Big Blue Huddle

Another article on Dan Lloyd, courtesy of Vinny DiTrani from 1976.

SPACEMAN, CADET ARE RATHER SPECIAL
by Vinny DiTrani

from The Bergen Record, November 17, 1976

PLEASANTVILLE, NY--Spaceman and the Space Cadet is not a new Saturday morning TV show for the kiddies.  It's a somewhat unlikely pair, teamed up recently, that's having a heckuva time on the Giants' special units.
     Spaceman is Dan Lloyd, the rookie linebacker whose only NFL experience has come running under kicks.  The Cadet is Pat Hughes, who for the past six seasons had been spared the kamikaze duty while performing regularly at outside linebacker. 
     Hughes recently was benched when Harry Carson was given the regular middle linebacking job and Brian Kelley moved outside.  It was tough for the veteran to accept the demotion, but playing on special teams with Lloyd has helped Hughes shake the doldrums.  "When we break the huddle, he'll say something like 'See ya down at the 20-yard line'," Hughes said.  "Then we race down to see who gets there first."
     Hughes originally tagged Lloyd "Spaceman" because of the weird helmet the rookie from Washington wears.  But the name has stuck, not so much for the helmet as for the limb-endangering tendencies Lloyd sometimes displays. 
     Those tendencies have made him a terror on the specials, and his work hasn't gone unnoticed.  Just yesterday he was presented the first "Hit Of The Week" award by the Giants' staff for his vicious crunching of the Redskins' Eddie Brown in Sunday's 12-9 Giant triumph. 
     The award is a carved wooden statue of a bull, one of 12 purchased by director of operations Andy Robustelli on a trip to Spain. 
     "It's got bent up horns,"said Lloyd, pointing to the statue's head.  "That may be significant."
     Lloyd also received praise from Washington's Rusty Tillman, one of the league's more accomplished special teams performers, and from Denver coach John Ralston, who yesterday watched movies of Lloyd's work against the Skins.  Just two weeks ago coach John McVay said, "I wish I had 10 more Dan Lloyds."
     "That comment upset a lot of players," Lloyd admitted.  "A lot of guys couldn't believe signing 10 more like me was the answer to their problems.  So the practices have gotten a lot more inspired the past few weeks.  Guys like [Jack] Gregory and [John ] Mendenhall have been fired up.  The offensive  linemen have been looking to make their blocks harder.
     "I guess indirectly, and I emphasize the indirectly, I've stirred up the whole thing.  But that's good because some guys have a tendency to go through the whole week at three-quarters speed.  When you get in a game you can't react to the others guys going full speed.  So it's good to have some of your practice sessions full speed during the week."
     Lloyd has been making his contributions on the special teams while waiting for a chance to make the defensive unit.  Hughes has resigned himself that the Giants are going to use Carson, Brad Van Pelt and Kelley in the future, and has dedicated his play on specials to showing people he's still a good football player.
     "I still take pride in what I'm doing," he said.  "I just have to see what's going to happen in the offseason.  I still can play, whether here or somewhere else.
     "If I had my choice, I'd like to stay with the Giants.  But I want other people to know I'm still working hard and contributing."
     Spaceman had some praise for the Cadet.
     "Pat's a competitor," he said.  "A lot of other guys in his position would have quit and just packed it in.  But Pat still contributes, and that's good."

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While I highly doubt that there had been a full moon on the night of November 13, 1976, the Giants did something that was considered unthinkable the next day.  The youthful Giants, at the time one of the youngest teams in the league, had defeated their greatest foe: the over-the-hill Redskins at Giants Stadium, 12-9 in front of 72,975 fans who were still wondering if the Giants would ever win a game that season (prior to the game they were 0-9).

