THE COLISEUM YEARS 1946 to 1979

I was 6 years old in 1966. That's when I sat in my Coliseum seat for the first time. I would have that same seat until they moved to Anaheim. I went to probably 80-85% of the Ram home games. It was a special team, place and time. The strangers that sat next to us became some of our best friends. And I was fortunate to meet the greatest Ramfan of them all. Now it's true that the LA fans were laid back. But, any fans from any city would be the same. I mean, in the 70's the Rams didn't have Staubach, the shotgun, Bradshaw, Swann and Stallworth. The Rams of the 70's had a defense that would knock you know what in the dirt and a ground chuck offense that wore you down. That's how we won 7 straight divisions. But, there was moments when that place erupted and here are the ones that are embedded in my memory. The 1967 Packer game when the Rams needed a win or they lose the division to Baltimore, GB was winning 24-20 with less than a minute GB has to punt. The Rams Tony Gillory blocks the punt (the coliseum exploded) and on 2nd down Gabe hits B.Casey for the winning TD. The regular season game against Dallas in 1973. The Coliseum exploded four times (there were four Hadl to Harold Jackson TD strikes). When Isiah Robertson intercepted a Sonny Jurgenson pass in the 1974 playoff game and ran it back some 55 yards for a TD. That 1975 Steeler game when Jaws ran it in for the winning TD. The playoff game in 1975 against the St. Louis Cardinals when Youngblood intercepted a Hart pass and ran it back for a TD (LOUD). When Haden hit Harold Jackson for the winning TD against the Raiders in 1977. There has been many great moments,but, these stand out for me. Now there was one other time that 80,000 fans gave the Rams a standing ovation when they came out of the tunnel for the second half. And what makes it special is the in first half the Rams got their butts whipped. It was the 1975 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys. It was the only time in the 70's our defense got beat truly beat. But, Dallas that afternoon would of made God punt. The next day Carroll Rosenbloom took out a full page in the LA Times to say Thanks for that ovation in the second half. A great time to be a Los Angeles Ramfan.

On January 11, 1946, Reeves asked permission to move the team to Los Angeles, California. Many owners were concerned about the added cost of cross-country travel expenses. Beginning a fine tradition, Reeves offered to pay to the owners an additional $5,000.00 over the existing guarantee when their team played the Rams on the West Coast. The deal was approved, and the Rams became the first NFL team to move West. This began a trend that would spill over to other professional sports, and continue for decades.
The Rams post a record of 6-4-1 in their first season in Los Angeles, 1947.
In 1948, the Rams became the first team in the NFL to have a team emblem on their helmets when halfback Fred Gehrke painted horns on the helmets.
In 1949, the Rams win their first division title in Los Angeles. QB Bob Waterfield and Rookie QB Norm Van Brocklin led the team to an 8-2-2 record. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch caught 22 passes as the league's first flanker. Tom Fears had 77 receptions for 1,013 yards. In spite of this, the Philadelphia Eagles (11-1-0) held the Rams to only 10 completions for 98 yards, and allowed only 21 yards rushing to defeat the Rams 14-0 in the NFL Championship Game.
The Rams became the first NFL team to have all their games - both home and away - televised in 1950.
In 1951, the Rams reversed their television broadcast policy and televised only their away games. They win their third consecutive division title with a 8-4-0 record. They go on to beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17 in the in the first nationally broadcast NFL Championship Game. Here is Bob Kelly calling the first play of the 1950 NFL championship game against the Cleveland Browns . LISTEN.
Here is Dick Enberg recalling the 73 yard TD to win the Rams the championship in 1951.
LISTEN

