by Adam Lazarus
118 “It would be like”—Steve Serby, “Bahr: 1950 U.S. Win Like High School Team Beating Yankees,” New York Post, June 12, 2010.
119 “If the better”—Matt Bahr, author interview, July 29, 2010.
119 “[Growing up]”—Gary Mihoces, “A Kicker’s Anguish: Bahr Is Ecstatic, but Says ‘I Feel for Scott,’” USA Today, January 28, 1991.
119 “I can remember”—Len Pasquarelli, “Just for Kicks, the Giants Took Other Brother,” Atlanta Journal, January 23, 1991.
119 “Because it was”—Matt Bahr, author interview, July 29, 2010.
120 “[Football] wasn’t”—John McClain, “Norwood’s Dream Would be a Giant Nightmare,” Houston Chronicle, January 27, 1991.
120 “I gave up”—Winchester Star, “Norwood Gives JMU Kick,” October 7, 1980.
121 “He’s capable”—Bob Morgan, “JMU Football Begins Move to Division I,” Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, August 29, 1979.
121 “I really began”—Winchester Star, “Norwood Gives JMU Kick,” October 7, 1980.
121 “Scott was just”—John Kidd, author interview, August 5, 2010.
122 “In 1988”—Bruce DeHaven, author interview, July 19, 2010.
122 “You set yourself”—Carucci, The Buffalo Bills and the Almost-Dream Season, 62.
123 “He’s always right”—Darrell Fry, “Norwood’s Quest for Perfection.” St. Petersburg Times, January 27, 1991.
123 “He’s very picky”—Darrell Fry, “Norwood’s Quest for Perfection.” St. Petersburg Times, January 27, 1991.
123 “If I had to”—Carucci, The Buffalo Bills and the Almost-Dream Season, 62–63.
123 “He had the”—Bruce DeHaven, author interview, July 19, 2010.
124 “I was in a little”—John McClain, “Norwood’s Dream Would be a Giant Nightmare,” Houston Chronicle, January 27, 1991.
124 “It was never”—Darrell Fry, “Norwood’s Quest for Perfection.” St. Petersburg Times, January 27, 1991.
124 “Now that I’m”—John McClain, “Norwood’s Dream Would be a Giant Nightmare,” Houston Chronicle, January 27, 1991.
Chapter 6: Super Sunday
125 “My name is”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 12, 2010.
125 “That video game”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 12, 2010.
125 “It just makes you”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 12, 2010.
126 “I hate waiting”—Dave Anderson, “Parcells Always Has a Plan,” New York Times, January 28, 1991.
126 “spaghetti, baked”—Carucci, The Buffalo Bills and the Almost-Dream Season, 216.
126 “The ride to the”—Bill Polian, author interview, May 12, 2010.
126 “I told Charlie”—NFL Films, viewed at the NFL Films offices in Mt. Laurel, N.J., on June 29, 2010.
127 “First of all”—Ira Kaufman, “Silver Team Huddles Upset,” Tampa Tribune, January 25, 1991.
127 “I was moved”—Ira Kaufman, “Silver Team Huddles Upset,” Tampa Tribune, January 25, 1991.
128 “I did not think”—NFL Films, America’s Game, 1975 Steelers.
129 “I never had”—Dave Anderson, “Swann’s 4 Timely Receptions Result of a Timely Recovery,” New York Times, January 19, 1976.
130 “I think it took”—Roger Fischer, “ABC Unveils Super Game Plan,” St. Petersburg Times, January 27, 1991.
130 “I’m having a”—Leonard Shapiro, “ABC Realizes That This Time Around, ‘Super’ Really Is a Misnomer,” Washington Post, January 25, 1991.
131 “[The] game”—Mary Jo Melone, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing off Series,” St. Petersburg Times, January 23, 1991.
131 “Somebody asked”—New York Times, “Excerpts from Bush’s Remarks on Moves in Gulf,” January 26, 1991.
131 “I don’t think”—Rick Fuller, author interview, July 26, 2010.
132 “Saddam has a”—ABC broadcast (halftime), January 27, 1991.
133 “various terrorist”—Pacific Stars & Stripes, “FBI Checking on Terrorist Backers,” January 26, 1991.
133 “At the time”—David Isby, author interview, July 13, 2010.
134 “Probably not”—Robert Reinhold, “Threats, Real or Not, Still Fears across U.S.,” New York Times, January 24, 1991.
134 “very concerned”—Robert Reinhold, “Threats, Real or Not, Still Fears across U.S.,” New York Times, January 24, 1991.
