I've been searching on YouTube for old Giant game films that might be posted and found this treasure. Many of you long time, long-suffering, Giant fans like me remember not to fondly the dark ages of the 70s in Giant fandom. But, one of the bright spots in the otherwise dismal decade was the '72 season, especially the game with the Giants shellacked the Eagles 62 - 10. I especially remember this game because I had to listen to Jim Gordon and Dick Lynch on a tiny transistor radio held up at my bedroom window due to the NFL rule of blacking out the home games.
Anyway, I'm sure one of the Giant historians that post on the site might've found this somewhere and posted it already, but here it is. I found it on a YouTube channel that belongs to Jim Files, who played linebacker on that team. The highlight film tells of a lot of things, mentioning the trade with Minnesota and reminding me that it was 1972 that was the rookie year for John Mendenhall... Who I remember as a defensive line beast.
1972 New York Giants season highlights - (
New Window )
These old NFL Films productions are magnificent.
Link - ( New Window )
He played the game with the jersey saying F L I E S
Truly a decade of futility....
As LadyGiant reports, I'm pleased that Jim Files is still around.
After that season, the Giants "fell off the wagon" again.
Yeah...Bob Tucker, Spider Lockhart, Jack Gregory, John Mendenhall, Brad Van Pelt,... That defense was fun to watch, especially for a 12-year-old girl and her dad. We used to hate when it was time for the offense to go on the field because we were sure they were going to give up the ball, especially in those awful years that followed this campaign. I remember after one particularly disappointing loss; ever the idealist and optimist saying to my father one day they'll get to the Super Bowl. Sadly, my dad passed away in early 1980 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and never got to see the glory years of the 80s.
I grew up in Bridgeport CT and I remember clearly that the home games when they were not sold out we are indeed blacked out. And living in Bridgeport, the CBS affiliate in Connecticut was up in Hartford and could barely be seen
Thanks for correcting me… My memory is always the Jim Gordon and Dick Lynch broadcasts in later years... Jim Gordon's voice was memorable...it was always a great day for football, whatever the weather. :-)
Those names bring back great memories.. I have both their autographs and they both lived within blocks of my house. Remember playing football with them at my local park.
Plus that first game vs Dallas is the game I got an actual game ball. Still have it on display today.
Actually, it was far from great times back then..:)
Quote:
Bob Tucker was the man and Spider....greats times back then...thanks
Yeah...Bob Tucker, Spider Lockhart, Jack Gregory, John Mendenhall, Brad Van Pelt,... That defense was fun to watch, especially for a 12-year-old girl and her dad. We used to hate when it was time for the offense to go on the field because we were sure they were going to give up the ball, especially in those awful years that followed this campaign. I remember after one particularly disappointing loss; ever the idealist and optimist saying to my father one day they'll get to the Super Bowl. Sadly, my dad passed away in early 1980 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and never got to see the glory years of the 80s.
Wow, memory lane. BVP was my favorite player then.
Absolutely! :-). Except in the mid- to -late 80s it became a dangerous place at night. It was that time the Lafayette Plaza Mall was really becoming rather empty, with most of the shops moving out because of the increased crime rate. I preferred going to the Trumbull Mall if you remember that one.
double teams Spyder was a tackling machine .