1951 CHAMPIONS

The Rams in the fifties set the NFL attendance record LISTEN

THE GEORGE ALLEN ERA

The Rams had to go to court to get George Allen as their coach. In his first year, 1966, he guided the Rams to a 8-6 record. In 1967,
By the 13th week, the Rams had lost but one game and tied two, including a 24-24 tie with the Colts. The Colts led the Coastal, undefeated and twice tied. The Rams' 13th- week opponents were the Packers. The game was due-or-die for the Rams; for the Packers it was meaningless. Meaningless to everyone but Vince Lombardi. He told the press his team never had nor never would play a "meaningless" game.
Green Bay played it tough. With 54 seconds left, Donny Anderson stood at his 41 to punt, waiting the snap from center. The Packers led 24-20. Suddenly, Ram reserve linebacker, Tony Guillory, broke through and blocked Anderson's kick. Claude Crabb grabbed the ball for L.A. and was finally caught at the Green Bay five. Two plays later Bernie Casey -- a constant Packer nemesis -- caught a TD pass from Roman Gabriel. The Rams remained alive, 27-24.
LISTEN
George Allen was 11-1-2 in 1967. 10-3-1 in 1968.
11-3 in 1969 and 9-4-1 in 1970.

RAMS VS COLTS 1967 GAMES

With less than 8 minutes to go in the fifth game of the 1967 season, the 3-1 Rams were losing to the 4-0 Colts 24-14. The Colts and the Rams were in the same division (coastal). There was no wildcard teams back then and a Colt win virtually gives them the division. Bruce Gossett kicks a 47 yard FG that bounces thru the uprights and goes in. Score 24-17 Colts.
Johnny Unitas who was the expert at closing out games was rushed hard by the fearsome foursome and didn't see Maxie Baughn who intercepted the pass. Gabriel
finds Bernie Casey in the endzone to make the score 24-24.The Colts turn the ball over and the Rams settle for a tie. After the game in the Ram's locker room, Head Coach George Allen said "A tie can't hurt us, we play the Colts in the last game of the season and if we wind up tied for first, we will win the division by beating them."     The very next week the Rams have another tie game (against Washington). But, so does the Colts (what are the odds of that). The Colts and Rams win the rest of their games. So the 11-0-2 Colts meet the 10-1-2 Rams and the winner wins the division.
  Both teams felt each other out for the first quarter or so, like two heavy-weights in a title bout. But after the Colts mounted 7-3 lead after one quarter, that changed. The Rams took over on their 20 after Baltimore kicker Lou Michaels missed a field goal. On the first play, the Rams called a play-action pass; it worked perfectly. The line did a great job of buying Roman some time, the backs sold the fake, and Snow ran a good route. He was behind the defense when Gabriel heaved the ball about 60 yards and into his arms. He look it the rest of the way untouched for a touchdown. The Rams scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter, taking control of the game. The sudden surge wasn't all the offense's doing. The defense helped build on that lead when Deacon forced Unitas into throwing a wobbly pass that we intercepted. Using some quick-hit pass plays, the Rams drove the ball down into Colts territory and scored on a 23-yard pass to Casey, which gave the Rams a 17-7 lead al the half. When the third quarter began, the defense wasn't going to let them score and the Ram offense still had a few touchdowns left in them. Line-backer Pardee helped set up a field goal with another interception of Unitas, and after the Colts trimmed the lead to 20-10 with a field goal of their own, the Rams broke the game open. In the fourth quarter, they drove the ball 67 yards downfield, hitting paydirt when Gabe connected with Bill Truax on a nine-yard TD pass. And when it came time to put the game away, it was fitting that it was the Rams defense that set up the offense. Getting stronger as the day wore on, the defense sacked Unitas three times in four downs. When the Rams took over on downs, they had the ball at our own four-yard line. The Rams drove the ball down the field, and Bass scored on a two-yard run to give us a 34-10 victory and send the 77,000 fans in the Coliseum crazy. Gabriel ended up completing 18 of 22 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. But the real story was our defense, which sacked Unitas seven times and pressured and pounded him on many other occasions. I don't think you will ever see a team that loses just one game stay home for the playoffs. Most of the Colt players said that was the greatest Colt team ever.