134 “We really didn’t”—Jim Steeg, author interview, July 19, 2010.
134 “A black helicopter” Jim Steeg, author interview, July 19, 2010.
135 “The three of us”—Dan Dierdorf, author interview, July 30, 2010.
135 “They proceed”—Dan Dierdorf, author interview, July 30, 2010.
135 “It was pretty hard”—Dr. Ricardo Martinez, author interview, August 20, 2010.
136 “That area of”—Dr. Ricardo Martinez, author interview, August 20, 2010.
136 “We tend to forget”—Dr. Ricardo Martinez, author interview, August 20, 2010.
136 “That Super Bowl”—Jerry Anderson, author interview, August 23, 2010.
137 “We’ve always had”—Jerry Anderson, author interview, August 23, 2010.
137 “Usually, Americans”—Toronto Star, “Bowl Security Fails to Faze Football Fans,” January 28, 1991.
137 “I’m real glad”—Toronto Star, “Bowl Security Fails to Faze Football Fans,” January 28, 1991.
137 “It’s just taking”—Gerald Eskenazi, “Security: Security Slows Crowd Entry,” New York Times, January 28, 1991.
138 “Running out”—Michael Wilbon, “For Parcells, Euphoria and Now a Seller’s Market,” January 29, 1991, Washington Post.
138 “And now to”—ABC television broadcast, January 27, 1991.
138 “It was the most”—ABC’s Television’s Greatest Performances, hosted by Jimmy Smits, 1995.
139 “I keep pride inside”—ABC’s Television’s Greatest Performances, hosted by Jimmy Smits, 1995.
139 “We were in white”—Steve Tasker, author interview, June 17, 2010.
139 “Here we are”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 13, 2010.
Chapter 7: The First Thirty Minutes
142 “No name is”—Armando Salguero, “Tampa Drops Discord for Super Bowl,” Palm Beach Post, January 22, 1991.
142 “It has been”—San Diego Union, “NFL Fans Blast Decision to Play,” November 24, 1963.
142 “Playing the”—Michael Wilbon, “Rozelle Grew into His Job, and NFL Grew into a Giant,” Washington Post, March 26, 1989.
142 “President Roosevelt”—Gerald Eskenazi, “N.F.L. Says It Will Play, with Tight Security,” New York Times, January 18, 1991.
142 “the Super Bowl is”—Ken McKee, “Parcells: ‘A Mad-Dog Coach,’” Toronto Star, January 26, 1991.
143 “It’d be like”—Nancy Imperiale, “Party Mood Pierces Shadow of Gulf War,” Pittsburgh Press, January 28, 1991.
143 “Commissioner Rozelle”—ABC television broadcast, January 27, 1991.
143 “Don’t be off-sides”—NFL Films, viewed at the NFL Films offices in Mt. Laurel, N.J., on June 29, 2010.
144 “He did not want”—David Halberstam, The Education of a Coach (New York: Hyperion, 2005), 172.
144 “We went into the game”—Bill Belichick, author interview, May 11, 2011.
144 “They were used”—Erik Howard, author interview, July 21, 2010.
145 “Supposedly”—Bill Ordine, “From Kutztown to Super Bowl,” Philadelphia Inquirer, January 22, 1991.
145 “Everybody talks”—Bill Ordine, “From Kutztown to Super Bowl,” Philadelphia Inquirer, January 22, 1991.
146 “I don’t think”—NFL Films, “The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I.”
147 “There were a few”—NFL Films, “The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I.”
147 “He didn’t come”—NFL Films, “The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I.”
147 “I was rooming”—NFL Films, “The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I.”
/> 148 “Men, if you bust—NFL Films, “The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I.”
148 “They had these little”—Boyd Dowler, author interview, June 21, 2010.
148 “Here’s McGee”—Bob Long, author interview, August 27, 2010.
149 “A lot of guys”—Bill Curry, author interview, June 12, 2010.
149 “Max took”—Bob Long, author interview, August 27, 2010.
149 “[Willie] Mitchell”—Bill Curry, author interview, June 12, 2010.
150 “He thought he”—Bill Curry, author interview, June 12, 2010.
150 “I was just a kid”—Malcolm Moran, “The Wait Is Over for Bills and Fans,” New York Times, January 22, 1991.
150 “I really didn’t”—Malcolm Moran, “The Wait Is Over for Bills and Fans,” New York Times, January 22, 1991.
151 “I talked to those”—James Lofton, author interview, June 14, 2010.
151 “[Playing the Super”—Glenn Sheeley, “Lofton Knows He’s Not Bills’ Speed-Burner,” Atlanta Constitution, January 24, 1991.
