Jim Burt (football player)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jim Burt | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Date of birth: | June 7, 1959 |
| Place of birth: |  Orchard Park, NY |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Nose tackle |
| College: | Miami (FL) |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1981-1988 1989-1991 |
New York Giants San Francisco 49ers |
| Career highlights and Awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1986 |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Burt played nose tackle for the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI and the 49ers team that won Super Bowl XXIV.
Burt attended the University of Miami, where he stared on the football field for the Hurricanes and was eventually inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
Burt joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1981. He made the Pro Bowl in 1986 and finished his career with his 20 quarterback sacks. Burt was respected throughout the league for his toughness and determination, which resulted in him going from being an undrafted rookie free agent to a Pro Bowler.[2] He is also known for knocking out 49ers quarterback Joe Montana on a pass in the 1986 Divisional Playoff game. Montana's pass was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The Giants won, 49-3, on their way to winning Super Bowl XXI.
Although many people often credit Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor with inventing the "Gatorade Shower" on coaches following wins, Burt actually created it in 1985.[3] As Carson stated in his 1987 book Point of Attack:The Defense Strikes Back head coach Bill Parcells was especially hard on Burt in practice. Parcells often made Burt raise a 50 lb. dumbbell repeatedly off the ground in practice to simulate raising his arm powerfully out of his stance at the snap of the ball. Burt exacted revenge on Parcells after a win in 1985 by dousing him with a cooler of Gatorade. This has since become a tradition in football analogous to the champagne showers teams make in their locker rooms after winning a championship.
Burt battled back problems with the New York Giants which ultimately caused Parcells to announce his retirement in 1988.[2] Burt however disagreed and signed with the 49ers where he played until his career ended in 1991.
During the 2006 season Burt travelled to Dallas to give moral support to his former tormentor Parcells who was then head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Burt also delivered a pre-game speech and stood on the sidelines exulting Dallas' defensive players.[2]
Burt's son Jim Burt, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and also went to Miami, but played collegiate baseball rather than football for the Hurricanes.[4]
Burt has been a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey.[5]
[edit] See also
Jim played high school football in Orchard Park N.Y., his teammates included Craig Wolfley who played offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Larry Phoel (Lex Luger).
[edit] References
- ^ Football Inductees, umsporsthalloffame.com, accessed January 13, 2007.
- ^ a b c Gola, Hank. Burt with 'Boys as Tuna helper, November 1, 2006, accessed April 29, 2007.
- ^ Highlights from the History of Gatorade, amanet.org, accessed January 13, 2007.
- ^ Miami Hurricanes 2003 summary, sportsillustrated.com, accessed January 13, 2007.
- ^ Popper, Steve. "Burt Jr. Tackles First Base in Class A", copy of article from The New York Times, July 5, 2004. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Burt Jr. has time. While driving from his parents' home in Saddle River, N.J., to Brooklyn on Thursday for his second game with the Cyclones, he listened to the broadcast of the Mets' game and heard the description of Valent bobbling a ground ball and making an errant throw to Al Leiter covering first."
[edit] External links
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