GIANTS REFUSE TO BECOME UNGLUED
by Vinny DiTrani

BERGEN RECORD, November 15, 1976

EAST RUTHERFORD--"Just another interception," was Jim Stienke's immediate thought as he tumbled toward the Giant Stadium turf, grasping the ball which seconds before had left Joe Theismann's right hand.
     Stienke didn't realize until after the game that he had come up with the winner, the play that preserved the 12-9 win over the Redskins and halted the Giants' season-long losing streak.  "I was just playing the down-and-distance," he claimed.  "There wasn't enough time to analyze the situation."
     Washington had taken a time out to analyze this situation: third-and-two, ball on the Giant seven, 41 seconds to play.  The Skins were down by three to a team whose offense boasted a long-gain run of nine yards and a long-gain pass of 13.  But the Giants were winning the battle of the field goals, four to three.
     After a consultation, the Skins set up for what proved to be their final offensive play from scrimmage.  "It was a questionable call, but I'm glad they called it," said Stienke, the right cornerback, who like most Giants was looking for a running play into the line which could have set up a tying field goal. 
     Theismann, however, rolled to his left with a run-pass option.  The blitzing Harry Carson took away the run part.  So the quarterback looked for his intended receivers, running back Mike Thomas and tight end Jean Fugett.  Neither was on his pattern, so Theismann tried to toss the ball out of the end zone.  But Stienke interceded.
     "I didn't have time to think.  I just reacted to the ball," said Stienke.
     The interception was the culmination of a fine defensive play by the Giant unit which hasn't allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters.  Tackle John Mendenhall wiped out a blocker, allowing middle linebacker Carson free access on his blitz.
     Linebacker Brad Van Pelt jammed tight end Fugett, who blocked on Van Pelt before trying to slip out for the pass.  Stienke bumped Thomnas off his pattern and jarred him enough to send him into Fugett, effectively disrupting both Skins' patterns. 
     So instead of another final-minute loss, like the opening game in Washington, or an overtime situation, the Giants and John McVay had their first win.  "Gosh, that was exciting," said McVay, who counted down the final seconds with the hometown fans, and later shook hands with every player in the locker room.
     "That's a gutty, gutty bunch of guys, to get slapped around in ball games they played well enough to win, and to stick together like they did today," lauded McVay.
     While the offense did enough to get 12 points on four Joe Danelo field goals, the defense was exceptional in holding the Skins to three Mark Moseley three-pointers.  Even when the Redskins were marching toward a possible win or a tie, the defensive huddle was void of deja vu.
     "You can't think back to what happened in the past," said linebacker Brian Kelley, "because you're sure to lose then."
     "I was thinking about the field-goal try and how I had to do something about blocking it," said Van Pelt about the kick that never was made.
     GIANT NOTES--Had Moseley gotten that final field-goal attempt, it would have set an NFL record for most attempts in a game by both teams.  The six Moseley and five Danelo tries tied the NFL mark...Last time Giants won without a touchdown was by 9-3 score over the Chicago Cardinals at Yankee Stadium in 1959...Craig Morton (sore right elbow) could have played, but McVay decided to stay with Norm Snead for the whole game despite three-of-14 for 26 yards passing stats.  In Snead's defense, Walker Gillette dropped a sure touchdown and Ray Rhodes muffed a bomb...George Martin had two sacks, one against Thomas on a halfback option on which he stripped the ball and recovered the fumble.  Dan Lloyd clobbered kick returner Eddie Brown and covered his bobble in the second period...72,975 attended and 3,634 stayed home.

During the midway point of the 1976 season, coach Bill Arnsparger was ousted in favor of John McVay.  Also during that period, a switcheroo took place in the linebacking corps which, unforeseen at the time, would turn out to be one of the greatest gambles the Giants would ever make. 

BENCHING ANGERS HUGHES
by Vinny DiTrani

(from The Bergen Record, October 20, 1976)

PLEASANTVILLE, NY--Bill Arnsparger is playing the melodramatics again, holding off the announcement of any Giant lineup changes for Sunday's home game with the Steelers.

He dropped some hints yesterday, however.  It looks like Craig Morton will be back at quarterback, and Larry Mallory or Rick Volk will be at free safety, with Jim Stienke at the corner.

One of last week's moves, however, has passed the melodramatics and become a permanent one.  Rookie Harry Carson will again start at middle linebacker, with Brian Kelley on the weak side.  Pat Hughes remains on the bench, and wondering.

"I had a discussion with Bill about it," said Hughes, referring to his benching.  "But the explanation was not satisfactory, at least not in my mind.

"He said it was a 'lack of intensity.' But how do you measure intensity?  On a Richter Scale?  I'm just looking for a concrete reason, that's all."

Linebacker coach Marty Schottenheimer explained the move behind getting Carson, of whom big things are expected, into the lineup.  "He's just too good to stay on the bench," said Schottenheimer. 

Carson did well against the Vikings, although he made the expected rookie mistakes.  With an 0-6 record, the Giants have nothing to lose by giving Carson the experience he needs to become a top middle linebacker. 

"I'm sure they're set and that's the way they'll be playing," said Hughes, referring to the linebacking trio of Kelley, Carson and Brad Van Pelt.

