1972 was a special year for the NFL. It was the third season after the merger between the AFL and NFL and the electricity of competition was everywhere. No parity, no free agency, just emerging dynasties and an awaking fan base. The Miami Dolphins were marching through everyone on their way to the only undefeated season. The Dallas Cowboys were awakening, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders were emerging as new powerhouse teams. Their Steeler/Raider bloodbath of a playoff game that year still remains unresolved. John Madden still can’t believe that Franco Harris touchdown was allowed to stand. He wanted his shot at the Dolphins and that 1972 Super Bowl. Just ask Pete Banaszak, he was there. But 1972 was special for one other reason; it marked the return of Lou Saban to the Buffalo Bills.

 If you think Nick Saban walks away from teams, his cousin Lou was much worse. He could and did walk away from teams in a heartbeat. He is still hated by Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills. Lou Saban coached Buffalo from 1962 through 1965 and was the only coach in the AFL to deliver back to back championships. He believed in basic football, "run the ball, stop the run". His 1964 team featured Jack Kemp as quarterback, Daryl Lamonica as backup and Cookie Gilchrist at fullback running for 1,000 yards in a 12 game season. His shut down defense, running attack and the ability to send Daryl Lamonica in to throw deep is still the winning formula. Ralph Wilson and the city of Buffalo were still celebrating their second AFL Championship in 1965 when Lou Saban announced his resignation to go coach the University of Maryland. Ralph Wilson was set to make him the highest paid coach in the AFL but instead was left feeling betrayed and furious. The city was broken hearted. But now it was 1972, the long losing spell had washed away the hard feelings and he was back. Hope had returned. Lou Saban immediately began building the greatest running attack ever unleashed on the NFL.

When he arrived in 1972, he found little of the championship team he left. The team had been horribly mismanaged gaining only 13 wins in the previous 5 years. He found OJ Simpson on special teams running back kickoffs and barely used in the offense. "I believe in running the ball, basic, hard-nosed football," Saban said. "We have a great runner, a game breaker, who is a big-play athlete. I intend to use him." Lou called Jim Ringo, an offensive lineman from the Lombardi era Packers, to come and coach the line and then went off looking for talent. He called the NY Jets and traded for Dave Foley a former 1st round draft choice with three years experience. He drafted Reggie McKenzie in the second round and put him immediately in the lineup. OJ Simpson gained over 1,200 yards in 1972 and the Bills managed 4 wins. That season showed the possibility to Reggie McKenzie who began proclaiming a vision of a season no one had ever seen. Lou Saban and Jim Ringo volunteered to coach the Senior Bowl to get a firsthand look at the draft prospects. They drafted Joe DeLamielleure in the first round. They traded with the New England Patriots for guard Mike Montler and told him he was the new starting center. Jim Ringo gathered the new offensive line, McKenzie, Foley, Montler, DeLamielleure, and tackle Donnie Green, and had them hit the blocking sled until they dropped every day. Training camp was brutal as told by Reggie McKenzie.

The 1973 season was ready. Reggie McKenzie continued to talk about the 2,000 yard season, but after the Bills lost all six preseason games, hope diminished. It was good that the first game was away at the New England Patriots. When the Bills offensive line ripped off 360 yards rushing with Simpson gaining 250, people began to believe. By mid-season the Bills offensive line had accumulated 1,528 yards rushing and Simpson was over 1,000. On the last game of the year everyone tuned in. Simpson needed 61 yards to break Jim Brown’s single season record and 197 to hit 2,000. Reggie McKenzie guaranteed it.

When the season was over, the statistics were unbelievable, over 3,000 yards rushing, 220 yards per game, 6 yards per attempt. OJ Simpson had 2,003 yards and 143 yards per game. 35 years later, the average per game records still stand, no one has come close. Only the 1978 New England Patriots put up more rushing yards in one year, only the second team to ever generate 3,000+ rushing. The Bills won 9 games that year.

When looking at the film, the thing that stands out is the line surge. When they ran up the middle, OJ just stood there and waited, he could walk five yards straight ahead. The bread and butter play was sweep right. Left guard Reggie McKenzie would pull. Joe D would surge and bottle everyone up in the middle of the field. By the time Reggie got over there, he was looking for someone to hit. OJ went behind Reggie and waited for him to clear giant holes. The play was a minimum 10 yards.

Watch it yourself.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TomvQ4Nk3k&feature=related

The moral of the story is, if you dedicate to running the ball, you must dedicate to the offensive line. The power of talent that believes in something is incredible. This line didn’t play together for years and didn’t have a lot of experience. One rookie and one second year guy made the difference. An offensive line can be built quickly and effectively, but not by drafting receivers and giving away draft choices.

In 1975, Lou Saban proclaimed his Buffalo team ready to challenge for a Super Bowl. Key injuries, over expectations and under-performances caused a downfall. In 1976, Lou Saban walked out again. Jim Ringo took over the team but a 2 and 12 season sealed his fate. Lou Saban took over the Miami Hurricanes and convinced Jim Kelly to come. He coached him for two years before walking out. Jim Kelly led the Buffalo Bills to four AFC Championships where his and Marv Levy’s name are on the Wall of Fame, no mention of Lou Saban. Lou Saban is 80 years old and is still coaching in South Carolina. Hey, I have an idea…..