151 “The ball was”—James Lofton, author interview, June 14, 2010.
152 “He got a lot”—James Lofton, author interview, June 14, 2010.
152 “I played safety”—Everson Walls, author interview, June 12, 2010.
153 “I’ve never”—Paul Zimmerman, “High and Mighty,” Sports Illustrated, February 4, 1991.
153 “They were sagging”—Paul Zimmerman, “High and Mighty,” Sports Illustrated, February 4, 1991.
154 “It was really”—Darrell Fry, “Smith Returns to Glory,” St. Petersburg Times, January 28, 1991.
154 “Seals is a big”—Hostetler, One Giant Leap, 206.
154 “I couldn’t even”—Bill Millsaps, “Super Sub Hostetler Set Off Mettle-Detector,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 28, 1991.
155 “In the tapes”—Craig Barnes, “Confusion and Contusions Beat Bills,” Fort Lauderdale, Sun-Sentinel, January 28, 1991.
155 “I remember the”—Jeff Hostetler, author interview, January 26, 2010.
156 “[All] of a sudden”—Bob Glauber, Rich Cimini, and Jon Pessah, “Super Bowl XXV: Notebook,” Newsday, January 28, 1991.
156 “If I lost the”—Jeff Hostetler, author interview, January 26, 2010.
156 “That was a”—Bruce Smith, interviewed by John Murphy, WKBW-TV, 2006 .
156 “[Parcells] said it multiple”—Bob Mrosko, author interview, July 28, 2010.
157 “He runs so big”—ABC television broadcast, January 27, 1991.
157 “It’s up to Thomas”—ABC television broadcast, January 27, 1991.
157 “Thurman was”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 15, 2010.
158 “I had seen so”—Ray Didinger, author interview, July 13, 2010.
158 “I told them”—Craig Barnes, “Giants Respond to Hostetler’s Leadership, Play,” Fort-Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, January 28, 1991.
159 “Hostetler has”—ABC television broadcast, January 27, 1991.
159 “I was mad”—Hostetler, One Giant Leap, 208.
159 “When he threw”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 13, 2010.
160 “When we got back”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 13, 2010.
160 “back green X flag”—Official Postgame Quotes from Super Bowl XXV.
160 “The line blocked”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 13, 2010.
160 “That was a very”—Stephen Baker, author interview, May 13, 2010.
160 “They’re not used”—Aikens Standard, “Finally, a Super Bowl Truly Worth Watching,” January 28, 1991.
Chapter 8: Whipping Boys
161 “Today we should”—ABC broadcast, January 27, 1991.
163 “Baseball was my”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
163 “At that game”—Winnipeg Free Press, “Long-Time Dream Realized,” December 16, 1982.
163 “10 minutes after”—New York Times, “Giants Hire a Linebacker Coach,” March 2, 1979,
163 “We won the”—Bob Long, author interview, August 27, 2010.
164 “It’s called ‘Pizza Hut’”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
164 “He wound up”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
164 “I didn’t think”—Bob Long, author interview, August 27, 2010.
165 “We are the same” Frank Litsky, “Parcells Sidelines New Role,” New York Times, December 20, 1982.
165 “If you understand”—Jack Magruder, “Parcells Outlines Future,” Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, December 14, 1977.
165 “He’s a typical guy”—Rich Hofmann, “Just a Guy from Jersey,” Winnipeg Free Press, January 26, 1991.
165 “If you’re sensitive”—Rich Hofmann, “Just a Guy from Jersey,” Winnipeg Free Press, January 26, 1991.
165 “His personality”—Rich Hofmann, “Just a Guy from Jersey,” Winnipeg Free Press, January 26, 1991.
166 “He really wasn’t”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
166 “A lot of people”—Bob Long, author interview, August 27, 2010.
167 “Very few people”—New York Times, “A Friendly Coach,” December 16, 1982.
167 “I think he’ll”—Winnipeg Free Press, “Long-Time Dream Realized,” December 16, 1982,
167 “Dear coach”—Los Angeles Times, “Parcells Credits Power Football, and Amazing Good Lucky Towel,” January 28, 1991.
168 “Augie from the”—Frank Litsky, “On Top of Clouds, Giants Dance to Tampa,” New York Times, January 22, 1991.
168 “We had a lot”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
169 “towel boy”—Hamilton Daily News Journal, “Draft Towel Boy to Play Fullback,” October 15, 1941.
169 “He was a lot”—Don Gleisner, author interview, July 29, 2010.
169 “There was a real”—Eric Lincoln, “Sports World Specials,” New York Times, October 27, 1980.
