Thanks to romelovesdan for providing me the DVD files used for this project. I've enhanced the broadcast recording of the 1979 AFC Championship. The game was on three separate discs. I ran all the footage through Topaz to upscale to 1080p, denoise, sharpen and double the framerate, then used Da Vinci Resolve to lower the oversaturated picture and to perform color correction. You can see the original shots and post enhancement/color here -- imgbox.com/g/XLQevaD4Iy

@jackkitchen737

Жыл бұрын

This looks and sounds great. Well done.

@dwil8621

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for your effort. This looks and sounds beautiful. As a Oilers fan it was still painful to watch the Renfro catch all these decades later.

@troydavis318

6 ай бұрын

I can't thank you enough for reliving my youth and passion for the "Football" I grew up on Sir !!!

@dwil8621

6 ай бұрын

@@troydavis318 aint that the truth. It took me back to being 8 years old waiting for 11:30am to watch the NFL pregame on the 13" TV in my Oiler Blue bedroom

@user-ge4il3lh1o

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for your time and effort looks excellent!

Man those Oilers uniforms were beautiful. In fact, almost every NFL team in 1979 had awesome uniforms.

@nymike06

7 ай бұрын

They are beautiful. It was cool to see the Tennessee Titians wear them vs Atlanta on Oct 29, 2023

@144wychwood

7 ай бұрын

Agreed. Unlike the monstrosities they wear now.

@exposethenwo6491

7 ай бұрын

The one exception would be the Bengals. The uniforms during the 80's were definitely a huge improvement

@boogitybear2283

7 ай бұрын

@@nymike06No it wasn’t. The Oilers belong in Houston not Nashville.

@elbob17

7 ай бұрын

The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates uniforms were the greatest uniforms in MLB history. All 178 possible combinations of them. Something special about the late 70s.

I feel like the 1970's was the best era in the NFL history 🏈🏈.

@fisterhr

5 ай бұрын

If you're from Pittsburgh, then of course it is because that was the Steeler's decade.

@keetonplace

5 ай бұрын

@@fisterhr 100% Ollers fan and those late 70's were the most exciting football I've seen the Oilers play. Pittsburg awesome. But Oilers had the heart. No team after the Oilers had the passion that team had. Neither Texans nor whatever they became. Lost track.

@kendallevans4079

5 ай бұрын

Raider fan here and agree!

@dennisqualls9098

4 ай бұрын

It was the best decade in NFL history. You could easily root for a team and player cause the teams stayed together. Never another decade with that many truly great teams. Miami, Minnesota, Dallas, Los Angeles, Oakland Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, Houston and of course Pittsburgh.

@pat557

3 ай бұрын

'73 --'79 was a great stretch for the NFL...

No reviews, no ridiculous first down celebrations, no hyper focus on pass interference on every single pass ... It was a far better product than today.

@cs1992

6 ай бұрын

No social justice nonsense either.

@FritzFritzarini

6 ай бұрын

Reviews are a necessary evil, though.

@miltonmcdonald2919

5 ай бұрын

@@FritzFritzariniThey are not necessary. They haven't ended controversy. Get rid of reviews!

@FritzFritzarini

5 ай бұрын

@@miltonmcdonald2919 Sorry but I'm in favor of them. That's not to say the process couldn't be streamlined and improved. But when the whole world can see on tv that a call was blown, I say overturn it.

@countof3everybodyOD

5 ай бұрын

@@miltonmcdonald2919they are necessary, but they don’t do them properly; the refs never want to go against themselves!

I can watch this game all day just for the atmosphere and those amazing uniforms!! REAL FOOTBALL!

@reggiejames7812

5 ай бұрын

Yeah the atmospheres were so much better than you get now. Just a bunch of rich folk now at $300 a ticket who all leave during the 4th quarter. Same thing here in England, the fans don't make as much noise at our football

@breal1183

5 ай бұрын

@@reggiejames7812 Absolutely agree.

@LindaMerchant-bq2hp

3 ай бұрын

And those classic oil Derrick on helmet side

That was the real NFL football. The 70s and 80s. Also the background music was great.

“WHEN FOOTBALL WAS REAL FOOTBALL.”

These old games are great to watch... excellent picture. I was 21 yrs old in 79. Damn, Dan Pastorini was a tough guy, he took some big shots from that Steeler D in a time QB's weren't pampered.

@erikrenner

6 ай бұрын

I was 7 in 1979.

@remmymafia3889

6 ай бұрын

These two back to back AFC Championships with these two teams, are legendary for the hitting on both sides. Loved Carpenter and Barber.

@just_2swift

6 ай бұрын

I wasn’t born yet 89

@r.williamcomm7693

2 ай бұрын

Agree. Pastorini was tough. This was his last game for the Oilers. They traded him to the Raiders for Ken Stabler & Bum Phillips got fired after losing in the playoffs to the Raiders.

Earl was so good. He carried the oilers too the championship game.

