Special Signal-caller Steve

The San Francisco 49ers retired former QB Steve Young’s #8 before Sunday’s showdown vs. New England. The recently-elected Hall-of-Famer was an NFL megastar in the 1990’s. Young turns 47 this Saturday but it seems like only yesterday he was tearing up defenses and throwing tosses with a perfect spiral chuck.
The 1993 NFC title showdown with Dallas pitted two of my favorite number 8’s as signal callers. The 49ers would lose that game, as well as the same game in 1994, to Troy Aikman and the Cowboys. However, Steve Young established himself as an elite leader in even making the playoffs and winning in the first round 20-13 over the Washington Redskins. The game gave San Francisco supporters their first real glimpse of Young’s ability to run. One of the game’s greatest and gifted scrambling quarterbacks, Young broke Jack Kemp’s career rushing TD mark in 1998. The 49ers and the Cowboys embarked on some memorable games during the 1990’s, highlighted by a 1995 playoff game. Although I was rooting heavily for my Cowboys, I will never forget the way Steve Young and the 49ers defeated them. Dallas had a 21-14 lead after the Niners had dominated most of the game when Jerry Rice caught a Young pass in the end zone with 8 seconds left. Rice completely confused defensive star, Larry Brown, on that play in Candlestick Park. I was heartbroken because the Cowboys were done, but Steve Young earned my admiration and respect for years to come.
In his very first NFL start, Young served as the Tampa Bay Bucs backup. It was fitting for Steve to lead the Bucs to an overtime win after taking over late in the fourth quarter. It never was easy for Young but he was a comeback kid. He was chosen in the supplemental draft of 1984 and endured two years in the USFL before stepping into an NFL game. When Young was traded to the 49ers, he had big shoes to fill. Joe Montana is probably the most famous and popular figures in Bay Area sports history, and rightly so. Young had to tolerate torn fans that still supported Montana even when he left for Kansas City. In replacing the legend, Steve became somewhat of a legend himself though. It took the fickle fans a while to catch on before Young won their hearts too. He was never flashy or fancy, and that is why I liked him. He had eye-catching mechanics and movements. Young seemed grounded and confident, very similar to my favorite player and his nemesis, Troy Aikman. Both quarterbacks fed off their receivers, benefited from a strong running unit and lead by example. They were mirror images of each other and it was usually a treat when they went up against each other. Aikman had Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, and Young had his go-to guys in Jerry Rice and Ricky Watters.
In the Superbowl win over San Diego, Young’s 49ers absolutely picked apart the Chargers. Within the game’s first minute, Young and Rice arrived in style with a 44-yard touchdown. The quick score was not unlike Young’s quick release. He always tended to throw a pretty pass. The six touchdowns during the 1995 Superbowl is a remarkable record. It was bittersweet that the record broke was one held by Joe Montana. I will never forget Steve’s fleeting feet and 49 rushing yards as the game’s top rusher. It’s mind-blowing how a quarterback could out-rush any other player on the field at that high a level.
The QB from BYU was the 49ers franchise of the 1990’s. He threw for over 33,000 yards and 232 touchdowns. He won the 1995 Superbowl MVP award and was selected to the Pro Bowl year after year. Young won the league MVP award twice. Steve had zest, zeal and enthusiasm for the game. There were times he was unstoppable and untouchable. The 49ers’most gifted left-hander during his day, Young’s touch and tempo controlled and manipulated all defenses. Number 8 will forever be etched in San Francisco memory and sports lore.

Parting points: Everybody is jumping on the Dodger bandwagon. I like Joe Torre and have been rooting for the Dodgers all year not just because they are closer to the World Series now. I was so impressed with Jonathan Broxton’s performance Saturday night.

Tonight’s a good Monday Night Football game if you like running backs. I should be surprised, but I still am anyway…the Giants are undefeated. Oh, and so are the Titans.