more thunderous shots.
5. The AFL's New York Jets were given just a smidgen more of a chance to beat the NFL champion Baltimore Colts in the 1969 Super Bowl than the Chargers are given against the 49ers.
The Jets were 18-point underdogs, one point less than the Chargers. Yet Jets quarterback Joe Namath set the tone for the week with a bold prediction that his team would win - and it did, 16-7.
OK, you get the point.
Call it the U-Factor.
Mr. Upset.
David leading Goliath to the woodshed and just whippin' his big, ol' country rump.
So how can the Chargers join this illustrious group of overachievers?
They must not get into a hole early.
San Diego must prove that it belongs on the field with the 49ers. That means making something positive happen early. It could be as simple as ``making some first downs at the start and improving from there,'' coach Bobby Ross said.
The Chargers came from behind nine times to win this season, but a big early deficit would probably be insurmountable.
``If we're close at halftime, it's almost like it's part of the game plan,'' says Bill Devaney, Chargers director of pro personnel. ``If we're 10 or 14 points down at halftime, we're in deep trouble. We can't start slow.''
Drop the Natrone Bomb.
The 49ers' defensive ends can be had. Richard Dent, Tim Harris, Charles Mann and Rickey Jackson are near the end of their careers. The 49ers offered Dennis Brown as trade bait earlier this season.
In Natrone Means, the Chargers have a one-man inside-out punch. Means is 237 pounds, which makes him strong enough to punch the middle. He also has uncommon speed and moves for a man his size, making him ideal to run the power sweep.
Add the fact that the Chargers have a line so huge their guards each weigh 305 pounds and two excellent blocking tight ends.
San Diego can get around the 49ers ends. Their tight ends should be able to get a big enough piece of the linebackers for Means to get some one-on-one with 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders.
The best cover man in the NFL, Sanders admits he hates to tackle. Some body shots from Chargers blockers and Means and Sanders won't be nearly as effective in pass coverage.
They have to control the ball.
The 49ers averaged just two minutes more time of possession than their opponents - but scored 10 more touchdowns than the second-best scoring team in the league.
The Chargers must keep the ball away from the 49ers. They used the same strategy against Miami in the playoffs, holding it 39 minutes, and they won.
A big day from Means is essential. Four 49er opponents ran the ball 30 or more times this season. San Francisco lost three of those games.
Get Ronnie Harmon into the game.
San Diego has the best third-down back in football in Ronnie Harmon. But he spends much more time on the bench than he should. He must be active tonight, and the Chargers should set a goal of getting him at least five catches.
Go for it.
When the Chargers and 49ers played in the regular season, San Francisco won, 38-13. The Chargers were missing a couple starting offensive linemen, both starting tight ends and quarterback Stan Humphries had a dislocated left elbow.
But even with everyone healthy, the Chargers don't have the talent of the 49ers.
So they ought to be carefree tonight. Take some chances. Fake a punt.
Ross showed he has the idea Friday when he said, ``We may play more four-down football on offense.''
Shadow Steve Young.
The 49ers' quarterback ran less this season than any time in his career - but he averaged 5.1 yards a carry and had a team-high seven touchdowns. He ran 10 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco's critical regular-season win over Dallas.
It's all part of the 49ers' game plan. Because San Francisco's receivers are so good, the Chargers can't afford to assign a player like linebacker Junior Seau to spy on Young. They'll need him to drop into pass coverage, although he'll have to blitz from time to time.
That means ends Leslie O'Neal and Chris Mims will be responsible for keeping Young from getting outside. Tackles Reuben Davis and Shawn Lee will be expected to get pressure up the middle.
Lee's return from injury is a major boost. He's their strongest player.
Create their own momentum.
The 49ers knocked what might have been a superior Dallas team completely off stride in the first few moments of the NFC title game with an interception and a couple fumble recoveries.
It's the Chargers' turn. Can they get an interception off a deflection, strip Young or running back Ricky Watters of the ball and recover it? The 49ers aren't perfect. They committed 11 turnovers in their three losses.
Could this really happen? Why not? By now you should believe in miracles. by CNB