George Blanda, the greatest Raider, has passed away at 83. In 1970, at the age of 43, he was the driving force in five straight games, with his foot and with his arm.
George Blanda played collegiately at my alma mater, the University of Kentucky, for Paul “Bear” Brynat, and was UK’s starting quarterback his junior and senior seasons, in 1947 and 1948. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears. He retired in 1958, but was recruited by the new American Football League in 1960, and led the Houston Oilers to the first two AFL Championships. The Oilers released the then 39-year old player before the 1967 season, but Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders — my all-time favoritest team — signed him as a kicker and back-up quarterback. He played a total of 26 seasons, and is the oldest man to play quarterback in a league championship game, a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1975 AFC Championship game . . . at age 48.
Sad. I remember him as a kid — he could it all!!
DO it all ….
He was clutch, too.
I watched the Ancient One play, back when the Raiders were a force, they had the Snake, the Double O, the Tree trunk, the Martian, the Ghost, The Stork, Freddy B, the Soul Patrol, and Lester the Molester.
I cringed at the Immaculate Reception and jumped for joy at the Holy Roller (the Raiders could have been flagged for illegal forward pass or for double dribble on that one).
Thanks for the memories, George, RIP.
An inspiring player.
He probably could outkick a few when he was 80.
Ropelight says “I cringed at the Immaculate Reception…”
During the 1970′s the Pittsburgh Steelers were God’s chosen people, er, team! It is sacrilegious to say anything against the Immaculate Reception.
Ropelight, as you can tell I am a Steeler fan (Pittsburgh born and raised). I loved the Steeler/Raider games of the 70′s because those two teams hated each other and it showed. And, that was before all the rules to protect the vulnerable players so all of those games were vicious. That’s when men were men and the toughest won! Sigh! I miss those days!