1975 Giants

[Wolverine1975]

This is an excerpt from the first game of the Giants' 1975 season that appeared in The Bergen Record, written by Vinny Di Trani, on Monday, September 22, 1975.  The Giants defeated the Eagles, 23-14.

     "....Yet from the total despair of that late first-period play, the Giants yesterday managed to concoct a 23-14 triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles.  Coach Bill Arnsparger's the first to admit 'It wasn't very pretty,' but he's not about to throw it back.  A Giant win has been so rare in recent years that no one is going to question the methods used to achieve it."

     '"We weren't spectacular, but we got the job done," appraised Ron Johnson, who scored two touchdowns.  "We made mistakes, but we never totally broke down."'

     "(John) Mendenhall's injury, which may keep him out of next week's game with Washington, brought about an immediate switch of Dave Gallagher from end to tackle, and the insertion of rookie George Martin at end.  In the second half, however, Gallagher returned to end and Rick Dvorak played tackle.  The different combinations managed to shut off the Eagles' running game and recorded three sacks of the quarterbacks."

     "That's where the total collapse, 1974 style, would have struck.  But the ensuing onside kickoff was covered by wide receiver (Ray) Rhodes.  And, on a third-and-10 play in an apparent kill-the-clock possession, (Craig) Morton play-faked and lofted a 50-yard scoring bomb to Rhodes."

     "The touchdown with 39 seconds left ended any chance of the total breakdown.  'It's a win and they can't take it away from us,' said Morton, who had a good day throwing (14-of-28 for 240 yards) despite missing practice Friday and Saturday because of a twisted right wrist."

     "It not only was a win, but the most lopsided Arnsparger has achieved in his season-plus-one-game as Giants' head coach."
     

[MightyGiants]

That was a very dark period for our beloved team

[Sam56]

We went 5 and 9.

1975 New York Giants

Regular Season

Week 1  Sep 21 W 23-14 at Philadelphia Eagles 
Week 2  Sep 28 L 49-13 at Washington Redskins 
Week 3  Oct 5 L 26-14 at St. Louis Cardinals 
Week 4  Oct 12 L 13-7 vs Dallas Cowboys 
Week 5  Oct 20 W 17-14 at Buffalo Bills 
Week 6  Oct 25 L 20-13 vs St. Louis Cardinals 
Week 7  Nov 1 W 35-24 vs San Diego Chargers 
Week 8  Nov 9 L 21-13 vs Washington Redskins 
Week 9  Nov 16 L 13-10 vs Philadelphia Eagles 
Week 10  Nov 23 L 40-14 at Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee, WI
Week 11  Nov 30 L 14-3 at Dallas Cowboys 
Week 12  Dec 7 L 21-0 vs Baltimore Colts 
Week 13  Dec 14 W 28-14 vs New Orleans Saints 
Week 14  Dec 21 W 26-23 at San Francisco 49ers 

The best part of 1975 was I was in Germany (Ramstein AFB) and with the lack of today's communications and media, I didn't live up and close and personal with every game. Also as a 33 year, I finally finished my BS degree from the University of Maryland.   

[Wolverine1975]

The 1975 season was a considerable improvement from 1974.  This was the season that the defensive unit started to come into its own with Marty Schottenheimer as defensive coordinator.  Perhaps the most impressive was the jelling of the linebacking unit: Van Pelt, Kelley and Hughes.  The Oct. 20 MNF game against the Bills that year was proof of a sign of good things to come for the Giants defense.  Despite the overall mediocrity of this time period, the defensive line was a shining star.

With that said, another excerpted 1975 article, spotlighting the Giants' defense.  This is dated September 23, 1975 and appeared in The Bergen Record.  Vinny DiTrani is the writer. 


EVERYONE HAS A PART IN NEW GIANT DEFENSE

By Vinny DiTrani, Staff Writer


     John Mendenhall, showing only traces of a limp, paraded around the Giants' Pace University training complex yesterday vowing to all he would not miss this week's suddenly-important game with the Washington Redskins.

     "I think our defense proved something," said Mendenhall, reflecting on what the unit accomplished without its mainspring.  "We played well because we've got 17 guys who can come in and do the job.  Everybody's got a part in our defense, not just 11 guys."

