Ye Old Phin Fans..

[LANGER72]

I was born in 1961, and I live in south Florida. I first became a fan in 1970, because my best friend was a fan and his dad was too.
I can summarize: The 1970's were all about tough defense and a brutal methodical offense. If you like rushing attacks, the early 70's was the place to be for 5 yard carries and the occasional play action fake to Warfield. After the formation of the WFL in 1975 (World Football League), Zonk, Kiick, and Warfield bolted the team for more money. Joe Robbie was a very tough owner, and the players called his bluff.
It basically gutted the offense and the team was nothing special from 1975 -1978 until Shula rebuilt the team with Delvin Williams as the featured back. We started making the playoffs again in the late 70's. The defense under was outstanding, and the killer "B's" carried us into the strike shortened 1983 Superbowl. The defense was stating to show signs of age and injury. (I still remember John Riggins gashing us for the clinching TD in that SB). The offense was sporadic under Woodley and Strock. Woodley led the QB rushing style of attack, where as Strock was a pocket passer(he led the nation in passing while in college). It never really seemed to click until Duper, Clayton, and Marino were drafted. Talk about excitement. The "Marino Corps" was just unstoppable until Bill Walsh/Montana and the SF 49'ers in the 1985 SB.
That 1985 SF 49'ers team was probably one of the best teams fielded in history.
Marino was everything and more. Joe Namath used to gush about him constantly on MNF, comparing Dan to well...himself.
Duper and Clayton were a big part of Marino's success too. Without them, he was great, but with them superstar.
It is great that we can relive all those games and experience it again via the web.

 

[PortFin]

Welcome to the site!

I was born in 1985 and am a Dolphins fan because my dad was one ever since the team was founded. So I grew up wearing Dolphins baby clothes and all that, and my earliest memories are helping my dad build a fire in my parents bedroom fireplace (a necessity up here in the winter) and watching Dan Marino on MNF. My dad traveled a lot for business when I was growing up so I would sometimes go a while without seeing him but the Dolphins were always our bond. So the Dolphins for me, however strange it may sound, bring back a lot of feelings of my youth and the bond I have with my father, and that may be one reason I've been able to stick with them through everything they do to us all

But anyway, even though I'm too young to remember the young Dan Marino I do remember him in the early 90's in grade school and even way out here in Portland everyone was talking about Dan. Out here you were either a Broncos, Niners, Cowboys or Dolphins fan, and the reason was because of the quarterbacks. All my friends who weren't Dolphins fans even reluctantly conceded Dan was the best. Except for that one Niners fan. Hate that guy.

 

[DphinBillkiller]

Welcome to the forum. :dance:

 

[cljh19]

Born in 85. Started off a Cowboy fan cuz my brother, switched in 93 to Dolphins. Met my father that year and that was his team. The Classic Thanksgiving game between da girls and Phins got things going.

Dolphins didnt suck until after I graduated in 2003. Yet during my years as a fan we never been to the AFC Championship. One year we started off something like 9-3 and finished 9-7. I believe I missed Marino's prime years. He was still one of the best tho. 9-11 wins a season team. Even with Jay Fiedler we were a Wildcard team. Never got a bye tho. If we could have combined....Marino of the 80's-early 90's, Mid 90's defense, and Ricky Williams prime.

Since 03' we have been horrible except one year when Brady was out.

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!...............Bring Peyton back home to the the AFC East, this time with the Dolphins. I loved the rival years with Peyton in the division. Last time I seen Peyton play a year ago he looked pretty damn good. I would say much like Marino, except the SB thing. Risk is there with the kneck but the reward is HUGE with a legit shot at the SB. Hell win me a SB next year and IDC if we suck for the next 10 years! I just want ONE atleast. Manning can change any team in the NFL if he plays like he did a year ago.

If we got Manning...I go OLB/DE in the 1st. Possibly a RT in Rd 2.

Thats My EXPERIENCE. lol

 

[Awsi Dooger]

In the early '70s we were foolish enough to believe the Dolphins would never go more than a few years between titles, as long as Shula was around. My old neighborhood buddies and I laugh about that now but at the time it seemed reasonable. Miami dominated with smarts and running game. Give us the ball with 8 minutes remaining on our own 30 and the game was as good as over. Five first downs later and everyone could go home at 3:35 PM.

