how does this 2019 team stack up against the 1981 49ers so far?

Originally posted by wailers15:

HC: both wizards at their respective times

I'm sorry, I must pause here...Kyle is cool and all, but a "pick'em" vs. Walsh is a bit premature. $20 fine, and go walk into the ocean, please. Thanks.

I don't know, but it was the next year I became a fan of them. (8 yrs old)

I was 19 years old when the 1981 season started and in my first year at Fresno State. I lived in the Homan Hall dorm. I loved the food at the dorm cafeteria. I'd load up on bacon and eggs on all you can eat Sunday brunches. I gained my freshman 15, plus another 50!

The 1981 team started slowly. We started out 1-2 that year, and the feeling then was "same old Niners." We all saw flashes of greatness in 1980. I'll never forget being down 35-7 to New Orleans at halftime, only to watch Montana storm back with four second half TD's and a FG to win the game 38-35. But it was just "flashes," and nothing more. The week after a win like that, the 49ers would get beat, badly. So, we were not expecting much in 1981. And when we started off 1-2, well . . . You can guess.

Also, the 1981 team was not as dominant. It wasn't uncommon to see the 1981 team win games with 9-0 or 15-12 scores. Montana was not chucking it down the field yet. Though, if you want to make one comparison, you could do it at RB. Walsh had a stable of RB's, much like we have today.

Someone mentioned the addition of Fred Dean. His first game was against Dallas. That was it. That was the shocker. We waylaid the Cowboys in a blowout. That is when 49er fans knew we had something special.

But national respect did not come until very late. You must remember that media was still regional. You had the three networks in NY covering the NFL, but very rarely did they pay any attention to teams on the West Coast. There was no internet. There was no ESPN. The NFL Network was years away. The best thing we had on Sunday evenings after the last afternoon game was played was the George Michael's Sports Machine. And, usually, on the West Coast, that was tape delayed until after the 11 PM news.

Are the two teams comparable? Yes and no. Shanahan has so much of Bill Walsh in him that it gives me the shivers. I think the current team has a better front 7. But the 1981 team had a better secondary: Dwight Hicks and his Hot Licks. A rookie corner by the name of Ronnie Lott was laying the wood like no other DB I'd ever seen. I think the 1981 team probably had a better offensive line as well.

But we didn't have the likes of a George Kittle. We had a young Dwight Clark, and that was comparable. We also had a FG kicker who refused to look at the goal posts before he kicked. He would run onto the field and start grabbing the shoulder of his holder while keeping his head down. It was the holder's job to tell our kicker which way to kick the ball.

There will never be another 1981. We had been a terrible team for close to a decade and had never won a Super Bowl or NFL Championship. There were decades of futility that came to an end in 1981. I suppose the SF Giants winning the World Series in 2010 would be comparable. It erased a lot of demons.

Originally posted by billbird2111:
I was 19 years old when the 1981 season started and in my first year at Fresno State. I lived in the Homan Hall dorm. I loved the food at the dorm cafeteria. I'd load up on bacon and eggs on all you can eat Sunday brunches. I gained my freshman 15, plus another 50!

The 1981 team started slowly. We started out 1-2 that year, and the feeling then was "same old Niners." We all saw flashes of greatness in 1980. I'll never forget being down 35-7 to New Orleans at halftime, only to watch Montana storm back with four second half TD's and a FG to win the game 38-35. But it was just "flashes," and nothing more. The week after a win like that, the 49ers would get beat, badly. So, we were not expecting much in 1981. And when we started off 1-2, well . . . You can guess.

Also, the 1981 team was not as dominant. It wasn't uncommon to see the 1981 team win games with 9-0 or 15-12 scores. Montana was not chucking it down the field yet. Though, if you want to make one comparison, you could do it at RB. Walsh had a stable of RB's, much like we have today.

Someone mentioned the addition of Fred Dean. His first game was against Dallas. That was it. That was the shocker. We waylaid the Cowboys in a blowout. That is when 49er fans knew we had something special.

But national respect did not come until very late. You must remember that media was still regional. You had the three networks in NY covering the NFL, but very rarely did they pay any attention to teams on the West Coast. There was no internet. There was no ESPN. The NFL Network was years away. The best thing we had on Sunday evenings after the last afternoon game was played was the George Michael's Sports Machine. And, usually, on the West Coast, that was tape delayed until after the 11 PM news.

Are the two teams comparable? Yes and no. Shanahan has so much of Bill Walsh in him that it gives me the shivers. I think the current team has a better front 7. But the 1981 team had a better secondary: Dwight Hicks and his Hot Licks. A rookie corner by the name of Ronnie Lott was laying the wood like no other DB I'd ever seen. I think the 1981 team probably had a better offensive line as well.

But we didn't have the likes of a George Kittle. We had a young Dwight Clark, and that was comparable. We also had a FG kicker who refused to look at the goal posts before he kicked. He would run onto the field and start grabbing the shoulder of his holder while keeping his head down. It was the holder's job to tell our kicker which way to kick the ball.

There will never be another 1981. We had been a terrible team for close to a decade and had never won a Super Bowl or NFL Championship. There were decades of futility that came to an end in 1981. I suppose the SF Giants winning the World Series in 2010 would be comparable. It erased a lot of demons.

i will just correct you. 70-73 were very very good. the 76 team was a super bowl team with the run game and defense. sounds like this year before willile mcgee got hurt. then yes.. it was as bad as it could get

Originally posted by kelson49er:

Originally posted by wailers15:

HC: both wizards at their respective times

I'm sorry, I must pause here...Kyle is cool and all, but a "pick'em" vs. Walsh is a bit premature. $20 fine, and go walk into the ocean, please. Thanks.