1966 LOS ANGELES RAMS After a court fight, George Allen is released by George Halas from his assistant coaching duties with the Chicago Bears to become head coach of the Rams. NFL and AFL merge in spring Bob Kelley, "Voice of the Rams" since the club's beginning in 1937, dies in September. Team finishes 8-6. Rams defense has three players named. to first. All-Pro Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones and Maxie Baughan. 1967 LOS ANGELES RAMS After I7 years on Beverly Blvd. club moves to new building on Pico. Training camp is also moved to California State College in Orange. Equipment Manager Bill Granholm leaves club after 18 years to take position in league office. Don Hewitt begins 28-year tenure as equipment manager. Rams record first unbeaten preseason in history with six wins, including victories over first-ever AFL opponents, San Diego and Kansas City.RAMS-DALLAS Team completes finest win-loss season ever with 11-1-2 league record to win Coastal Division Championship, the first title of any kind since 1955, then loses to Green Bay 28-7 in Western Conference Championship Game. George Allen receives NFL Coach of Year honors by Sporting News. Repeat winners Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen and Maxie Baughan are joined by newcomers Charlie Cowan and Eddie Meador on All-Pro team. Jones establishes NFL record with 26 sacks and becomes first defensive lineman to post 100 solo tackles in a single season. 1968 LOS ANGELES RAMS After playoff win over Cleveland in January, team finishes regular season with 10-3-1 record, second in Coastal Division to Baltimore's 13-1 mark. Attendance is over one million for second straight year and Ram defense sets new 14-game NFL record for fewest yards allowed. On Dec. 26, Allen is dismissed as head coach, but is re-hired two weeks later. Deacon Jones is named NFL Defensive Player of Year for second straight season after registering 24 sacks. Jones, Merlin Olsen and Eddie Meador receive All-Pro honors. 1969 LOS ANGELES RAMS After 20 years with the Rams as a player, general manager and assistant to the president, Elroy Hirsch leaves club to become athletic director at the University of Wisconsin.RAMS-COLTS He is replaced by Public Relations" Director" Jack Teele, and John Sanders becomes Assistant General Manager.RAMS-ATL Team wins Coastal Division with 11-3 record RAMS-SF before losing to Minnesota in Western Conference title game, 23-20. Quarterback Roman Gabriel, is unanimous choice as the NFL's Most Valuable Player. Bob Brown, Charlie Cowan, Torn Mack, Roman Gabriel, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen and Eddie Meador give Rams a team record seven All-Pro selections.

The Prothro years Tommy Prothro took over for George Allen in 1971. He was only there for 2 seasons, but, he was responsible for drafting Jack Youngblood, Isiah Robertson, Dave Elmendorf, Larry Brooks, Lawrence Mccutcheon and Jim Bertleson.

RAMS 1973 THRU 1979 1973 LOS ANGELES RAMS An observer in '72, Rosenbloom begins to make changes early in 1973, and they pay off quickly. His choice for head coach, former Detroit assistant Chuck Knox, leads team to 12-2 season, winningest in Rams history, and Knox becomes "Coach of the Year," Roman Gabriel is traded to Philadelphia and the new quarterback, former San Diego Charger John Hadl, is NFC "Player of the Year." Hadl is joined on All-Pro First Team by Harold Jackson, Joe Scibelli, Tom Mack, Jack Youngblood and Isiah Robertson. Rams win NFC West title, but lose in first round of playoffs to Dallas.PLAYOFF GAME Other changes introduced by Rosenbloom include return to blue and gold uniforms. Club returns to Cal State Fullerton for summer training. 1st game of 1973 1974 LOS ANGELES RAMS Carroll Rosenbloom's son, Steve, takes over as Assistant to the President. After 3-2 start. Rams trade John Hadl to Green Bay for five draft choices in bold move that stuns the football world. Hadl's backup, James Harris, becomes starter and leads team to 10-4 record, its second straight NFC Western title and its first playoff victory since 1951 (a 19-10 win over Washington)WASH GAME before the Rams lose to Minnesota, 14-10, in NFC title game. Merlin Olsen wins Bert Bell Trophy as " NFL's" Most Valuable "Player. Tom Mack, Lawrence McCutcheon Jack Youngblood, Fred Dryer, Isiah Robertson and Dave Elmendorf give Rams six All-Pro selections for second straight year.