"But I still have confidence in my ability and I'll show anyone in my game films.  All I want to do is play, and four plays doesn't make it."

Hughes was in on four goal-line plays against the Vikings in his first sit-down performance since he gained starting status six years ago.  "All the time I've been here it's been nothing but losing," said Hughes.  "But in all that time I've tried to do something about it.  I've tried to win my part of the battle.

"Now to sit down, or to be made to sit down, it hurts, with a capital H.  It's my instinct to fight back now and show them what I can do.  But it's tough to do that in four plays."

Arnsparger said he'd expect Hughes to be upset by the move, just like he'd expect any player to be irritated by a benching.  "All leopards have spots," said Hughes, "but not all human beings have the same emotions and feelings.  And I just don't like to be jerked around on a string like that."

Excerpted from The New York Times, October 9, 1976.

GIANTS SING PRAISES OF NEW STADIUM
by Michael Katz (Special to The New York Times)

     EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 8-At 1:56 P.M., Tom Mullen took a small step for Giant-kind and moved on to green AstroTurf at Giants Stadium.
     As the loudspeakers played "Over The Rainbow", Mullen became the first Giant player to take the field for the team's first practice at its $68 million new home.
     "I got dressed faster than anybody else," said the starting left tackle of his history-making moment. 
     A few minutes later, Joe Danelo, the little place-kicker, made the first fumble, dropping a punt from Dave Jennings, and the Giants were home at last after three years of wandering since New York City kicked them out of Yankee Stadium. 
     "We just had a normal practice," said Coach Bill Arnsparger.  "It's nice to have a home, a home for your football team, a home for your fans.
     "Tradition is based on the home.  The family institution is based on the home.  Our country was built on it, people coming here looking for a home."
     The Giants didn't get here by the Mayflower, however.  Most had no trouble finding their luxurious new home from their regular practice facilities at Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y.  It took Marsh White almost three hours, though.
     Even White thought the trip was worth it when he saw the players' facilities, which include a sauna and two handball courts.  "This locker room has better carpeting than I do in my house," said Doug Van Horn.
     "It's like a country club in here," said Jack Gregory.
     "I think the shower's even bigger than the locker room," said Jim Stienke.
     "I grew two inches when I walked in," said Brian Kelley.
     "Beautiful," said Brad Van Pelt.
     "Magnificent," said Pat Hughes.
     "Fantastic," said Dave Jennings.
     "Stop putting words in their mouths," said Arnsparger.

Dan Lloyd, Part Deux:

GIANTS' ROOKIE 'SPACEMAN' ENJOYS KNOCKING DOWN FOES, GETS REWARD

This is an excerpted special article from the New York Times which is dated September 29, 1976.

     PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 28--The Spaceman is a rookie linebacker with the Giants who doesn't get to do much linebacking.  He made the 43-man squad not because he was a sixth round draft choice out of the University of Washington, not because he could some day be a star linebacker in the National Football League.
     The Spaceman made the roster because he knocks people down and because nearly 20 percent of the opportunities to knock people down occurs in "special-team" situations-punts, kickoffs, extra-point and field-goal attempts.
     "It may be the only factor as to why I'm here," the 22-year-old rookie said today after the first day of practice for the game at St. Louis.  "They had six linebackers they wanted to go with and I think my work with the 'specials' decided it for me."
     "I'm not looking for a place to hide out there," said Lloyd.  "I'm looking for a place to stand out."
     Lloyd's work on the specials was so outstanding that Coach Bill Arnsparger named the rookie one of the Co-captains for last Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
     Lloyd understands he must put in his time with football's kamikaze squads.  "This is my first year here, and there's some good people ahead of me at linebacker," he said.  "I'm just happy about being here at all."
     "Let me tell you, I've watched a lot of television in the last few weeks," Lloyd said.  "I think 'Baa, Baa, Black Sheep' is my new favorite.  Most of the stuff you watch is just to take up time."
     Dan Lloyd doesn't care whom he learning not only the nuances of strongside linebacking--he is the backup for Brad Van Pelt, while at Washington he was all Pacific-8 at middle linebacker--but also those of coaching.  "Just the other night I sat outside and watched the Pace coaches," he said. 
     Van Pelt may be first-team linebacker, but Lloyd knows his place.  "On some of the specials Brad is my backup, on others it's Pat Hughes [the starting weakside linebacker]," Lloyd said.
     Does that mean he considers himself first-team, the others second?  "It's a fact," he said.  "They are."

