What was it like in the 80s?

[MTBengalsFan]

(08-25-2020, 09:08 PM)jason Wrote: I was a kid so my memories are vague, but Riverfront was way louder than PBS. The stands that would retract when the Reds played would shake from the noise.

I went to maybe a half-dozen games back then. I clearly recall the Monday night crew (Cosell, Gifford and Don Meredith) were covering a game, and Meredith and Gifford were talking about whether anybody could beat the Chargers, and Cosell piped in with "let's wait to see what happens when they play the Bengals." I came a tad unglued at that moment, as did my three roommates. But in the Super Bowls, there was still a high level of disrespect. Just one play the other way in either game, and the Bengals are Super Bowl CHAMPS!

If and buts...Yeah, Riverfront could absolutely be crazy loud, but you have to remember the Bengals were coming off losing seasons in both '81 and '88 (4-11 IIRC in '87) so expectations were LOW. I think we all changed when they went to Dallas in '88 and beat the Cowboys, a part of their 4-1 finish.

It'd get crazy loud when Ickey would score a TD and fans would lose their minds when he did the shuffle. It was great fun to see Brooks slashing to the outside, then Woods pound it. Yep, exciting days for sure. Just know the Bengals have shown they can go from SUCK to SUPER BOWL in one year!