1975 LOS ANGELES RAMS With defense allowing second fewest points in NFL history over a 14-game season (135), Rams win third straight NFC Western title by completing 12-2 season, Jack Youngblood is named NFC Defensive Player of Year and earns first team All-Pro honors along with Tom Mack and Isiah Robertson. After playoff victory over St. Louis GAME, however, they lose to Dallas in the NFC Championship Game. The 34-8 record over the last three years is best in the NFL.

1976 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams win NFC West title for fourth straight year with 10-3-1 record then beat Dallas, 14-12, for their first playoff victory on the road before 24-13 NFC title game loss at Minnesota.BOTH GAMES Quarterback injuries mar season and Rookie Pat Haden becomes fourth different playoff QB in four years under Knox. Rams 351 points is highest in NFC. Jack Youngblood, Isiah Robertson and Monte Jackson are named All-Pro. Merlin Olsen is Invited to a league-record 14th Pro Bowl. MERLINSLASTGAMENLA

1977 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams spearhead new Coliseum configuration which reduces capacity from 91,038 to 71,039.MNF VIKES With Lawrence McCutcheon setting new club career rushing record of 5,523 yards,RAMS-NINERS the Rams (10-4) roll to their fifth straight division title before 14-7 playoff loss to Minnesota in Coliseum, the infamous mudbowl.MUDBOWL Isiah Robertson earns NFC Linebacker of Year award for third consecutive season. Larry Brooks and Monte Jackson receive first team All-Pro recognition. Following the campaign Knox resigns to take Buffalo Bills head coaching post. 1978 LOS ANGELES RAMS On Feb. 1, Rosenbloom hires George Allen but releases Allen after second preseason game. Ray Malavasi becomes head coach and leads club to 12-4 mark for their sixth straight division title tying NFL record. Rams beat Minnesota, 34-10, in playoff but lose NFC title to Dallas. Pat Haden earns NFC Player of Year award. Jack Youngblood, Jim Youngblood, Dennis Harrah, Pat Thomas and Frank Corral give Rams five All-Pro players. Rams also announce move to Anaheim Stadium beginning in 1980. 1979 LOS ANGELES RAMS Carroll Rosenbloom dies April 2 and his widow, Georgia, becomes majority owner. Club moves to Rams Park in Anaheirn, where offices and practice facilities are together.RAMS-DENVER Despite multitude of injuries, team wins 7th straight division title to set NFL record. They also set the record by holding the Seahawks to -7 total yards RAM-SEATTLE then beats Dallas (21-19)DALLAS GAME and Tampa Bay (9-0)TB GAME in NFC Playoffs. Rams lose to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIV,SB14 LINK 31-19. Defensive line is represented on All-Pro team by Larry Brooks and Jack Youngblood.

TWO OF THE GREATEST

The next page is a decade of the Anaheim years.

