Ghosts of Franchise Past: Family and Tradition Keys to 49ers' Success?

The 49ers’ brass talked a huge game at Tuesday night’s second-annual State of the Franchise event. After having listened to Jed York, Trent Baalke, and Mike Singletary discuss where the team is and where they expect to be in the very near future, how could even a casual fan not be chomping at the bit for the start of training camp later this week?

Clearly the majority of the motivation behind these events is based in rhetoric and appeasing season ticket holders, both present and future. As a college-trained rhetorician, it was an impressive tour de force.

However, embedded in Jed York’s opening meander through mystery, whimsy, history, and punitive glory, there lay some legitimate reflections of a mentality which once brought immense success to a great dynasty.

Yes, it is true Jed’s words about winning with class bore a strong resemblance to the edict laid down by his grandfather in 1977. After ceding control of his newly-purchased team to his son, Edward DeBartolo Sr. told Eddie D, “Keep everything first-class.”

I, however, heard the echoes of another great sports mogul: George M. Steinbrenner III, after his 1973 purchase of the once-great but then-scuffling New York Yankees.

I can hear the scowls now:

“BOOOOO”

“HISSSSSS”

“You’re an idiot!”

“How dare you?!”

“I hope you die!”

Bring it on, as there is nothing you can say about my undying love for the 27-time World Champions that I have not already heard a million times over and even less that could ever sway my allegiance, but give the comparison a chance.

From the 1920s to the 1960s, the New York Yankees experienced incredible levels of success in Major League Baseball and played host to legends of the game like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Roger Maris. However, by 1973, they had fallen on tough times and were 11 years removed from their last World Series and nine years removed from their last American League Pennant.

The Boss addressed the team in spring training that year, saying “When you put on the pinstripes, you’re not just wearing a uniform. You’re wearing tradition and you’re wearing pride. And you’re going to wear it right.” With those enigmatic words, the Boss revitalized the Yankee mystique.

Players had a new motivation to succeed, a duty to the team, each other, the franchise—a duty to history. They began to buy into what it meant to be a Yankee, and within five short years, aided by some creative roster moves, George had guided the team to back-to-back titles and three-straight World Series appearances.

Flash forward to 2008. The San Francisco 49ers—the team of Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, and Roger Craig, former model franchise in the NFL, the first team to win five Lombardi Trophies—had fallen on tough times. They stood 13 years removed from their last Super Bowl win, five years removed from their last playoff berth, coming off a disappointing stretch of consecutive losing seasons dating back to 2003.

Jed York took over as the acting owner and president, succeeding his parents, who had been disconnected and distant since “inheriting” the team from Eddie DeBartolo in the wake of his Louisiana gambling scandal. Jed’s youthful enthusiasm and deep passion for the team, born out of a childhood having grown up at his uncle’s side around the 49er locker room, were welcome contrasts to the cold and seemingly indifferent demeanor of his miserly mother and father­—while eerily reminiscent of the fervor of a young and ambitious George Steinbrenner.

Jed set about restoring the pride and mystique of the red and gold. He appointed Mike Singletary as interim head coach after a disappointing 2-5 start to the season under Mike Nolan, then extended his tenure after an emotional win in Week 17, naming him permanent head coach. Jed and Coach Sing have preached of winning with class and bringing glory back to a once-proud franchise.

The players are buying into it.

Year after year, month after month, week after week, and even day after day, buzz around team seems to grow more and more positive. The blend of family, community, and history that Jed and Coach Sing have created has the players selling out for the team.

Vernon Davis went from team pariah and prima donna to model teammate and team captain. Both offense and defense are making huge strides. Discipline, effort, and more importantly progress were so impressive at mini camp that even Coach Sing was inspired to reward his players with a day off.

Jed and Coach Sing have motivated and inspired these players in a way unseen for some time in San Francisco. They are playing for more than just a pay check. They are playing for honor of themselves, each other, the team, the fans, the Bay Area, the alumni, and for the first time in a while, their owner.

Being a 49er and winning as a 49er is finally important to them. That is truly powerful.

It bears similarity to the days of Walsh and DeBartolo, but also to Steinbrenner. Love them or hate them, you have to admit that any team in any sport would do well to aspire to the success of the New York Yankees. If reincarnation exists, maybe this is proof. I could believe it.

We can only hope to skip the flighty coaching carousel. Maybe Jed can be the hands-off owner George originally said he would be, with the same measures of success.

Keep the Faith!