Tulsa World

Return to Story

Showdown with history

by: JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Sunday, February 03, 2008

Ex-Dolphins don't fret over record, but they back the Giants

SOME OF THEIR teammates on the 1972 Miami Dolphins team will be nervously watching as the New England Patriots try to match perfection in Sunday's Super Bowl.

It isn't that big of a deal for a couple of Oklahomans who played on that Dolphins team. For Howard Twilley and Jim Riley, it remains a nice memory from 35 years ago.

"I want the Giants to win, but this isn't a live-or-die situation," said Twilley, who lives in Tulsa. "It is just a football game. It is an important football game, but it is still just a game.

"Of course, I'd love to still be on the only unbeaten team to win a Super Bowl. But, it really isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things."

If the New England Patriots win and match the unbeaten season of the Miami Dolphins in 1972, these two Oklahomans won't be devastated.

Twilley and Riley won't be throwing a party if the Patriots lose, either.

"If the Patriots win I'll just figure it is about time somebody else did it," said Riley, a former Oklahoma star who now lives in Oklahoma City. "It isn't that big of a deal to me.

"I'll be rooting for the New York Giants, the first time I've ever rooted for an NFC team. But it isn't that big of a deal. If the Patriots win, I'll be happy that we were the first to do it."

Twilley, a former All-American at the University of Tulsa, went on to become one of the NFL's best receivers in the 1960s and 1970s.

He was a key figure for the unbeaten Dolphins, a possession receiver on a team that had a terrific, balanced offense.

"I would love it if we are still the only team to go unbeaten," said Twilley. "But, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Let's keep it in perspective.

"Football is just entertainment. This isn't World War II. These things are overrated by a lot of folks."

Riley also doesn't sound like a guy too worked up over the possibility of the Pats matching the Dolphins.

In fact, Riley said he won't even be watching the game.

He's got a commitment to speak at a church early in the day. Then, he's got another church engagement at halftime of the big game.

"There are things in life far more important than a football game," said Riley. "It was years ago when we did it. What it is now is a nice memory for a bunch of us. But it isn't that big of a deal.

"I'm always amazed how important football is to some folks. It is a game. I've got some friends who were so upset over the (OU) loss in the Fiesta Bowl. They were talking about wanting (coach Bob) Stoops gone. That's just crazy. It is a game."

The 1972 Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season and then won three playoff games to finish 17-0.

That was 35 years ago and the memory has faded over time. Folks still want to talk about it, especially this week.

"I'm not going to jump off a cliff if the Patriots win," said Twilley. "To be honest, I'd be perfectly happy if the New England Patriots win because they are a classy group.

"The Patriots remind me of our team. They seem to stress the team thing. There's not a lot of individual stars on that team. That is kind of like our team 35 years ago."

Earlier this season, the Dolphins held a reunion for the 1972 team.

"What I remember most about that year was that we had gone to the Super Bowl the year before and lost to the Dallas Cowboys," said Riley. "None of us enjoyed the feeling of losing in the Super Bowl. It was something we wanted to correct. So, the next year was about getting back to the Super Bowl and winning it.

"That first year, we had been happy to get to the Super Bowl. So, the following year we were more serious about it. We went the whole year, getting lucky a few times, but when we got to the Super Bowl, we were all business. We wanted that game really bad."

Twilley said winning the Super Bowl was the primary goal for the Dolphins. It just worked out that Miami won them all.

"I don't think we ever talked about going unbeaten the whole season," said Twilley. "That wasn't our goal. Our goal was to get back to the Super Bowl and win it.

"It just worked out that we didn't lose. To win the Super Bowl was what we really wanted. Going unbeaten was just a product of that goal. That's another thing I like about the Patriots. I haven't heard them talk about going unbeaten very often. That's the way we were, too."

Riley said once the Dolphins got to the Super Bowl, the unbeaten season was important.

He said it is the same pressure the Patriots are feeling this week.

"We won 14 games in the regular season," said Riley. "We all knew that wouldn't mean much if we didn't go on and win the Super Bowl.

"That's the same kind of pressure the Patriots feel. You don't want to fall just short when you get this far."

And, Riley said he does have mixed emotions. He's been friends with Oklahoma City native Wes Welker, who is a key receiver for the Pats.

"He's a great kid and I'd love to see them win because of him," said Riley.

He then added, "But I've still got to root for the Giants."

Read John Klein's blog at www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra.

Associate Images:

Don Shula (center) celebrates with members of the Miami Dolphins after their 14-7 win in Super Bowl VII to finish the season 17-0. The Patriots could be the first team in 35 years to finish undefeated with a win Sunday.

Howard Twilley
Former TU star and receiver on the 1972 Miami squad.

Return to Story