Football Trivia: Come Sail Away

A dive bar in South Minneapolis by the name of Schooner Tavern was the locale this week for 1500 ESPN's Thursday Football Trivia. It was one of those neighborhood bars where the patrons stop what they're doing and stare in a suspicious manner at any unfamiliar face that enters the joint.

Anyhow, there were 11 different teams/participants in the opening round written quiz. I, as usual, did very well with that portion, earning a #3 seed and a first round bye for the bracketed tournament.

In the quarterfinals, I took on a duo that called themselves "Bubbas." As usual, this is a "Family Feud" style tourney where one has to buzz in for an opportunity to answer first. This is a best 2 of 3.

Question one: Who was the first Super Bowl winning NFL team whose home stadium was a dome?

Brad (buzzing in first): New Orleans Saints. Incorrect. 
Bubbas: Seattle Seahawks. Incorrect.
Brad: St Louis Rams. Correct.

1-0, Brad.

Question two: Which Vikings QB holds the franchise record for single season passing yardage?

Brad (buzzing in first): Daunte Culpepper. Correct. 

Brad wins, 2-0.

On to the semifinals, where I would take on the #2 seed (and 18-time champion) Brendan Byrne. Mr. Byrne can be considered my nemesis, given I've defeated him only once in 8 or 9 tries (Oh, but how sweet was the one win!). 

The final four is also a best 2 of 3, but the questions are in category format, meaning there are multiple answers. This year has an interesting twist. The rule now is if each player gets one correct answer, it moves to sudden death. That means the first person to give a wrong answer loses the point. 


Question one: Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon played for.....

Brendan (quick with the trigger finger): Houston Oilers.

.......five different professional football teams in his career. Houston Oilers is one.  

Brad: Minnesota Vikings. Correct.

Brendan: Seattle Seahawks. Correct. 

Brad: Kansas City Chiefs. Correct

Brendan (thinking, thinking): Montreal? Incorrect (It was actually the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL). 

1-0, Brad.

Question two: After Murray Warmath left as Gophers' football coach after 1971, the U of M has employed eight different permanent head coaches. Name them.

Brad (buzzing in first): Joe Salem. Correct.

Brendan: Glen Mason. Correct. 

Brad: Lou Holtz. Correct.

Brendan: Jerry Kill. Correct. 

Brad: John Gutekunst. Correct.

Brendan: Tim Brewster. Correct. 

Brad: Jim Wacker. Correct.

Brendan: Cal Stoll. Correct. 

Since we ran the table with each getting four correct, no point is awarded. Still 1-0, Brad.

Question three: There are 12 teams in college football's Mountain West division. Name them. 

Brendan (buzzing in first): Boise St. Correct.

Brad: Utah. Incorrect (Utah State is part of the conference though). 

1-1 tie. 

Question four: Of the top 25 NFL players in all-time receptions,.....

Brad (quick with the trigger finger): Jerry Rice.

.......seven of those players are active (D'oh!). Name them. 

Jerry Rice is incorrect.  

Brendan: Steve Smith. Correct.

Brendan wins, 2-1. 

Brendan would defeat another Football Trivia regular, The Jermichael$, to win his 19th trivia championship in 2-1/2 seasons. 

Since I'll be getting out the vote next Thursday, I'll resume my quest for a multiple championship season on November 6. 

Until then.......

------------------------------------------------