Game 25: William McKinley vs. Super Bowl XXV
The lesson of America Bowl Game 25 is a bitter one, but a lesson best not forgotten -- a cautionary tale of how things that begin with success and promise can suddenly, unexpectedly, go wrong. William McKinley, America's 25th President, was still celebrating election to his second term in office when he was shockingly slain by an assassin in 1901. The Buffalo Bills rode into Super Bowl 25 seemingly untouchable, having won the AFC Championship game 51-3. Then they lost the Super Bowl when a field goal attempt by Scott Norwood, with eight seconds on the clock, sailed "wide right." The punch that hurts the most is the one you never saw coming.
The Bills indeed seemed unassailable. Their offense had scored the most points in the NFL during the 1990 regular season. QB Jim Kelly was the league's highest rated passer; RB Thurman Thomas was top NFL rusher. The D was led by tenacious defensive end Bruce Smith, second in the NFL in sacks. The Bills were 13-3 in the regular season, and in squashing the Raiders in the AFC title game had 6 interceptions and 7 touchdowns. They entered the Super Bowl as 7-point favorites over the Giants.
McKinley won the elections of 1896 and 1900 by giant margins, both times over multi-election loser William Jennings Bryan. Like the poster says, McK's theme was "Propserity at Home, Peace Abroad." He worked hard on both. In 1898, Spain apparently sunk the USS Maine, and it was time for the Spanish-America War. At home, McKinley was pro-business, defending high tariffs to protect domestic producers (a stance he later relaxed) and defending the gold standard. The nation was in transition, becoming more industrial. In the end, when McKinley seemed to be sitting pretty, it was a disgruntled mill worker who shot him.
Super Bowl XXV was a true test of wills that became more thrilling as it went on. The Bills led 12-10 at halftime, and them the lead started changing hands like a $10 poker chip. The Giants pulled ahead 17-12 on an O.J. Anderson TD. The Bills went back out front 19-17 on a Thomas run. Matt Bahr's second field goal nudged the Giants back ahead 20-19. With the clock ticking down, the Bills drove downfield until the Giant stopped them at the 30 yard line with 8 seconds left, and Norwood lined up for a 47-yard game-winning field goal. Wide right. Game over. Giants win. An unexpected end for Buffalo, but an epic, America-Bowl-point-winning game. Look out, here come the Super Bowls.
Score after this match: Presidents 13, Super Bowls 12.
Go to next match.
The Bills indeed seemed unassailable. Their offense had scored the most points in the NFL during the 1990 regular season. QB Jim Kelly was the league's highest rated passer; RB Thurman Thomas was top NFL rusher. The D was led by tenacious defensive end Bruce Smith, second in the NFL in sacks. The Bills were 13-3 in the regular season, and in squashing the Raiders in the AFC title game had 6 interceptions and 7 touchdowns. They entered the Super Bowl as 7-point favorites over the Giants.
McKinley won the elections of 1896 and 1900 by giant margins, both times over multi-election loser William Jennings Bryan. Like the poster says, McK's theme was "Propserity at Home, Peace Abroad." He worked hard on both. In 1898, Spain apparently sunk the USS Maine, and it was time for the Spanish-America War. At home, McKinley was pro-business, defending high tariffs to protect domestic producers (a stance he later relaxed) and defending the gold standard. The nation was in transition, becoming more industrial. In the end, when McKinley seemed to be sitting pretty, it was a disgruntled mill worker who shot him.
Super Bowl XXV was a true test of wills that became more thrilling as it went on. The Bills led 12-10 at halftime, and them the lead started changing hands like a $10 poker chip. The Giants pulled ahead 17-12 on an O.J. Anderson TD. The Bills went back out front 19-17 on a Thomas run. Matt Bahr's second field goal nudged the Giants back ahead 20-19. With the clock ticking down, the Bills drove downfield until the Giant stopped them at the 30 yard line with 8 seconds left, and Norwood lined up for a 47-yard game-winning field goal. Wide right. Game over. Giants win. An unexpected end for Buffalo, but an epic, America-Bowl-point-winning game. Look out, here come the Super Bowls.
Score after this match: Presidents 13, Super Bowls 12.
Go to next match.
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5 Comments:
he Giants pulled ahead 17-12 on an O.J. Anderson TD. The Bills went back out front 19-17 on a Thomas run. Matt Bahr's second field goal nudged the Giants back ahead 19-17.
That should be: "nudged the Giants back ahead 20-19"
It has to mean something that McKinley was shot *in Buffalo,* right?
Thanks -- fixed the score!
Vicky, wait until tomorrow's Teddy Roosevelt match for some more about Buffalo!
The poster seems to say "Prosperity at Home, *Prestige* Abroad" (middle of third paragraph).
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