I’ve been to Pittsburgh twice in the past decade. Imagine being there when it was the steel city. This game was less than 2 months after the Pirates won the World Series.

This was the NFL I grew up on. Great memories!

@depaola63

Ай бұрын

Absolutely ✨ I’m now 61 and grew up a Vikings fan born and raised in the Bay Area 🌟❤️These were wonderful times for everything!

@mattyrock2467

18 күн бұрын

same here. real football

1979... My second year as a Steelers fan!!! ☝️I was 11 years old...AND STILL AM😲

@jeffl.304

6 ай бұрын

You’ve stayed 11 years old this long? What’s your secret? 😂

I keep coming back to this, hoping Houston can win it.

@tarico4436

19 күн бұрын

Spoiler alert next time PLEASE!!

Dave Volsky: TREMENDOUS job cleaning up old footage. Brings back good memories for this 55 year old Steeler fan.

Loved Olsen and Enburg together

@mattyrock2467

18 күн бұрын

enberg was the best

The old Three Rivers "Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go" chants with the horn at 22:59 still bring chills to my spine.

I'm from Pittsburgh but I loved Bum Phillips and those Houston Oilers...what a great team. YES!!! that was a TD to Renfro. MY God, what a bad call. That score would have tied the game...changes the whole momentum of the game.

@randomguy6117

4 ай бұрын

I've always thought the significance of the call was overblown. It was a questionable call, but it was a first down play. They were still second and goal on the 6 after it, had multiple chances still to score that touchdown, and wound up getting a field goal. At worst it cost them four points and it needn't have cost them any if they'd executed on the next few plays. Given that the Steelers won 27-13 and there was still more than a quarter to play, this doesn't rank among the most important calls in playoff history.

@303Smilezzz

3 ай бұрын

​​@@randomguy6117bad take. Every play is precious in a sudden death nfl playoff game. You underestimate momentum in an nfl game. This was emotionally devastating to a team's psyche in such a gigantic game

@bobbyhathorn8847

2 ай бұрын

It's probably one of the blown calls that led to instant replay. As for it changing the outcome of the game, we'll never know for sure.

Those gorgeous Oilers uniforms

@imtorres1119

6 ай бұрын

The Houston Oilers uniforms 🤘

1979 i was 12 years old wow those were the days 💯💯💯💯

This is actually better quality than when I first watched this in 1980😂. The local NBC affiliate was a UHF station, which had so much "snow" in the reception that it was hard to watch. This reminds me how I miss banners in the stadium. It's so sterile nowadays.

@RexJacobus-bb1vw

6 ай бұрын

It's sterile because they want to sell you shit at every turn.

By far the best quality I've ever seen this game. I've still got a copy of the broadcast on VHS, and this was like watching it again for the first time.

The NFL weren't going to allow a Bucs vs Oilers Super Bowl. I was at the 1979 NFC championship game. It was like the Bucs never showed up losing, 9-0

The size of those shoulder pads! They should have their own Zip Code. Loved that 70's Steelers!

Love this era of NFL 1970's 1980's not so much anymore.Houston upset San Diego the week before with both Pastorini & Campbell out with injuries @ SD and Gave this great Steeler team a real challenge. Thank you for these uploads Dave.

@mattyrock2467

18 күн бұрын

they whipped them 35-7 during the regular season to earn home field only to lose to houston at home in the playoffs

I loved everything about this era of football. The hard hitting style. Teams having legit rushing attacks (without everything being centered around the QB like today). The cool uniforms. It all just felt better and more authentic than today’s version of the NFL.

For those of you who were born after this game, the Renfro "touchdown" was one of the big driving forces for the league to implement video reviews by the officials. It was a debate that went on and on for quite a few years until the league finally adopted it.

@schnarfschnarf5886

7 ай бұрын

We got one for the thumb..

@lynnturman8157

6 ай бұрын

Didn't know that. Thanks for the context.

@toneloc7910

6 ай бұрын

@@lynnturman8157 The refs get things right a pretty good percentage of the time, but for the times when they did get it wrong, it made the refs look bad that they couldn't correct the call. Then people would endlessly complain about it. In a huge game like this, a wrong call can easily alter the direction the game takes. In this case, the game would have been tied, and the Oilers would have had the momentum. If this had been called a touchdown, I wonder how the game would have later unfolded.

@1981expos

6 ай бұрын

Actually they had a brief try in 1978. Then again in 1986

@gpowellish1

6 ай бұрын

I remember that well. I was 13 years old then.

R.I.P. Dick Enberg/Merlin Olsen. Terrific NBC NLF Announcers and Broadcasters that day including Mike Adamle

@johnnypastrana6727

7 ай бұрын

Totally agree...Enberg and Olsen were the best IMO.

@nymike06

7 ай бұрын

@@johnnypastrana6727 Oh yeah! They were great. Same with Summerall and Brookshire....later with Summerall and Madden. That was the golden age of NFL announcing.

@smokestack29

7 ай бұрын

Mike Adamle is still alive. Met him before, really good guy.

