The 49ers' post-Loma Prieta game vs. the Patriots

by arnec on Oct 14, 2009 3:08 PM PDT Comment 13 comments

FOOCH'S NOTE: We've had some technical difficulties today so it's taken me a while to move this to the front page. For those that aren't aware, the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is October 17, so this FanPost is definitely something worth moving up to the front.

I'm pretty sure this game the Niners played at Stanford was the first big Bay Area sporting event after the earthquake. I watched the game on tv, but the only thing I remember from it is Jeff Fuller getting his paralyzing injury, and I think that happened very early in the game. Obviously that was an injury that just added to the sense of grief over the earthquake. A few months ago I wrote up a summary of the 49ers' reactions to Loma Prieta, and it seems they were pretty shaken up by it, like most people were.

I know the 49ers won pretty easily, and I see that Young came in for Montana and did real well in the second half. But I don't remember the emotions of the game, or any of the pre-game ceremonies relating to the earthquake. It seems like the real outpouring of emotion in a sports setting was when they came back to Candlestick to re-start the World Series near the end of October. Since we've got the 20th anniversary coming up, I wondered if anyone who went to the game might share some thoughts about what it was like to attend the game five days after Loma Prieta.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Hey Arne

I’m glad to see you getting this up today!

I hope anybody who remembers this game will give a thoughtful response on their recollections. Unfortunately, I was only 4 at the time, so… that gives me a rather limited ability to contribute here.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 14, 2009 12:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good post

I was 12 years old and walking out to the practice field for the Pop-Warner team I played for. I remember feeling naucious and looking over to my right noticing the huge oak tree looking like it was going to uproot itself. Also, remember our QB walking on to the field and telling everyone that he was sitting on the toilet and water kept splashing on him haha…

Other than that, I remember small chunks of the stadium being found all over the stadium on the news clips. Other than that… the Jeff Fuller thing brought up sends chills the same way it did when it happened live. I remember thinking he was dead.

by Drew K on Oct 14, 2009 3:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuller

I remember that like it was yesterday. I was in Santa Cruz, just a few miles from the epicenter so the earthquake had a huge impact on my life. But watching Fuller crumpled on the Stanford field was just another crushing moment. Wish I knew what had happened to him after that, never heard much about him after the injury.

by greebs on Oct 14, 2009 3:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw him later

after he rehibilitated and he could walk again but he has no movement in one of his arms.

by Drew K on Oct 14, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He settled down and had a family. Eddie DeBartolo helped to set him up with a financial plan that would ensure his medical bills would never get in the way of his life. His son was playing for Texas Tech, but I’m not sure if he still is.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 14, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fuller Jr.

He transfered to Texas A & M and he broke his fibula in September

by Drew K on Oct 14, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ow.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 14, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check this story out.

Click on the link.

http://www.ninersnation.com/2008/10/26/646563/glory-has-its-price

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Oct 15, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Loma Prieta

I remember the game as overcast and dizzling. There was a lot of emotion that day, with many fans not exactly knowing how to react given the images they had been seeing from 10/17/89. However I think most people attending wanted to grasp onto something positive. The most vivid memories I had of the game itself, was that it was a victory at a terrible cost. I remember Joe Montana going down with an injury which caused a feeling of despair, but we were granted a great feeling of relief later when Joe jogged from the locker room back to the sideline. I cannot remember the fan reaction to Jeff Fuller, I was stunned by the horrific collison between Fuller and John Stephens. The doctors seemed to on the field before the play was over. Everyone on the field knew it was very bad.

by searching4mylife on Oct 14, 2009 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The fact that the game was being played at Stanford because of the earthquake instead of at Candlestick might have actually saved Fuller’s life. Because of the Stanford Medical Center being so close, he got almost immediate medical attention from one of the best facilities you could ask for.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 14, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

found an article from a few years back

here it is

A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.

by wjackalope on Oct 14, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

1989

I remember thinking that if it hadn’t been for the earthquake Jeff Fuller probably never would have gotten hurt. Hard to prove, but what are the chances of the exact same play going the exact same way in 2 different stadiums.

When I got to the Stick and watched the Giants get swept in game 4, it didn’t hurt as bad knowing all else that was wrong. Giants fans leaving the stadium cheered outloud together, “We’re #2! We’re #2!”.

by Nicky Babs on Oct 14, 2009 4:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I remember the game helping in a small way

A distraction for people in need of one, as the Niners were even more Bay Area kings then than now. hat so may people filled Stanford Stadium was a sign to others in the country that we were (mostly) okay and moving forward. A nice televised event to contrast all the horror everyone had been watching for days. I also recall Walsh was in the TV booth with Enberg for NBC which added to the Niner family feel.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Oct 15, 2009 1:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs