Newton: Second Golden Age
A Second Golden Age coming to San Francisco?
By: Nick Newton
01/02/06
Pride goes before a fall. At least that's how the old saying goes. And it has certainly proven true in San Francisco where, after the unrivaled dynasty of the 80's and the Super Bowl team of 95, the proverbial "fall" has occured.
Yes, it was a good age. One might even say a golden age. Who among us doesn't remember crisp autumn days filled with celebration, sitting in front of the Zenith with family proudly watching the NFL's superpower handily dispatch the likes of the Dallas Cowboys or the Chicago Bears on their way to hoisting a 4th, and eventually 5th Super Bowl trophy high amid the flash and glimmer of red and gold confetti?
Full Story...
Who reading this doesn't keep the fact that we are not only the NFL's most elite and successful franchise, but that our team produced the two greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, the single finest receiver, and the most revered defensive back in the history of any team close to their heart? And certainly all fans of every team must know (even if they DON'T admit it) that most any coach that has had success in this league has roots in San Fran with Bill Walsh.
But so, too, was once Rome a world power.
Enter, the Dark Ages. With the ouster of coach Steve Mariucci after the 2002 season, ownership ended the taper of mediocrity and the production of such futile aquisitions as Jim Drukenmiller, J.J Stokes, Giovanni Carmazzi, and Steve Stenstrom, thereby plunging the franchise into the clutches of Dennis Erickson and Terry Donahue, a terrible and directionless grip that enveloped the team and its fans for two long seasons.
Fortunately, though, the turnaround time from going full speed backward to standing still has been small, and now the team has shown signs of moving forward again. With newly knighted coach Mike Nolan and his championship caliber staff, the 49ers eclipsed last seasons record with a 4-12 finish, which included a two game winning streak to cap the season off and a sweep of the division rival St. Louis Rams. The feeling was different at the end of this season than it has been for awhile now. As Nedney's kick sailed clear of the swaying uprights in overtime Sunday against the Texans, the morale change was evident. Mike Nolan hugged Mike Singletary and smiled after joking with a side judge. Players on our sideline nudged ribs and laughed as they ran onto the field. And most importantly, Alex Smith left the field with his chin high, having thrown his first NFL touchdown pass and having gotten his first winning streak started.
Now enter: THE CRUSADES
The formalities of the season have ended, and now can begin the crusades to liberate a sixth Lombardi trophy to that glass case. Glimpses of greatness and young champions are emerging from the rough. Quarterback Alex Smith is coming along slowly, but surely, but slowly. Running backs Maurice Hicks and Frank Gore have stepped to the front and shown their salt, the latter of the two proving that he was worth the high round pick. Joe Nedney has not only solidified the kicking position, but dominated it. The defense is a tweak or two (and a good offense) away from being one of the top in the league. Even the rookie offensive linemen are starting to perform and with the 7th pick in the 2006 NFl draft, Mike Nolan has a good chance to add more high impact talent to the roster.
Yes, as I sat back sunday evening after the game and pulled the worn-smooth lever of lucille (my recliner that has seen more Niner games than many of the current fans), I smiled. Indeed this was a much better season than just 4-12. It was a reckoning and the dying of uncertainty. It was a very large step forward, but at the same time a huge step backward. Backward, that is, toward the great age of old. One might even say, a golden age.
Filed Under: 49ers
By: Nick Newton
01/02/06
Pride goes before a fall. At least that's how the old saying goes. And it has certainly proven true in San Francisco where, after the unrivaled dynasty of the 80's and the Super Bowl team of 95, the proverbial "fall" has occured.
Yes, it was a good age. One might even say a golden age. Who among us doesn't remember crisp autumn days filled with celebration, sitting in front of the Zenith with family proudly watching the NFL's superpower handily dispatch the likes of the Dallas Cowboys or the Chicago Bears on their way to hoisting a 4th, and eventually 5th Super Bowl trophy high amid the flash and glimmer of red and gold confetti?
Full Story...
Who reading this doesn't keep the fact that we are not only the NFL's most elite and successful franchise, but that our team produced the two greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, the single finest receiver, and the most revered defensive back in the history of any team close to their heart? And certainly all fans of every team must know (even if they DON'T admit it) that most any coach that has had success in this league has roots in San Fran with Bill Walsh.
But so, too, was once Rome a world power.
Enter, the Dark Ages. With the ouster of coach Steve Mariucci after the 2002 season, ownership ended the taper of mediocrity and the production of such futile aquisitions as Jim Drukenmiller, J.J Stokes, Giovanni Carmazzi, and Steve Stenstrom, thereby plunging the franchise into the clutches of Dennis Erickson and Terry Donahue, a terrible and directionless grip that enveloped the team and its fans for two long seasons.
Fortunately, though, the turnaround time from going full speed backward to standing still has been small, and now the team has shown signs of moving forward again. With newly knighted coach Mike Nolan and his championship caliber staff, the 49ers eclipsed last seasons record with a 4-12 finish, which included a two game winning streak to cap the season off and a sweep of the division rival St. Louis Rams. The feeling was different at the end of this season than it has been for awhile now. As Nedney's kick sailed clear of the swaying uprights in overtime Sunday against the Texans, the morale change was evident. Mike Nolan hugged Mike Singletary and smiled after joking with a side judge. Players on our sideline nudged ribs and laughed as they ran onto the field. And most importantly, Alex Smith left the field with his chin high, having thrown his first NFL touchdown pass and having gotten his first winning streak started.
Now enter: THE CRUSADES
The formalities of the season have ended, and now can begin the crusades to liberate a sixth Lombardi trophy to that glass case. Glimpses of greatness and young champions are emerging from the rough. Quarterback Alex Smith is coming along slowly, but surely, but slowly. Running backs Maurice Hicks and Frank Gore have stepped to the front and shown their salt, the latter of the two proving that he was worth the high round pick. Joe Nedney has not only solidified the kicking position, but dominated it. The defense is a tweak or two (and a good offense) away from being one of the top in the league. Even the rookie offensive linemen are starting to perform and with the 7th pick in the 2006 NFl draft, Mike Nolan has a good chance to add more high impact talent to the roster.
Yes, as I sat back sunday evening after the game and pulled the worn-smooth lever of lucille (my recliner that has seen more Niner games than many of the current fans), I smiled. Indeed this was a much better season than just 4-12. It was a reckoning and the dying of uncertainty. It was a very large step forward, but at the same time a huge step backward. Backward, that is, toward the great age of old. One might even say, a golden age.
Filed Under: 49ers
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