The Marino years were a comparative disgrace. Obviously that's an extreme minority opinion but I'll never understand how the name Marino ever pops into any discussion of this franchise's prime. Instead of a relentless resilient physical team we morphed into the same type of team we used to mock and abuse in the early '70s. When a pantyhose passing team marched into the Orange Bowl in those days I literally couldn't restrain laughter during their cute pre game passing drills on the steamy Poly Turf. Go ahead, toss the ball back and forth while grinning. Stanfill will be on your back within a half hour, your head slammed to the carpet.

The only redeeming aspect to the wasted Marino years was I was already in Las Vegas at the time, betting sports. Miami was such a finesse weakling you could identify a handful of matchups before the season ever began and know darned well the Dolphins would be battered and abused in those games, literally toyed with. It very seldom failed. More than two decades later I still remember those games and how I looked forward to them for months. If I know my team is an overstated puddle I might as well take advantage of it. The only anticipated game that flopped was at the Rams, in perhaps '86. Dolphins fell behind early but came back and tied it, winning in overtime.

BTW, somebody earlier in the thread said the Dolphins lost the final regular season game of '73. Close but not quite accurate. The second to last game was the stunner, the only game in two seasons that the Dolphins didn't show up. Schnellenberger's Colts won handily in a low scoring game on the Memorial Stadium dirt. During the following week the Miami media fixated on the Dolphins' poor passing game headed toward the playoffs. Griese had a strangely poor year by statistical standards, particularly YPPA. Fortunately, the finale was at home against the vulnerable Lions. Griese warmed up for the playoffs with 4 touchdown passes, which was unheard of in those days, as Miami romped 34-7.

 

[dolphindan1970]

Saw the Dolphins team lose to the Cowboys in the Super Bowl back in the early 70's,only to come back to have the undefeated season and then win the Super Bowl that year,and the next,then got knocked off from probably going again for a possible 4 years in a row by a Raiders team who hit the luckies pass I have ever see with 26 seconds left to go in the game.Those Dolphin teams were tough,tougher than many give them credit for.The no name defense was flat out bad,Csonka was a mean *** run over anybody back,and Bob Griese was a smart QB who threw the ball pretty dam good also.

And for Dan Marino in those 80's and 90's,and even now,nobody could sling it like Dan could,NOBODY !!!

 

[catch22]

Welcome to the forums from a fellow New Mexico fin fan. We are few and far between out here with so many dallas and bronco fans but every dolphin fan I know in albuquerque is hard core and never fair weather! I was born in 79 and remember watching marinos last few seasons. At the time marino used to wear all kinds of gear on his legs, he was really immobile and yet he could still take the game over and win it seemingly just by his arm. A true bad ***! I wish I could have seen him in the mid 80s!

One thing I can tell you as a fellow New Mexican... Get out to Miami for a game next year! preferably in winter because it is cooold here and so damn nice out there! Beautiful city! Warm and amazing food! Plus the games are really fun! I went and saw Miami beat the Patriots years ago with the wildcat and it was such a cool trip. It is crazy to see how many patriots fans come to miami to see games. And the pats fans we met were so rude it was crazy.. I cant imagine how bad Jets fans in real life, I dont have a single jet fan here to pick on because everyone here in NM seems to hate the jets, especially since Rex came along. Its awesome! Long story short, Go see a game its really fun and Miami is a great city to visit with great people. I will be a miami fan for life regardless of how we do each year, but I think things are looking up!

 

[The Confessor]

Welcome to the forums from a fellow New Mexico fin fan. We are few and far between out here with so many dallas and bronco fans but every dolphin fan I know in albuquerque is hard core and never fair weather! I was born in 79 and remember watching marinos last few seasons. At the time marino used to wear all kinds of gear on his legs, he was really immobile and yet he could still take the game over and win it seemingly just by his arm. A true bad ***! I wish I could have seen him in the mid 80s!

One thing I can tell you as a fellow New Mexican... Get out to Miami for a game next year! Perferably in winter because it is cooold here and so damn nice out there! Beautiful city! Warm and amazing food! Plus the games are really fun! I went and saw Miami beat the Patriots years ago with the wildcat and it was such a cool trip. It is crazy to see how many patriots fans come to miami to see games. And the pats fans we met were so rude it was crazy.. I cant imagine jets fans in real life, everyone here in NM seems to hate the jets! Its awesome! Long story short, Go see a game its really fun and Miami is a great city to visit with great people. I will be a miami fan for life regardless of how we do each year, but I think things are looking up

All that being said, they don't have Green Chili in MIA.....except for maybe that nasty stuff in he little cans......