     Of the 18 performers, 16 played defensively against the Eagles.  One participant, cornerback Henry Stuckey, was sidelined with a knee injury, and Rondy Colbert was limited to special teams.  In addition to the starters, these players took part in the contest:

     * Defensive back Robert Giblin was the nickel or fifth back in passing situations, usually replacing a linebacker.

     * Linebacker Andy Selfridge acted as the 53 man in spots, replacing a defensive lineman.

     * Linebacker Bob Schmit played in the middle, with Brian Kelley shifting to the strong side while Brad Van Pelt shook off an injury.

     * Defensive end George Martin replaced Mendenhall (with Dave Gallagher moving from end to tackle), and later too Jack Gregory's spot in pass-rush situations.

     * Defensive tackle Rick Dvorak took Mendenhall's place for most of the second half although he was bothered by a sore shoulder.

     Van Pelt came out of the Eagle game with several bumps and bruises, but he should be ready for the Skins.  Offensive left tackle Willie Young, who sat out the Eagle game because of sore ribs, may return Sunday but Stuckey's status still is questionable at this time.

[Wolverine1975]

Fast-forwarding a bit to near the end of the 1975 season, then-Giants quarterback Craig Morton drops a bombshell.  These are excerpts from the New York Times dated Wednesday, November 26, 1975.  The article was written by Murray Chass.

MORTON'S VIEW: GIANTS ARE LAZY

by Murray Chass



...Morton has kept remarkably silent this season despite some harsh treatment by defensive linemen, but the beatings, both personal and general, apparently have become so frustrating that he finally was willing to talk about the team's plight today.

"We're lazy," the quarterback said when asked what was wrong with the Giants.  "We're not getting off the ball.  We're not doing anything right.  Until everyone gets his head in the game and starts playing, we're going to be just like we have been-very ineffective.

"We're getting paid to do something.  We ought to do it right.  There are no excuses.  You can rationalize anything, but the people have chosen to play this game and you have to play by the rules.  There's no excuse for Sunday's game."

The question in their minds and everyone else's is: Can they overcome that performance (a 40-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 23, 1975) and play respectably the rest of the season?

Some people have suggested that the Giants simply don't have the talent to produce a better caliber of football, that Morton was reluctant to dissect and downgrade his teammates and their abilities.

"You make do with what you have," he (Morton) said.  "We're just not doing the jobs we should be doing."

The quarterback included himself in that category because he has played far from perfectly this season.  He has compounded the problems presented by the linemen (lack of protection) and the receivers (too many dropped passes) by throwing erratically in recent weeks.

"My response is to go out and work harder.  It's always been a challenge and now it's harder.  Dropped balls you can correct.  Bad passes you can correct.  Fumbles I can't do anything about.  But the passing game I can.  You keep throwing until they catch them and you keep throwing until you throw better.  Tomorrow I'll just keep the guys out and throw longer."

NOTE: A small Giants section which appeared alongside this article pointed out that guard Dick Enderle had been cut by the Giants.  Bill Windauer, a defensive tackle who had stints with the Colts and the Dolphins, was brought in to enrich the defense.

[MightyGiants]

WOW!  Imagine if a Giants QB (or any player for that matter) called out his teammates as "lazy".

[kartanoman]

At least it worked! The Giants finished the season by defeating the Saints and 49ers.

Peace!

[Wolverine1975]

On Monday, October 20, 1975, the Giants played the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.  The Giants won that game on George Hunt's  game-winning field goal with six seconds remaining.  At the time, it seemed like the most important game they played yet (and perhaps in quite a while).

Here are excerpts from an article written by John Rowe from the Bergen Record dated October 21, 1975.


HOW SIGNIFICANT IS GIANTS' COMEBACK?

by John Rowe


ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.-George Hunt's game-winning field goal with six seconds to play is more significant to the Giants than just an upset victory.  It may have turned New York's season around.

"This is what we had been reaching for," said linebacker Pat Hughes.  "Now the younger players know what a win like this is all about."

The Giants started as if they were going to win the battle but lost the war against the previously unbeaten Bills.  O.J. Simpson, who finished with a season-low 126 yards in 34 carries, was being kept in check, but Buffalo had a 14-0 lead.

The Giants, who had lost three straight games, could have quit in the third quarter.  The defense intercepted Joe Ferguson twice, but the offense didn't cash in.  Hunt missed field goal tries of 40 and 47 yards.

