BOISE, Idaho — THIS DAY IN SPORTS…January 9, 1977:
The Oakland Raiders overwhelm the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14, in Super Bowl XI, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Vikings became the first four-time Super Bowl loser—and again, this was only the 11th time the game had been played. For the Raiders, it was their first Super Bowl victory and the crowning moment of John Madden’s coaching career. Oakland wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff was the MVP, but the lasting memory of the game was Willie Brown’s 75-yard touchdown return of a Fran Tarkenton interception. In slo-mo.
This was Oakland’s best team of all time, going 13-1 in the regular season before beating New England and Pittsburgh in the AFC Playoffs. Minnesota came in with the “Purple People Eaters” defense, but the Raiders offense was dominant, gaining a then-Super Bowl record 429 yards. Biletnikoff made just four catches of quarterback Ken “The Snake” Stabler’s throws, but they covered 79 yards, and three of them set up Oakland touchdowns. And Brown’s fourth-quarter pick-six was the nail in the coffin.
Madden was in his eighth season as Oakland head coach. He would lead the organization for one more season, going 112-39-7 (including the postseason) before embarking on his legendary career in the broadcast booth. The Raiders were one of the original eight American Football League franchises in 1960. They struggled their first three seasons—then Al Davis, their future owner, took over as coach in 1963. Davis got the team going before assuming his administrative duties. Oakland made it to Super Bowl II in 1968, falling 33-14 to the Green Bay Packers. The Raiders would lose six AFC Championship Games before getting back.
The personalities on this Super Bowl-winning Raiders squad have stood the test of time. There were Stabler, Biletnikoff, Brown, tight end Dave Casper, punter Ray Guy, offensive linemen Art Shell and Gene Upshaw, defensive end Ted “The Stork” Hendricks, safety Jack Tatum, and defensive tackle Otis Sistrunk, who Howard Cosell once famously described on Monday Night Football as being from “the University of Mars.”
Super Bowl halftime shows in that era were different, and this one did not exactly match the persona of the game’s champion. It was produced by Disney and featured “It’s a Small World,” the popular kids attraction at nearby Disneyland. The program also showcased members of the New Mickey Mouse Club. There were no wardrobe malfunctions that we know of.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
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