Dude lol Walsh was in his 3rd year as is Kyle now. We are comparing how the teams were at their respective times, not overall. Dude I was old enough to remember Bill was being called a genius and ahead at his time. The exact same things they are sayin about Kyle.

In no way am I saying Kyle overall compares to Walsh in coaching terms ... lol not even. Kid has ways to go. At the times of their careers the same things were being said about Walsh as they are saying about Kyle.

So rescind your $20 fine and fk your ocean walk .

Originally posted by Curlin:
First you have to find some one old enough (like me) who even saw the 1981 49er team play to discuss it.

There will never be another 1981. That year changed everything for this franchise. Its like losing your virginity, only once.

For you long timers, I agree. For the franchise as a whole I agree.

But for the younger people, I think the next SB winning season will probably be "like" 1981. Hell, I was alive in September '79 when Montana and Walsh made their first appearances as Niners, but didn't start following the Niners properly until a few years later.

Originally posted by JTsBiggestFan:

Originally posted by Curlin:
First you have to find some one old enough (like me) who even saw the 1981 49er team play to discuss it.

There will never be another 1981. That year changed everything for this franchise. Its like losing your virginity, only once.

For you long timers, I agree. For the franchise as a whole I agree.

But for the younger people, I think the next SB winning season will probably be "like" 1981. Hell, I was alive in September '79 when Montana and Walsh made their first appearances as Niners, but didn't start following the Niners properly until a few years later.

78 79, hollywood henderson doing blow on the sidelines. fans with bags on their heads in the stands.. i get the love for the 94 team but i have always said.. to me and maybe some other old school guys... 81 was the best team cuz it was the first. those players were like us fans then. a bunch of kids with no clue just having fun

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I agree with all your thoughts. I was there for every game in '81 and many years before and that win against Dallas in the regular season ( 45-14 ) I think told us that team might be for real. One other comparison I'd make is Randy Cross playing so many years on bad teams and not winning a SB like Staley. I know Joe went to one but we lost that game. Maybe he gets another chance.

I hope this season becomes a magic season for the sake of the younger fans. Believe us old guys when we say you will never forget this year if they somehow manage to go all the way. I remember how everyone was wondering if that '81 team was for real and kept waiting for the crash that never came. Even though we won we came back to earth a little the next year (strike year) and realized th team still needed to add some players. Still a long ways to go. Go Niners!

This, so much this.

For me, it's the 88 season. That's the earliest season I remember and SB23 is one of my favorite games.

Originally posted by linkboy:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I agree with all your thoughts. I was there for every game in '81 and many years before and that win against Dallas in the regular season ( 45-14 ) I think told us that team might be for real. One other comparison I'd make is Randy Cross playing so many years on bad teams and not winning a SB like Staley. I know Joe went to one but we lost that game. Maybe he gets another chance.

I hope this season becomes a magic season for the sake of the younger fans. Believe us old guys when we say you will never forget this year if they somehow manage to go all the way. I remember how everyone was wondering if that '81 team was for real and kept waiting for the crash that never came. Even though we won we came back to earth a little the next year (strike year) and realized th team still needed to add some players. Still a long ways to go. Go Niners!

This, so much this.

For me, it's the 88 season. That's the earliest season I remember and SB23 is one of my favorite games.

the 81 team was the best to me for sentimental reasons but from the x and os... the team that beat miami would beat any other niner super bowl team in my opinion

1981 team won a Super Bowl...

how can u compare it to a 2019 PROMISING (only) team??

Originally posted by 9moon:
1981 team won a Super Bowl...

how can u compare it to a 2019 PROMISING (only) team??

good point.

1981 team had a good QB

Originally posted by ChazBoner:
1981 team had a good QB

did he have the fu manchu then? i know i did

First for those who remember, before Montana started, Steve DeBerg was the starter. Walsh would bring Joe in to practice under fire at the end of games. Once Bill felt Joe was ready he traded DeBerg and Joe was the starter. And one of the reasons Bill started the WCO was to compensate for the lack of a running game (in Cincinnati). Now, just like today, the Niners were getting little to no love from the media case in point: the Niners put a tremendous a$$ whoopin on the cowgirls and it didn't even show on halftime of the Monday Night Football game!!! So the parallels are astonishing (except it seems our running game is more of a strength) and our defense can give us a good chance to win

Originally posted by NinerTy:

First for those who remember, before Montana started, Steve DeBerg was the starter. Walsh would bring Joe in to practice under fire at the end of games. Once Bill felt Joe was ready he traded DeBerg and Joe was the starter. And one of the reasons Bill started the WCO was to compensate for the lack of a running game (in Cincinnati). Now, just like today, the Niners were getting little to no love from the media case in point: the Niners put a tremendous a$$ whoopin on the cowgirls and it didn't even show on halftime of the Monday Night Football game!!! So the parallels are astonishing (except it seems our running game is more of a strength) and our defense can give us a good chance to win

And in the NFCCG, Joe had 5 - 6 turnovers, the cowboys only scored 27 points so you know it was the defense that kept them in the game