Roger Staubach

**^{Two Pro Football Hall of Famers in one image. Who do you}**
**^{think they are?}**

Two NFL luminaries squared off in this image captured in Metropolitan Stadium (Bloomington, MN) on October 18, 1970, by Walter Iooss Jr.

Minnesota Vikings’ defensive lineman. Alan Page, was part of the famed “Purple People Eaters” defense. During a 15-season career, Page amassed 173 sacks and appeared in nine consecutive Pro Bowls. In 1970 he was one year away from becoming the first defensive player to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. Following his playing days, Page practiced law before eventually being elected to Minnesota’s Supreme Court.

While Page served the public following his playing days, Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback, Roger Staubach, served it prior to ever suiting up for the Cowboys. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Staubach was the 1963 Heisman Trophy winner before serving his required four years active duty assignment – including serving in Vietnam – with the Navy. His rookie season was 1969 with the Cowboys and it wasn’t until 1971 that he became the Cowboys’ regular starting quarterback.The Philadelphia Eagles visited the New York Giants on a cold

Alan Page and Roger Staubach — **^{Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach finds a way over the Minnesota Vikings’ Alan Page at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, MN on October 18, 1970. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr.)}**

Page’s Vikings got the best of Staubach’s Cowboys in this game, 54-13. It was one of only eight games Staubach started that season and it was not likley part of any highlight reels. He finished 9-for-16 passing for 109 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He was also sacked seven times. For his part Page picked off Staubach once (one of his two career interceptions) and returned it 27 yards. Though sacks were not found in the boxscore, one must assume he was in on Staubach sack party.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you by the early kickoff on Sunday.

**^{The only thing bigger than his collar was his smile. Went on to have a successful}**
**^{NFL career. Once teamed with another Heisman winner in the same backfield.}**
**^{Name ’em both for an extra helping of Primanti Bros. fries.}**

I have one keen recollection of Tony Dorsett‘s Heisman Trophy-winning 1976 season. It was January 1, 1977 and Dorsett’s Pittsburgh Panthers played in the Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs. To be clear, I remember nothing about Dorsett’s 202-yard performance in that game or the fact that Pitt won, 24-7, to complete an 11-0 season and earn the consensus national championship. Nope, what I remember most is that the rest of my family went to bed before me (then a 9-year-old) and I stayed up to watch the game. Not sure I made it to the end, but I distinctly remember being responsible for turning the TV off and the lights out before going to bed. It was the first time I ever recall staying up after my parents for a sporting event.

In the event you want to enjoy a journey in the way-back machine, here’s the ABC telecast of the Sugar Bowl, featuring Keith Jackson and Ara Parseghian on the call.

Dorsett went on to the second pick in the 1977 NFL Draft (Ricky Bell went No. 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and over 12 seasons had a Hall of Fame career (the only 1977 draftee enshrined in Canton). In Dallas, Dorsett joined fellow Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in the backfield and helped the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, 27-10, over the Denver Broncos. Dorsett also was in the same backfield as another Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker, during the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

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