Thinking about the best football players that I've ever seen play got me thinking about the greatest performances that I've ever seen. Performances so stunning that it makes you wonder if it all really happened. Sometimes it's a sequence of plays that changes a game. Sometimes it's four quarters filled with jaw-dropping play after jaw-dropping play. Sometimes it can be one play. DeSean Jackson had a bunch of those for Cal. Marshawn Lynch too. About twenty years ago I watched in awe as Cal runningback Russell White hurdled a defender as if it was nothing more than a simple step. I still think of that play and it still brings the same disbelief. Here are four of the greatest performances that I ever saw take place right there in front of me. All like an incredible, lasting dream.
12/18/95 Vikings vs 49ers-Cris Carter vs Jerry Rice
Sitting in Candlestick Park on this Monday night I saw a real football treat. Jerry Rice had the greatest statistical game of his career. His insane numbers that night were 14 catches for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. He added a ten yard run that brought his yardage total to the very edge of 300 yards. Just an unbelievable game by an unbelievable player. Now this is where statistics can be a little screwy. Sitting in the stands that night away from the constant statistical tally that TV viewers get throughout the game, I wasn't aware of the numbers that Rice was putting in the books. This football game turned into, by my eyes, a battle between Jerry Rice and Cris Carter. A battle between two of the greatest receivers to ever catch a football. Behind Rice's big plays, the 49ers jumped all over the Vikings in the first half. Carter started matching each of Rice's plays with some of his own as he led the Vikings back into the game. I would have guessed that Carter had about 150 yards receiving as his catches all came at critical moments and totaled critical yards. Each catch was a huge catch and as such seemed to be for more yards than were actually gained. Carter's line of 12 catches for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns was surprising and dwarfed by Rice's monster numbers but they made a similar impact. Carter brought the Vikings back. The 49ers ended up winning 37-30 after being up by three touchdowns early. An incredible game and incredible performances by both Rice and Carter.
11/12/96 Vikings vs Raiders-John Randle
John Randle is a favorite of any Vikings fan that experienced the '90s. The ultimate underdog as a too-small, undrafted defensive tackle out of Texas A&I. Like Jared Allen today, Randle was a football player that absolutely did not stop. He racked up sack totals unheard of from the tackle position. Randle's relentless play took him all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On this particular Sunday night, I was lucky to be in the stands of the Oakland Coliseum. This was a tight game that the Vikings would end up winning in overtime, 16-13. Before it got to the extra time, the Raiders were making a serious threat to end the game in the fourth quarter. John Randle wouldn't let that happen. He simply took apart the Raiders offensive line. He had two sacks in, I believe, as many plays. They came within a sequence of plays during which Randle was as dominant as any defensive lineman that I've ever seen.
11/20/99 Cal vs Stanford-Deltha O'Neal
This was one of those rare games in which the star of the game was a player on the side that was largely humiliated. Stanford destroyed Cal 31-13. It didn't feel that close. It was very sad but Deltha O'Neal was simply amazing. He kept the game close initially but couldn't do everything for Cal. He sure tried. He intercepted passes to prevent Stanford scores. He returned kicks for scores. Cal's only point production came from O'Neal's returns. The only stops made on defense were those made by O'Neal. The entire game felt like Stanford vs Deltha O'Neal. The score makes this game easily forgettable for Cal people but Cal people should never forget the performance by Deltha O'Neal
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