1980 LOS ANGELES RAMS With Anaheim Stadium's capacity set at 69,045, Rams sell out last six home games and finish with 11-5 record. Rams lead NFL in rushing for first time since 1957, gaining 2,799 yards. Rams set 15 club records and tie three others. Nolan Cromwell named consensus All NFL and receives award as NFC Defensive Player of the Year. Rams enter playoffs as wild card and lose to Dallas, 34-13. 1981 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams finish 6-10, missing playoffs for the first time since 1972. Nolan Cromwell and LeRoy Irvin named All-NFL. Irvin sets NFL record with 207 punt return yards in 37-35 win over Atlanta. Wendell Tyler rushes for 1,074 yards and ties Elroy Hirsch's club record of 17 touchdowns in a season. Rams sell out first seven regular season games at Anaheim Stadium. 1982 LOS ANGELES RAMS NFL players' strike wipes out seven games of the regular season schedule and the Rams finish last in the NFC with a 2-7 record. QB Bert Jones, acquired in draft day trade from Baltimore, misses last 5 games with a neck injury. In his place, Vince Ferragamo throws for 509 yards vs. Chicago, second highest in league history. Following the season Malavasi is dismissed. But, Ray goes out a winner upsetting and knocking the Niners out of the playoffs. We will miss you Ray. 1983 LOS ANGELES RAMS In one of the most dramatic turnaround years in NFL history, Georgia Frontiere begins by hiring former USC Coach John Robinson in February. Revamped front office engineers a dozen off-season trades. Eric Dickerson is drafted on the first round in April. Robinson installs new offense {single back) and new defense {3-4} while Frontiere signs all players on roster.Rams need to beat the Saints in the last game of the season, it's up to Mike Lansford LISTEN Rams go 9-7 and enter playoffs as wild card team beating Dallas in Texas, 24-17, before losing to Redskins in Washington. Dickerson breaks NFL rookie rushing record (1,808 yards), sets five Ram records and is consensus All-Pro. Cromwell, Kent Hill, Jackie Slater and Dickerson make Pro Bowl. Robinson named NFC Coach of the Year. 1984 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams make playoffs for second time in as many years after finishing with 10-6 mark. Rams host first ever playoff gamo in Anaheim Stadium before record crowd of 67,037 but lose to New York Giants in NFC wild card-game Again Eric Dickerson is the offensive force behind the Rams success as he rushes for 2,105 yards, breaking OJ. Simpson's NFL record of 2,003.DICKERSON Jack Youngblood sets Ram record by playing in his 201st consecutive game.YOUNGBLOOD Quarterback Jeff Kemp replaces injured Vince Ferragamo in Week Three RAMS-BROWNS and leads team to nine wins. Dickerson is named NFC Player of the Year and makes Pro Bowl along with Henry Ellard, Kent Hill and Doug Smith. Dickerson is joined by Bill Bain, Jim Collins and Henry Ellard on first team All-Pro. 1985 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams season falls just one game short when they lose to Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game. The defense and special teams play prominent roles in 11-5 regular season. Rams defense stifles Minnesota on one inch line to preserve a 13-10 victory as time runs out in Week Five. Ron Brown electrifies Anaheim Stadium crowd by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns against Green Bay to tie NFL record in week twelve, Eric Dickerson misses first two games but returns to rush for 1,234 yards, he sets an NFL playoff record by rushing for 248 yards against Dallas in first ever playoff win (20-0) at Anaheim Stadium.DALLAS GAME Nine Rams make NFC Pro Bowl team Ron Brown, Jim Collins, Gary Green, Dale Hatcher, LeRoy Irvin, and four offensive linemen, Dennis Harrah, Kent Hill, Jackie Slater and Doug Smith. Collins, Irvin, Hatcher, Brown, Vince Newsome and Henry Ellard receive first team All-Pro recognition. 1986 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams make playoffs for fourth consecutive year after posting a 10-6 regular season record. Rams acquire rookie Quarterback Jim Everett from Houston in major trade with Oilers.RAMS Everett throws three touchdown passes in debut against Patriots and starts last five games including playoff loss to Washington.PLAYOFF GAME Eric Dickerson rushes for over 1,000 yards for fourth consecutive season (1821) and surpasses former Ram running back Lawrence McCutcheon as the teams all-time leading rusher with 6,968 yards in only four seasons. Defense plays important role in Rams' success finishing fifth in total defense in the NFL, yielding 304 yards per game. Seven Rams selected to Pro bowl Dickerson, Carl Ekern, Jerry Gray, Dennis Harrah, LeRoy Irvin, Jackie Slater and Doug Smith. Harrah, Dickerson Slater and Irvin also garner first team All-Pro honors. 1987 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams fail to make the playoffs for the first time in last five seasons while finishing with a 6-9 record. NFL players strike shortens season by one game while three games are played with non-union players. Rams acquire six draft choices (three No. One's and three No. Two's over the next two years) from the Colts in blockbuster trade for Running Back Eric Dickerson. Charles White takes over for Dickerson and wins NFL rushing title by gaining 1,374 yards and is named to his first Pro Bowl as well as unanimous All-Pro. Ron Brown, Jackie Slater and Tom Newberry join White on All Pro first team. 1988 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams qualify for the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons under John Robinson, who becomes the winningest coach in club history with 58 wins.2 games Rams lose NFC Wild Card Game to Minnesota after finishing with a 10-6 record.RAMS Team features wide open offense as Jim Everett sets four Ram passing records and ties a fifth while wide receiver Henry Ellard sets a Ram record for most catches in a season with 86.RAMS-GB Defensively, the Rams tie a club record with 56 quarterback sacks which leads the league.RAMS-RAIDERS Rams have five of the top 47 choices in draft and select RB Gaston Green and WR Aaron Cox on the first round. Five players are selected to the Pro Bowl - Jackie Slater, Henry Ellard, Tom Newberry, Doug Smith and Jerry Gray. Five more make All-Pro Ellard, Slater, Newberry, LeRoy Irvin and Irv Pankey. 1989 LOS ANGELES RAMS Rams finish regular season with an 11-5 record and qualify for playoffs as a wild card entry. Team posts road playoff victories over Philadelphia and N.Y. Giants before losing to San Francisco in NFC Championship game.RAM-GIANT Rams 13 wins are the most since 1978. Jim Everett becomes the first player in club history to pass for over 4,000 yards (4,310), while receivers Henry Ellard (1,382 yds.) and Flipper Anderson (1,146) are the first two receivers to gain over 1,000 yards in the same season. Anderson also sets NFL record with 336 receiving yards on 15 catches vs. New Orleans. Safety Vince Newsome tops defense with 89 tackles while Linebacker Kevin Greene registers 16.5 quarterback sacks. Jerry Gray, Kevin Greene, Tom Newberry, Jackie Slater, Doug Smith and Ellard make the Pro Bowl. Gray returns interception for a touchdown and is named the game's Most Valuable Player. Slater is named NFC Offensive Line man of Year for third straight season and fifth time in career. Slater, Newberry, Greene, Gary and Mike Lansford are All-Pro first team picks.

