How Dan Bunz Made Me a 49ers Fan

Joe Montana: one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

Dwight Clark changed the fate of a franchise.

Bill Walsh built a franchise to a dynasty that lasted two decades.

Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver ever.

Ronnie Lott is the definition of a "safety" and my favorite Niner of all time

"Momma," I asked, "out of all the great players that have strapped on the scarlet and gold, how did Dan Bunz change my life?" 

Momma said, "Son, the only thing you remember from Super Bowl XVI was Dan Bunz annihilating Charles Alexander on that goal line stand.  Twice!" 

A football junkie and a more dedicated 49er zealot, I can recall plays and players from even preseason past.  However, I'm writing this because Dan Bunz was the one who made me into a 49er diehard.  The ferocity of his hits at such a dire point in the ultimate game made him a hero in my mind—a child's hero. 

As countless summer days passed, I would play the grainy VCR tape of that first 49ers Super Bowl.  Like a kid who wants the same story read or watch the same Disney animation, I, too, got nervous at every tense momemt; for me, it was when Diana Ross sang the "Star Spangled Banner." 

As the days grew longer, I started to fast forward through the first half.  However, I would always let the second half play through; to build the setting and climax of the famous goal line stand.

Surveying the TV, standing with knees bent, my heart quickens as the Bengals' fullback, Pete Johnson, plunges for two yards to the niner one yard line.  Breathing heavily, I watch as comrade John Harty stops Johnson cold for no gain.  Alert and filled with desperation, I watch as Dan Bunz stuffs Charles Alexander reaching for the goal line.  It is after this stop that I always, always turn around and hurl myself to our couch and hear Pat Summerall and John Madden describing the play of hero Dan Bunz.  I exhort a guttural scream into the couch. 

There's only one last play to deny the Bengals.  My face is practically pressed to the screen.  Dan Bunz stuffs lead blocker Alexander again and Jim "Hacksaw" Reynolds leads the denial of Bengals battering ram Johnson.

Everyday that summer, I get scolded for yelling at the ceiling on the couch like Archie Reese.

Ever since then, every time I jump back into the coach celebrating a good play by the boys in Scarlet and gold, the child in me falls in love again.