   

The man in the upper right corner is Jack Gregory.  I'm not sure who #75 is.

Although the Giants finished 3-11 in their inaugural season at the Meadowlands, hopes were quite high for Big Blue prior to the start of the 1976 season.  Vinny DiTrani of The Bergen Record speculated on the team's potential in this September 10, 1976 article (excerpted).

GIANTS: IMPROVED, BUT...
Schedule a factor

by Vinny DiTrani

     A 16-8 record is nothing to laugh at, but when you tie that kind of mark to the New York Giants, you'll be sure to get plenty of gaffaws.  Yet 16-8 has been the Giants' record, in preseason that is, over the past four years.
     The 4-2 mark this summer kept the team at a two-out-of-three winning clip for exhibitions.  The three previous preseasons, however, have led into regular campaigns where the Giants were just 9-32-1.  Just what this exhibition season foretells remains to be seen.
     While the Giants' main acquisition, Larry Csonka, has brought the spotlight to the offense, it has been the defense, (Bill) Arnsparger's forte, that has been particularly impressive.  It allowed just 65 points in six games, and shut out the champion Steelers, during the preseason.
     When the defensive line applies the pressure, the defense has been extremely effective.  John Mendenhall is healthy again, Jack Gregory appears ready to pick up where he left off last year and Dave Gallagher has improved at left tackle. 
     But the most improved man up front has been left end George Martin, the second-year end who appears to have the ability to make the big play.  He did in Green Bay, an interception TD which turned the game around.  He's batted down several other passes and accumulated some sacks, too.
     Brad Van Pelt, getting better with each snap, Brian Kelley and Pat Hughes are the linebackers with hungry youngsters Bob Schmit, Harry Carson and Dan Lloyd in reserve.  Carson has shown signs of greatness mixed in with his rookie mistakes while working in the middle.  Schmit has pushed Hughes on the weakside.
     Craig Morton was the first to celebrate the acquisition of Csonka, who takes much of the heat off the quarterback.  Morton had a good preseason, completing better than 60 per cent of his tosses with no interceptions.  Norm Snead was brought in as the backup only after rookie Jerry Golsteyn, who showed much promise, went down with a knee injury.
     Bob Tucker appears happy and contented once again at tight end with Gary Shirk, a hard-working WFLer, as the backup.
     Arnsparger made what could be a significant change in the placekicking department when he brought in strong-footed Joe Danelo from Green Bay to replace erratic George Hunt.  Dave Jennings remains as one of the top NFL punters.
     Improved?  Undoubtedly the Giants are just that.  How much?  It could depend upon good health, an opening win against the Redskins, and a break or two along the way.  Right now, however, the club looks destined for fourth place in the tough NFC Eastern Division.   

...in the person of Dan Lloyd.  A rookie in 1976, he was already making waves in that year's training camp with an unusual helmet.  This is an excerpted article by Vinny DiTrani of The Bergen Record dated July 28, 1976.
'SPACEMAN LOVES TO HIT'
by Vinny DiTrani

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.-Dan Lloyd flipped Charlie Bray to the ground, then fell on top of the chunky guard for a near pin.  Thus ended one of the better training camp fights in recent years.  "Way to go, Spaceman!" yelled Pat Hughes.  On the next play Lloyd, the Giants' rookie linebacker, took a shot at Doug Kotar.  That drew a vicious stare from the running back, and more cheers from the defensive players.  "Man, you're hitting everybody today, Spaceman!" yelled Hughes as Lloyd came off for a breather.  Lloyd had trouble in high school with the common suspension helmet.  "It caused a lot of scars on my forehead," he explained.  "But the trainer at Washington (where Lloyd played in college) built me a helmet padded to fit my head."  Lloyd has brought helmet to the Giant camp.  Its unusual shape, plus large bird-cage mask have earned him the Spaceman.  Actually, the linebacker has both feet on the ground.  "That's the whole key to being a tough player.  You have to be in the right place at the right time to make the good hits.  You can be as big and ferocious as you want, but if you're not where you're supposed to be, you'll never get a good hit."

I would add to the list the 38-35 Giants victory over the Cowboys in November, 1980.  For me, this was sweet revenge from the heartbreaking loss they faced against them the previous year.

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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."

K-Man,  Thanks so much for the info!  It's great to see pre-1977 Giants footage any time!

My guess is that it has to be anywhere between 1970-72; that was Fred Dryer wearing #89.  Craig Morton was quarterbacking the 'Boys at that time.

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?

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."

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.