169 “This guy”—Ernie Accorsi, author interview, July 19, 2010.
170 “That’s when I hired”—Ted Marchibroda, author interview, December 5, 2009.
170 “A lot of my”—Eric Lincoln, “Sports World Specials,” New York Times, October 27, 1980.
171 “In the rain”—Frank Litsky, “Simms of Giants Is Out for Season,” New York Times, November 17, 1981.
171 “He’s always given”—George Willis, “Belichick’s Record Needs No Defending,” Newsday, December 31, 1989.
171 “a terrible bedside”—Christine Brennan, “Belichick Provides Giants’ Diagram for Domination,” Washington Post, January 24, 1987.
171 “Doom”—Hank Gola, author interview, October 15, 2010.
171 “They talked about”—Don Gleisner, author interview, July 29, 2010.
172 “Parcells would challenge”—Mary Kay Cabot, “Friends and Rivals,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 1, 1995.
172 “I’m not going”—Gerald Eskenazi, “Parcells Resigns as Jets’ Coach; Belichick Assumes the Top Role,” New York Times, January 4, 2000.
172 “Most of the”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
173 “We’re just two different people”—Bill Belichick, author interview, May 11, 2011.
173 “Charlie was”—Tim Layden, “Charlie In Charge,” Sports Illustrated, April 25, 2005.
173 “I always laugh”—Bill Parcells, author interview, July 16, 2010.
Chapter 9: Grinding Out a Championship
175 “The first drive”—Tim Looney, “Q & A with Giants Coach Bill Parcells,” St. Petersburg Times, January 28, 1991.
175 “Parcells said”—NFL Films, America’s Game, 1990 Giants.
176 “I understood we”—Mark Bavaro, author interview, January 19, 1991.
177 “We went 13-3”—Bob Glauber, Newsday, January 13, 1991.
177 “It’s always frustrating”—Bob Glauber, Newsday, January 13, 1991.
177 “Our offensive linemen”—Chris Dufresne, “Giant
s Have It Under Control,” Los Angeles Times, January 28, 1991.
178 “half-right”—Peter King, “A Career Move at a Key Time,” Sports Illustrated, February 4, 1991.
178 “Here we go!”—Peter King, “A Career Move at a Key Time,” Sports Illustrated, February 4, 1991.
178 “All I saw was”—Official Post Game Quotes from Super Bowl XXV.
179 “We played a”—Mark Kelso, author interview, May 26, 2010.
179 “When I fell”—Official Post Game Quotes from Super Bowl XXV.
179 “Every now”—ABC broadcast, January 27, 1991.
179 “Except for a”—Frank Litsky, “Giants Start Adjusting to Life without Simms,” New York Times, December 21, 1990.
180 “[On] those bootlegs”—Frank Litsky, “Giants Are Deflecting the Big Question,” New York Times, January 30, 1991.
180 “He kept trying”—Seattle Times, “Bennett’s Advice Helps Wrong Team,” January 28, 1991.
181 “I always had”—NFL Films Greatest Games: 1992 NFC Championship Game.
182 “Bill Belichick is a”—Kent Hull, author interview, December 11, 2009.
182 “We were on”—Bob Glauber, Rich Cimini, and Jon Pessah, “Super Bowl XXV,” Newsday, January 28, 1991.
182 “We weren’t used”—Chuck Mulling, “Bills Feel Heartache of Defeat,” Tampa Tribune, January 29, 1991.
183 “We had a lot”—Mark Bavaro, author interview, January 19, 1991.
183 “I’m bored”—Hutchinson News, “Riggins Returns,” June 12, 1981.
184 “the New Yorkers’”—Gerald Eskenazi, “Riggins to Shop for Best Deal,” New York Times, April 29, 1976.
184 “[I] never had a”—Free Lance Star, “Fullback Riggins Optimistic over Redskins’ ‘New’ Offense,” July 27, 1978.
184 “When I got the job”—The Mike Wise Show with Holden Kushner, June 23, 2010.
185 “I’m out here”—Hutchinson News, “Bored and Broke, Riggins Back,” June 12, 1981.
186 “I thought it was”—Ray Didinger, author interview, July 13, 2010.
186 “In our first”—Joe Jacoby, “Super Bowl XVII: Joe Jacoby,” in Super Bowl: The Game of Their Lives, ed. Danny Peary (New York: Macmillan, 1997), 238.
187 “I almost swallowed”—Ira Rosenfeld, “Wait Is Finally Over for Butz,” Kokomo Tribune, January 31, 1983.
