Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Tom Mack

Mack was selected number two overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, where he went on to play for his entire 13-year NFL career. Mack is prominently known for being an ironman, starting in 184-straight games. He is also an 11-time Pro Bowler.

Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Dave Wilcox

Those who witnessed outside linebacker Dave Wilcox perform during his 11 stellar seasons with the San
Francisco 49ers, 1964 to 1974, will tell you that he was that extraordinary kind of athlete. They will also
tell you his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, was too long in coming.

Tom Mack

Mack was the number 1 pick of the Rams in the 1966 NFL Draft, second overall, from the University of Michigan, one of only two rookies not cut in George Allen’s tough veteran-dominated squad.
During his rookie campaign when starter Don Chuy was injured during the 5th game of the season, Mack moved into the lineup. He was back as the starter for 3 games after that, lost out to Ted Karras briefly, only to reclaim the position and start for the next 12 years. Mack never missed a game through injury in his entire career, appearing in 184 consecutive contests, a streak topped only by Merlin Olsen and Jack Youngblood. He played next to center Ken Iman from 1966 to 1974 and left tackle Charley Cowan from 1966 to 1975. During Mack\'s career with the Rams, they compiled an impressive record, with winning seasons 12 out of the 13. During this span, the Rams enjoyed a .720 winning percentage with a won-lost-tie record of 129-48-7, winning their division (and reaching the playoffs) 8 times (1967,1969,1973 to 1978) and reaching 4 NFC championship games.
In 1967, 1969, and 1973, Los Angeles lost the divisional round to the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, in the 1967 NFL playoffs, the 1969 NFL playoffs, and the 1973-74 NFL playoffs. In the 1973 regular season, the Rams were especially potent, scoring the most points in the NFL: 388 points (27.7 points/game). The Rams finally won a playoff game in the 1974-75 NFL playoffs, beating the Washington Redskins while amassing 131 yards on the ground, as Mack outplayed the opposing defensive right tackle, Diron Talbert, but lost the NFC championship game to the Minnesota Vikings. In 1975, they beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the divisional round of the 1975-76 NFL playoffs, amassing a mighty 237 yards on the ground, as Mack overwhelmed the opposing defensive right tackle, Bob Rowe, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC championship game. The following year, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round of the 1976-77 NFL playoffs, thanks in part to 120 rushing yards, Mack playing well against Larry Cole, but lost the NFC championship for the third consecutive year, to the Vikings, as in 1974. The Vikings eliminated them from the playoffs for the fourth time since 1969 and second year in a row in the divisional round of the 1977-78 NFL playoffs. In Mack\'s final year, the Rams beat the Vikings at last in the divisional round of the 1978-79 NFL playoffs, as Mack pulverized James White at defensive right tackle, the team gaining 200 yards on the ground, but lost the NFC championship game to the Cowboys for the second time (1975,1978). In summary, the Rams lost in the playoffs 7 times from 1969 to 1978 to only 2 teams: the Vikings (4 times) and the Cowboys (3 times), so that Mack never went to the Super Bowl. After retiring, he was replaced by Kent Hill in 1979. Mack was selected to 11 Pro Bowls, the first coming after his 2nd season in 1967. He missed only one Pro Bowl appearance the rest of his career (1976). Mack’s 11 invitations earned him a third-place tie with Bob Lilly and Ken Houston for the most selections of all time. Mack was selected First-team All-Pro four times (1969, 1971, 1973, 1974) and Second-Team All-Pro 4 times (1968, 1970, 1972, and 1975). In addition he was named All-NFC 8 times in 1970-1975 & 1977, 1978 and earned 2nd-Team All-NFC honors in 1976.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Tom\'s Page at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Website

Dave Wilcox

Dave Wilcox played collegiate football at Boise Junior College before transferring to Oregon for his final two campaigns. At Boise he earned junior college All-America honors. A guard on offense and an end on defense, Wilcox played in the Hula Bowl, Coaches’ All-America Bowl, and the College All-Star game. In 1964, he became the first defensive lineman in Hula Bowl history to earn outstanding lineman honors. In 1964, both the Houston Oilers of the young American Football League and the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League sought to sign the Oregon star. The Oilers drafted him in the 6th round (46th player overall) of the AFL draft, while the 49ers tapped him in the 3rd round (29th player overall) of the NFL draft.

The 6-3, 241-pound Wilcox opted to sign with the more established 49ers where he went on to star for 11 seasons. Converted to the outside linebacker position, Wilcox quickly established himself as one of the league’s finest. Nicknamed “The Intimidator,” he was ideally suited for the position, both mentally and physically.

Following each season, San Francisco would rate their players based upon their performance. The typical score for a linebacker was 750. Wilcox’s score in 1973 was 1,306. That season the veteran linebacker recorded 104 solo tackles, four forced fumbles, and tackled opposing ball carriers for a loss 13 times. Durable, Wilcox missed only one game during his career due to injury. Five times he was named All-NFL (1967,1970, 1971, 1972, 1973) and three times All-NFC (1971, 1972, 1973). He was also selected to play in seven Pro Bowls.

Dave\'s Page at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Website