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Dolphins Remember Their Perfect Season

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: January 27, 2009

TAMPA - Things were a little different 36 years ago, when Super Bowls still retained some humility while Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" ruled the pop charts.

The 1971 Dolphins had been humbled 24-3 by the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI, a lopsided loss Coach Don Shula was determined to turn into a rallying cry when the '72 club convened for training camp.

"We got our butts beat by Dallas that day and I can remember Coach Shula kept making us watch films of that game," recalls running back Mercury Morris. "Finally, he turned off the projector and said, 'See how sick you guys feel right now? Now think how sick you'll be if you don't go back and redeem yourselves.'"

In that summer of 1972, all the Dolphins could do was practice.

It made perfect.

But even when they entered Super Bowl VII with a 16-0 record, a Miami powerhouse that had just led the league in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and total defense was listed as a 3-point underdog to the NFC champion Redskins.

"We were a team that never ran up the score," strong safety Dick Anderson said. "It was a grind-it-out club that didn't jump out at you. Our secret ingredient was our defensive coordinator, Bill Arnsparger. You never felt like you were out there alone as a defender. You knew help was coming ... and it was coming fast."

A year after rushing for only 80 yards against Dallas, Miami rolled up 184 yards on the ground against George Allen's veteran defense at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, where Andy Williams offered up a mellow national anthem.

After Woody Herman and the Michigan Marching Band entertained at halftime, Miami kicker Garo Yepremian provided the comic relief with a late botched field goal attempt that handed Washington its only touchdown in a 14-7 setback.

"What I remember most about that game was getting all the weight off of our shoulders," said Jim Kiick, whose 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter put the Dolphins ahead 14-0. "We were confident. We believed in ourselves and we knew we could close out the only perfect season in NFL history."

Some observers believe the 15-2 Dolphins of 1973 were even more formidable, winning their two AFC playoff games by a combined 35 points before routing Minnesota 24-7 in the Super Bowl.

"I've heard those arguments," Shula said, "but only one of those teams was undefeated. How can you argue with perfection?"

That 17-0 season serves as a unique bond that grows stronger with each challenge from clubs seeking to match Miami's 1.000 winning percentage.

"The '72 Dolphins were great because they had a tremendous coach and tremendous players," said Mike Ditka, who closed out the scoring for Dallas against Miami in Super Bowl VI by catching a 7-yard pass from Roger Staubach. "They had a no-name defense, but they really didn't. Everyone in the league knew how good they were."

Once the Patriots emerged from the 2007 regular season undefeated, Morris, Kiick and Shula realized New England was no passing fancy.

With a chance to finish 19-0, the Patriots were upset by the Giants in last year's Super Bowl as jubilant members of the 1972 Dolphins cheered on Big Blue.

"If another team does it, we'll put another chair on the mountaintop," Kiick said. "But in all honesty, I like one chair up there."

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