Every year around Fall, I plant myself in front of my 46-inch TV to watch my three favorite teams on Sundays. I grew up watching the San Francisco 49ers and still root for them whenever I have time to watch their games. Around my mid-teen years, I stumbled upon a hard-nosed, speedy running back by the name of Ricky Williams – maybe you’ve heard of him? I fell in love with the way he ran and how he racked up the yardage over two stellar seasons as a Miami Dolphin in 2002 and 2003. I also loved his combination of speed and power; running over or around guys. Sadly for his fans but not his critics, his career was short-lived. However, I stuck with the Dolphins over the years and now they look like they are just getting back to championship-caliber football and nothing has made this fan more proud. The third and final team I wearily follow is the Houston Texans. I say wearily because I'm not a die-hard Texans fan, just someone who likes a couple of their players and their uniforms. Again, it was a running back who caught my attention; his name was Dominack Davis.
ONE OF MY GUYS - DOMINACK DAVIS - RB - HOUSTON TEXANS
Despite playing just three years for the Houston Texans and changing his last name to Williams after his retirement, Davis could excite even the most obscure fans when he was in his prime. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University and was built and ran similarly to Arian Foster, the Texans current starting running back.
Right out of the gate, Davis was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year in 2003 after amassing 1,031 yards, eight touchdowns and a 4.3 yards per rush average. He also earned 351 receiving yards that year. The team wasn't very good, but Davis helped the team earn a spot on the map.
There was no such thing as a sophomore slump for Davis in 2004. He carried the ball 64 more times than in his rookie season, he rushed for more yards, scored more touchdowns, racked up more receiving yards and caught his first touchdown pass in year two compared to year one. In his sophomore season, Davis ran for 1,188 yards – the highest total of his career - and scored 13 touchdowns. He was officially a workhorse as he had more than 300 carries that year, but again the team did not make the playoffs.
All of a sudden, that’s where his career took a turn for the worse and he was never the same.
In 2005, he missed six games due to injury and failed to break 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career. He scored only two touchdowns and teams discovered some of his tendencies. Yet in his final two games as a Texan, he ran for a combined 294 yards on 51 carries – over 5 yards per carry.
In that final game, Davis suffered a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve. He may not have known it then, but his career was over. The Texans released Davis in 2007.
Eventually, Davis changed his name to Williams after having two kids of his own. He told the press, “I wasn’t really a (Davis). It was my older brother’s Dad’s last name and whatever happened I ended up with Davis. So now that I have kids of my own, a little boy and a little girl, ‘Spike’ (Domanick, Jr.) and Liana, I have to change my name to what it really is, and it’s Williams.”
Check out Davis’ career highlights below:
ONE OF MY GUYS - DAN BUNZ - LB - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Growing up in Northern California my entire family rooted for the 49ers. My dad watched the team prosper in the late 1980s, but I wasn’t brought into the world until 1987, so my earliest memories of the team involved Steve Young, Terrell Owens and Jeff Garcia. As a kid, I would run around in the yard wearing my Young jersey throwing it to whoever I thought was open, and they usually were. In high school, I still remember watching one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history and playoff history on TV as the 49ers came back to defeat the New York Giants after trailing by 24 points, 38-14. The game dubbed, “Giant Comeback” is one of several Candlestick Park moments at the forefront of my brain.
Another image that replays in my head from time to time is the touchdown-saving tackle 49ers linebacker Dan Bunz made against Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII. Bunz is a local guy in my eyes, coming from Roseville, CA and Oakmont High School. He also played his college football for California State University, Long Beach before they got rid of the sport. Bunz was drafted by San Francisco in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft and played in the league for eight years before retiring.
Bunz’ tackle, in one of the biggest games of his life, came on a third down from the one yard line. Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson sold the defense on a play-fake before throwing to Charles Anderson in the flat. The only 49er in position to make the play was Bunz, who wrapped up Anderson around the waist and brought him down, short of the goal line. The 49ers went on to win 26-21 after the second-most memorable catch in team history (Joe Montana to John Taylor in the back of the endzone).
Bunz has two Super Bowl rings.
This past summer, Bunz’s former restaurant – Bunz and Company – which opened in 1984 and was owned by Bunz until 1999, closed down. Luckily for fans, Bunz was approached by a group of veterans and re-opened the restaurant – now named 2H – 2nd Half at Bunz & Company – in the same location. If you're a fan, it's definitely worth checking out! The place is filled with memorabilia and 49ers knick-knacks.
Check out Bunz’ highlights below:
ONE OF MY GUYS - BOB GRIESE - QB - MIAMI DOLPHINS
On Thanksgiving day in 1977, Robert Allen “Bob” Griese had his best day as a passer. Not known as a rocket-armed passer, the Miami Dolphins quarterback collected a career-high six touchdown passes against the then-St. Louis Cardinals in a 55-14 victory. The funny part was, Griese played only the first three quarters, meaning there was still time for him to toss touchdown pass number seven if he wanted.
Griese is known in Canton for introducing his thick-rimmed glasses to his playing uniform. I guess the glasses paid off because in 1977 he led the AFC in touchdown passes thrown despite a 10-4 Dolphins record, which was not strong enough to get the team into the playoffs.
Griese’s resume includes two Super Bowl Championships (VII and VIII) and three consecutive Super Bowl appearances. He is also the only Miami Dolphin quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
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