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The 1981 Shreveport Broadcast Controversy with the Saints but not involving the Cowboys
Posted on 9/2/22 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 9/2/22 at 1:02 pm
We all know about Shreveport's split loyalty... it's either Saints or Cowboys... and the bind it puts the NFC contracted station in on whether to show the Saints or Cowboys when their schedules clash
But this JaguarGator9 video (YouTube) looks at the final week of the 1981 season
On the surface there was no decision to be made regarding what game to show since the Cowboys played on Saturday and the Saints on Sunday.
Since CBS had the NFC contract at the time, KSLA should've been in the clear to show the 49ers @ Saints game to close out the season
However... the station GM looked at the schedule and had a different thought
The 49ers had already wrapped up the NFC West and, with the Giants win over the Cowboys on Saturday, the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs... they had nothing to play for and would be sitting a bunch of key players to not risk injury before the postseason
The Saints had the worst record in the NFC and were limping to the finish line... per the norm before Tom Benson bought the team several years later
so KSLA's GM looked at the CBS broadcast schedule and saw something that he thought was better than the home state team... Buccaneers @ Lions
Bucs/Lions was essentially for all the marbles... winner wins the NFC Central and goes to the playoffs and loser is eliminated from postseason contention... as the narrator of the video says... if this is the modern NFL TV regulations then this Bucs/Lions game gets flexed to SNF to end the season
When word got out KSLA was showing Bucs/Lions over 49ers/Saints... the Shreveport masses let their opinions be known... they wanted the Saints... but the GM would not be moved... even going on the 6 PM news a couple days in advance to defend the decision
The Saints would lose to the 49er back-ups that day and TB/DET was the better game... but sometimes the market dictates it's better to stick with what's close by and actually has a fan base in the area over what might be a better/more competitive game
But this JaguarGator9 video (YouTube) looks at the final week of the 1981 season
On the surface there was no decision to be made regarding what game to show since the Cowboys played on Saturday and the Saints on Sunday.
Since CBS had the NFC contract at the time, KSLA should've been in the clear to show the 49ers @ Saints game to close out the season
However... the station GM looked at the schedule and had a different thought
The 49ers had already wrapped up the NFC West and, with the Giants win over the Cowboys on Saturday, the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs... they had nothing to play for and would be sitting a bunch of key players to not risk injury before the postseason
The Saints had the worst record in the NFC and were limping to the finish line... per the norm before Tom Benson bought the team several years later
so KSLA's GM looked at the CBS broadcast schedule and saw something that he thought was better than the home state team... Buccaneers @ Lions
Bucs/Lions was essentially for all the marbles... winner wins the NFC Central and goes to the playoffs and loser is eliminated from postseason contention... as the narrator of the video says... if this is the modern NFL TV regulations then this Bucs/Lions game gets flexed to SNF to end the season
When word got out KSLA was showing Bucs/Lions over 49ers/Saints... the Shreveport masses let their opinions be known... they wanted the Saints... but the GM would not be moved... even going on the 6 PM news a couple days in advance to defend the decision
The Saints would lose to the 49er back-ups that day and TB/DET was the better game... but sometimes the market dictates it's better to stick with what's close by and actually has a fan base in the area over what might be a better/more competitive game
4
Posted on 9/2/22 at 1:19 pm to rt3
quote:
The Saints would lose to the 49er back-ups that day
seems the 49ers starters played the first half as Montana had 2 TDs.
One fun stat that stands out Russel Erxleben...4 punts for 139 yards. Imagine an NFL punter averaging less than 35 yards a punt these days.
Posted on 9/2/22 at 1:21 pm to saintsfan92612
quote:
seems the 49ers starters played the first half as Montana had 2 TDs.
the video says he played the 1st qtr and the #2 QB played the final 3
Montana throwing 2 TDs in 1 quarter seems about right for the era of Saints we're talking about here... esp. since we're talking about the 'let's get this over with' game
(ETA: just looked at the box score... Montana played into the 2nd quarter... the Saints actually led 14-7 after the 1st but I guess it was tied up shortly after the start of the 2nd... Saints actually led 17-14 in the 4th but couldn't hold the lead... go figure)
quote:
One fun stat that stands out Russel Erxleben...4 punts for 139 yards. Imagine an NFL punter averaging less than 35 yards a punt these days.
Gillikin & the kid in Buffalo had 80+ yard punts in the preseason
ETA: Erxleben's average for that season was 40.5 yds/punt... I don't think that would do it in today's NFL
also... our kicker (Benny Ricardo) was just 52% on the year with a long of 46... a kicker with a percentage that low would be gone after like 3 games in today's NFL... if that
This post was edited on 9/2/22 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 9/2/22 at 1:30 pm to rt3
my goodness... did Bum Phillips not trust Archie at all or did he like playing multiple QBs?
in a 16 game season... Archie played 12 games, started 11 of them
Dave Wilson played in 11 games and started 4 of them
and Bobby Scott played 4 games with 1 start
that's a lot of different QBs getting a lot of snaps in 1 season for 1 team
in a 16 game season... Archie played 12 games, started 11 of them
Dave Wilson played in 11 games and started 4 of them
and Bobby Scott played 4 games with 1 start
that's a lot of different QBs getting a lot of snaps in 1 season for 1 team
Posted on 9/2/22 at 2:34 pm to rt3
Bum Phillips was borderline retarded. His hiring and Ditkas hiring set the team back years
Posted on 9/2/22 at 3:34 pm to rt3
While living in Shreveport/Bossier for 10 yrs, the playing of Cowboy games over Saints game drove my hatred for Dallas even more
Posted on 9/2/22 at 3:39 pm to grich31
quote:
my hatred for Dallas even more
I had a-hole family that were huge cowgirls fans. I have an intense hatred for the cowgirls and falcons.
Posted on 9/2/22 at 4:29 pm to rt3
quote:
ETA: Erxleben's average for that season was 40.5 yds/punt... I don't think that would do it in today's NFL
Wasn't he also the emergency QB or am I thinking of Guido Merkins?
Posted on 9/2/22 at 5:08 pm to jflsufan
quote:Guido
Wasn't he also the emergency QB or am I thinking of Guido Merkins?
Posted on 9/2/22 at 6:28 pm to rt3
They had an online poll to decide who to show when I lived there around 2011. Saints won the poll but it was VERY close. Shreveport sucks so bad.
Posted on 9/3/22 at 3:30 pm to saintsfan92612
Wasn’t Erxleben a first round pick??
Posted on 9/4/22 at 9:56 am to rt3
I love those JG9 clips.
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