New York's offense didn't roll over and die after Hunt's two failures.  The Giants marched 90 yards the next time they got the ball.  (Craig) Morton threw twice to Walker Gillette for 43 yards before (Ron) Johnson scored on a 13-yard run with 8:19 left, tying the score.

The Giants' new self-confidence was displayed late in the game.  Buffalo had a third-down play from the New York 32, and Ferguson threw a pass for Bob Chandler, but Clyde Powers broke it up.  (John) Leypoldt (Bills kicker) then missed his 50-yarder.

"I looked up at the scoreboard, and there was 1:34 left," said Hughes.  "Then I went in the huddle and called the defensive signals . I said, 'They're not going to make it.'  And all 10 pairs of eyes agreed with me."

[Wolverine1975]

The following is a poem that Bob McKenty wrote for the New York Times on December 21, 1975 titled "Farewell To The Giants".

FAREWELL TO THE GIANTS
by Bob McKenty

BOB HYLAND:

Hyland flings the football to his rear,
Then braces, not for enemy attack
So much as out of salutary fear
Hunt's field-goal try may hit his back.

JOHN MENDENHALL:

Once imperturable as the Chesire
Cat, today frustrations rankle
Mendenhall who can feel the pressure-
Of one-eighth ton of one good ankle.

JOHN HICKS:

Giant sophomore Hicks, the great
Alumnus of Ohio State,
As a Giant's seen more losing days
Than a decade dumps on Woody Hayes.

DANNY BUGGS:

O Danny Buggs!  His kick returns
Might just electrify us all,
But not until our hero learns
To wait until he's got the ball.

BILL ARNSPARGER:

'Twas a chorus line that inspired Knute
To devise the famous box formation.
Arnsparger's offense follows suit
With its "one-two-three-kick" imitation.

CRAIG MORTON:

I know a man whom seven hacks
Could not preserve from seven sacks.
(They've made poor Morton just as nervous
As Ford is with the Secret Service.)

DOUG KOTAR:

It took a full year till Kotar
Could start as a football toter
(And till broadcasters of the game
Had learned to pronounce his name).

JACK GREGORY:

Gregory, on the tackle,
Laid Kilmer low with a stop
That caused his shoulder to crackle
After the snap and pop.

WALKER GILLETTE:

Gillette cuts deep, then stops on a dime
And grabs the pigskin in the nick of time.
This wide receiver plays exceedingly hard
Has he any relatives who play Right Guard?

[Wolverine1975]

Here's something for those who are interested; did you know that there was a small-but-devoted booster club for the Giants back in 1975?  Here are excerpts from a Bergen Record article written by Mike Farber dated October 19, 1975.

GIANTS STILL HAVE THEIR FAITHFUL
by Mike Farber

LODI---They are a dying breed, the six who trooped into the basement of a Lodi house Monday.  They have banded together for self-preservation in an age of the blitz, the bomb and Broadway Joe.  They have gathered to help save a breed facing extinction: The New York Giants.

These steadfast six comprise the entire membership of the New York Football Giants Boosters of Bergen County, N.J., which is commentary enough on the state of the team.

"You have to have pain to be a Giants fan," said club founder and president Fiore Paluscio, who lends his basement for the monthly gatherings.  "We've suffered.  Oh how we've suffered."

But their loyalty remains constant to the once mighty Giants.  Only die-hard Giants fans are welcome to swell their number. 

But these men have done more to organizae than cry in their beers.  While they can't make Ron Johnson run faster or prevent Bobby Brooks from being beaten by a post pattern, they feel they are helping the team in a very real way.

"We organized to support, promote and give to charity," said Fiore Paluscio.  "We want to be a credit to the team.  When they move to Bergen, we want to be an integral part of that move."

The club, formed in January (1975), has run into as many problems as its idols.  Two-hundred and two people attended a dinner-dance in May where Roy Hilton was the featured guest.  He's now with the Falcons. 

"We really are still in the formative stages," said president Paluscio.  "We hope to have luncheons and bring some of the players  to speak.  We run a first-class organization.  But no matter what happens, we will always support them.  We believe in them.  We hurt with them."

[MightyGiants]

But their loyalty remains constant to the once mighty Giants.