MY GREATEST RAM MEMORY A fellow Ramfan (and great guy) named CB said this one sentence in one of his posts, "I love remembering that 1979 Ram-Dallas playoff game." First, I want to say thank the Lord for giving us a memory. Before I read CB's post, things weren't going right in my life. My kids are at that "I know everything about life" stage and they are only 12 and 11. And I am tired of going EVERY weekend to my in-law's cabin in Yosemite (yosemite west). It is a awesome cabin,but, one flaw.Where it is located you can't get no tv reception and they don't want a satelitte. (a few years back at christmas i bought them one,but, they used it for their home not the cabin) so you can imagine the harmony lately between me and my wife. And when I read that one sentence by CB, like a time warp, I was back to the New Years eve 1979 to 1980 day when the Rams played the Cowboys in the playoffs. My Father, my stepmom, my brother and his wife, my best friend and his wife, and my wife (then girl friend) were at my condo watching the game. CBS wanted a Dallas-Steeler rematch, the experts gave us no chance. Dallas beat us in a regular season game 30-6. And for the first time we were a nine point underdog (largest ever). But our Rams had a 14-5 halftime lead, we were going nuts. Then late in the fourth quarter dallas took a 19-14 lead and it looked like another snakebitten playoff loss by our Rams. Then when Vinnie hit Waddy for that 50 yard TD, this is exactly what happened in my living room. I slide on my knees like I am on ice to one inch from the TV screen my ears and eyes are focused on one thing, A FLAG!! I see none our Ram players dont act like there is one and they say their isn't one. I turn around and this is what I see. The 7 of hem our hugging each other and our jumping up and down like it is one person with 14 legs. I run to join them, but my momentum as I hug knocks us off balance and all 8 of us hugging as one crash into my coffee table breaking it in pieces with crap going everywhere, but, we don't even give it a thought. ALL 8 keep hugging each other and screaming with joy. What is etched forever in my mind is the faces of my Father and Brother virtually and inch from my face with yelling and smiling. Since they are no longer with us, that moment is my moment. And I need it.

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