THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609020143
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: 70 lines
At Memorial Stadium Sunday afternoon, the past lingered stubbornly in song and ceremony while the future beckoned with the uncertainty of a Vinny Testaverde pass.
``Fight on, you Baltimore Colts,'' played the Baltimore Colts Marching Band, as 37 old soldiers from long-ago fall campaigns congregated at midfield in blue jerseys.
After being introduced to a new generation of fans, the old-timers covered the Colt blue with white jackets bearing the Ravens insignia.
Symbolism noted.
One last gesture and the past would give way to the new reality. Wearing a No. 19 jersey over slouched shoulders, walking on a pair of reconstructed knees, Johnny Unitas appeared from the tunnel and carried the game ball to midfield. The stadium rocked.
Ambling to the sideline, Unitas was engulfed in a hug by Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda.
After the game, Marchibroda recalled: ``I said to somebody, `Where would you rather be today than in Baltimore?' ''
Still, it left Testverde with a tough act to follow.
``The legend being out there, we didn't want to disappoint anyone,'' he said.
Vinny didn't. Maligned in Tampa Bay and benched in Cleveland, Testaverde owns this town.
For another week, anyway.
In the Ravens' 19-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders, Testaverde passed for 254 yards and did not throw an interception. And when chased out of the pocket, he averaged 5.3 yards a run on eight carries.
Let the record show that at 1:31 p.m. EDT, Testaverde's nine-yard run accounted for the first touchdown in Ravens history.
``If I had realized it,'' he said, ``I probably would have kept the ball.''
Instead, he stuffed it into the hands of a fan in the endzone bleachers.
``Every time I came back to the huddle after a run,'' he said, ``the guys in the huddle were saying, `Slide; get down.' I told them, `Hey, I want to have some fun, too.' ''
When you win, things like poor pass protection and a muddled offense don't get in the way of the fun.
In the fourth quarter, Earnest Byner, the tailback who is older than farming, scratched one-yard for the Ravens' winning touchdown. But for the game, he ran 14 times for 43 yards, just one more than Testaverde.
So how did the Ravens manage to beat the Raiders? Well, the crowd of 64,124, probably helped. So did the occasion.
``All the emotion,'' said Marchibroda. ``I felt we had to win this game.
``What a shame if we had lost this game with what has transpired over the last 12, 13 years. If we hadn't won, it would have ruined the weekend.''
And, maybe just as importantly, sent the Ravens to Pittsburgh next week with an 0-1 record.
As the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens won five games last season. Changing uniform colors and moving to a new city may alter perceptions and attitudes, but it hasn't improved the talent level.
``It probably doesn't get too much better than this,'' said a smiling Marchibroda. ``It's a shame we have to play 15 more.''
He'll never replace Johnny U. But for Baltimore's new generation of fans, one game is all it took to establish Testaverde as the best quarterback in Ravens history.
It's a shame he has to play 15 more. ILLUSTRATION: Color AP photo
Fans congratulate Earnest Byner after the Baltimore running back
scored the winning touchdown in the Ravens' 19-14 win over the
Oakland Raiders Sunday. by CNB