Tonight, December 2, is the thirty-sixth anniversary of the famous Chicago "Bears"-Miami "Dolphins" game in the Orange Bowl. Chicago came in 12-0, they would go on to win the Super Bowl, and were threatening Miami's perfect 17-0 season in 1972. The "Dolphins" put a stop to that on this Monday night (They had some help from a poorly called Chicago offense.). Miami scored on each of its five possessions in the first half against the mighty "Bears" defense, scoring more points, 31, in a half than the "Bears" had given up in any full game that year, 1985. It was the hardest-hitting tackle football game I ever witnessed. I was there. On replay the game is eerily reminiscent of the first time I had ever been in the Orange Bowl less than two years before for the epic Miami-Nebraska game that gave the "Hurricanes" their first national championship. In that one the huge underdog "Hurricanes" shocked the nation by jumping on Nebraska 17-0. In this one the "Dolphins" led 31-10 at half time. Jim McMahon, the spark of the Chicago offense, did not play, although he was healthy. He had missed the three previous games with a sore shoulder. McMahon's replacement, Steve Fuller, was sorry. 

I have the same overriding memory of both of these historic football games--I have never been, before or since, in stadiums that were that electric. There was nothing like the Orange Bowl for a mega game. On those occasions when I stepped from the concourse into the bowl to go to my seat the crowd quivered as a single, gigantic beast, its roar pulsing from one section to another and rising, always rising. On both I was seated in the closed end zone, the loudest section. On this date in 1985 Chicago scored its first touchdown in that end zone, they were set up on about the twelve-yard line when Fuller broke huddle and approached the center. He didn't get there. He broke off and conferred with the back judge who indulged the "Bears" to re-huddle to allow us in the cheap seats to quiet down. It didn't work. Three or four times the same pantomime between enemy quarterback and referee occurred, which only further enraged us. The "Dolphins" players flapped their arms up and down like giant condors to quiet us. Coach Shula, puffing his cheeks in frustrated exhale turned from field to stands and motioned with his arms straight over his head for quiet, or slightly less roar. On the other hand there was nothing as dismal as the OB when it was half-filled. 

The sensory impressions run together in my mind after so many years. I am not sure which game it was that I screamed myself hoarse and which it was that I bruised the palms of my hands from clapping so hard and so often--maybe both. The home team won both games, the "Hurricanes" 31-30 and the "Dolphins" 38-24.