The Steelers and Raiders were two of the great teams in the NFL in the 70's... but in January of '75, neither had asserted their dominance just yet. That was about to change. Pittsburgh was heading to Oakland a week after the Silver and Black had dethroned the two-time Super Bowl Champion, Miami Dolphins in a classic game known as "The Sea of Hands". Now John Madden's team had to take on a Steelers team that was about to come into it's own... and they started that with a dominant performance against Oakland.
The Raiders were used to being the ones who were punching their opponents in the face, but not this time. It was a tough loss for Oakland and for Pro Bowl linebacker Phil Villapiano. A man of many words couldn't explain what happened to his team that day 50 years ago and still has a tough time putting into words what took place that Sunday so long ago.
Starting with the Immaculate Reception in '72, Villapiano and the Steelers had a history of meeting up when it mattered most with the winner often headed to play in the Super Bowl. That was the case in January of '75 and Villapiano tells us what it was like to go up against those incredible Pittsburgh teams... how his friendship with Franco Harris started with their parents and lasted over 50 years until Franco's death in 2022... what it was like to play for John Madden... and go drinking with John Matuszak. And he talks about finally getting over the hump, and winning it all in Super Bowl XI.
Villapiano is a master talker and storyteller who epitomizes what the NFL was like in the 70's... tough, sassy, outrageous and fun... Football at its absolute best and Phil V was right in the middle of it... like always.
Listen in on a great conversation about a great time in the NFL with Phil Villapiano on the Past Our Prime podcast.
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