This is a subject that interest me as a life long dolphin fan. I was nine years old in 1971 when my dad got season tickets. I really didn't know much about the game. It was fun going to the OB. Itwas the longest game in history vs KC in the playoffs got me hooked. I recall watching some guy named Ed Podalack go nuts against us I think 300+ yds and all those OT. When Garo kicked the winner I was hooked. When we got crushed by Dallas I cried.
I had the privilege of going to almost of all those games between 71-74. The OB was electric we were bad asses our only real rival was the Raiders. When the big three Csonka,Kiick and Warfield left that period of dominance ended to the Raiders in the AfC title game. Shula was the driving force. In those late 70 we were average but we had Grease who became a mad bomber with glasses. Then we got back to the SB on the back of he Killer Bees. You could look at the schedule each year and count 10 12 wins every year.
Then lighting struck for us when we got Marino.
To you younger fans the best way I can sum it up for you we were the New England Patriots of the last 13 years. We had the best coach in the league the top QB in the league. We won the division every year. We expected to win every Sunday. Up until we got Marino the Dolphins were the only game in town. Every man woman child was a dye hard fan in those days. Two big things happened in the early Marino years. The Canes exploded on to the college football scene and grabbed it by the throat. Second the Dolphins moved from the OB.
The fish were good during the Marino years but never great. The Canes took over they had their run as the most dominate team in football it was great fun to be witness those two eras of dominance one at the pro level the other at the college level. Talk about a spoiled Miami football fan.
I think the Heat came on the scene in '88 but we sucked until Reily came on board in '96. That was also the year JJ replaced Shula. My dad also gave up his season tickets because we had stopped going to the games cause we liked watching it on TV and hated Joe Robbie Stadium versus the OB. The fact is the dolphins haven't won **** since we moved from the OB.
I have kids that are young adults now. They laugh at me because the dolphins have been disgraceful The last 10 years Yet I remain a hard core fan. Win or lose. It's all cyclical our time will come again. I must say that after the Atlanta and Cincinnati games last year I got so stoked because of the vibe from those victories. I know we have a lot of wood to chop I want to believe in the Fish again which is hard cause I wanted to be sold on Philbin but last year has me wondering if he is the right guy. I have been patient hell it's been 30 years since the 49ers kicked our ass.
I feel for my dad how was a pretty hard core dolphin fan he passed in 2012 ....thanks dad for making me a hard core Dolphin Fan!
All you young people out there savory what the Heat is doing. With pasage of time and the cycle of sports the appreciation of excellence on a national stage is Aweome to live through as a fan of that team. Seen it with Dolphins Canes and now the Heat.
The dolphins I hope will again some day. Reach that level again.
Good analogy....in a 14 year span we went to 5 superbowls...won back to backs.....and of course went undefeated....very similar to the Patriots run.