Bill Walsh, Thanks for the Memories!

What??? A sports post on Studeo? Inconceivable!

Who could have ever wished for a better time to be growing up in relation to a local pro football team? Let me tell you, the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980s was an exciting place to be! A lot of the details have faded but a number of names still stick with me. Joe Montana (of course), Dwight Clark and especially Jerry Rice. Man, he made those receptions look like magic.

I was 11 at the time of Superbowl XVI (January 1982) when Bill Walsh and the Niners achieved their first big victory. I was babysitting for children whose parents were off at a Superbowl party. I wasn't terribly interested, but thought I'd check into things when the kids were in a convenient location and I was hooked! Niners beat the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21.

I was 14 at the time of Superbowl XIX. The funny thing here is that the Superbowl was local to the Niners as it was held at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto. Our family was participating in a 32 mile (2-day) pro-life walk from Menlo Park to San Francisco. I distinctly remember seeing numerous limos driving along the freeway headed toward the Superbowl. After our walk, which ended about noon that second day, we headed to my sister's apartment in SF where we all enjoyed watching the Superbowl. This one was a total blowout. Niners beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16.

I was a Freshman at TAC when Bill Walsh brought his Niners to the Superbowl for the final time. Superbowl XXIII in January 1989. The president of TAC at the time, Dr. McArthur, was a big 49er fan and hosted a Superbowl party at his home on campus. That was a lot of fun and, though the details fade from memory, I seem to remember that that game had a particularly exciting and nail-biting second half. Funny that the president who followed Dr. McArthur is also a 49er fan! :) Niners beat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16.

Bill Walsh 1931-2007 (49ers head coach 1979-1988), Rest in Peace

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