@nymike06

7 ай бұрын

@@smokestack29 The way I wrote it indicated that. My bad. However, I recall reading in 2017 that Adamle has dementia and had signs of CTE, from his years of playing football. Nice you got to meet him. Was he ok, his recall and memory? I enjoyed his work in the 80s.

@acdude5266

Ай бұрын

Yes, no announcers exist like them now. The corporations, gambling, ESPB, and pseudo-analytics diminished the game, not the players. Mr. Enberg and Mr. Olsen were real people.

i was at this game with my late father. great memory.

Dave, it's incredible how the software, and your skill in using it, makes an analog original (albeit via DVD this time) look like HD. Bravo!

@puckutubesux7356

5 ай бұрын

...WHAT?

Never understood why the Oilers didn’t try any play action passes when the Steeler D was shutting Campbell down, especially on 1st and 10. Loved these classic games.

I was six years old and this season was the first I remember and the reason why I fell in love with football. It's so cool just to be able to watch this game in such a great format and picture.

Man I miss Houston Oilers

Thanks for this. My oldest brother played for the Oilers (70) as well as a friend (45)!

@davevolskysbackdoor5673

3 ай бұрын

Conway Hayman and Tim Wilson? Nice!

good grief Pittsburgh was truly unbeatable in the big games. thank you for the upload, I watched this when I was 10.

Good old football. I love how there's little or no cerebration after sacking the QB. No commercials every 2 minutes. No on field revues. JUST GET OUT THERE AND PLAY BALL.

@jackmessick2869

6 ай бұрын

Chuck Noll didn't tolerate celebrations of any kind. He thought end zone celebrations showed you weren't familiar with being there. He did seem to let up on that rule for the Super Bowl, though.

Thank you Dave for all of your time and efforts. Really fantastic work Sir.

Grew up watching these great games good times lot of these guys some were like heroes on both teams 👍

Thanks to those responsible for this. You do amazing work

Dude this channel kicks ass!

Man .. they sure loved their slow motion in the 70s.

Freaking awesome Dave. This game is one that I have early memories of. And the legendary Enberg and Olsen! Pure bliss!

@sterlenbergeron-xh6jx

6 ай бұрын

Enberg and Olsen were the greatest announcers of all time!!! They made NBC and the NFL great to watch!!! It was good to see Greg Gumble too!!!

@EricUnderwood-ic5jv

5 ай бұрын

Merlin Olsen lived across the street from my Jr. High school in Downey Ca. I'll go to my grave believing my Rams would have beat these Steelers in the Superbowl if Jack Youngblood was 100 percent! Took my Son to Canton in 2001 to see Youngblood and Swann get inducted into the HOF ... got my Son's Ram helmet signed by Youngblood on the left horn and Dryer on the right horn! Little old lady down the street rear ended my Van in front of my house while it was parked and her insurance company sent me a check for almost 5 G the week before the induction! Talk about divine intervention! LoL

Thank you...keep them coming.....these are wonderful to see.

The 2024 Super Bowl starts in 3.5 hours here but I would rather watch this than that crap. Thank you for sharing.

Oilers fan here. That game pissed me off so much. Renfro caught that ball for a TD, but it was before instant replay so the call on the field stood. Houston never recovered after that.

@dennisqualls9098

4 ай бұрын

Caught it after he bobbled it put of bounds.

@deadmozs

3 ай бұрын

@@dennisqualls9098 Sorry, but both feet were in and he never bobbled it. Clearly had possession in his right arm the whole time. And back then, there was no issues with "possession" or "surviving the ground" etc anyway. As long as both feet were in and the ball never touched the ground, it would be called a catch. Plain and simple, the refs blew the call. The announcers both clearly felt the same way too.

@steviemccormick3762

2 ай бұрын

I thought it was a catch too. And I'm a Die-Hard Steelers Fan.

great job restoring this classic to almost original quality! thanks for the ride

I remember watching this team at the Astrodome during the 1979 season. Campbell was hurt during the AFC Championship game and was essentially rendered ineffective.

This looks better than when I watched it live on an OTA antenna the day the game was played. Great job.

Thanks for the upload, Dave! Remember watching this game in real time in 1979. I so badly wanted the Oilers to beat Pittsburgh. The Renfro non call was huge.

Another great job by Dave. After re-watching this, the Steelers really thumped em. Especially in the second half. That defense was ridiculous.

I was 15 going on 16 when they played this game. Remember it like yesterday. I'm almost 60 now and at risk of sounding like cantankerous old man, today's NFL just doesn't excite like the good ole 70s.

Thanks again Dave...I enjoy these refurbished versions of classic playoff games from my childhood...the Oilers by the way should've had a shot in overtime in this game but there was no instant replay...they may not have won but I always have felt that it would've gone overtime...at least. That Steelers team from '78 & '79 are my #1 greatest team of all-time ('72 Dolphins).

When they tackled with their arms and not just launching shoulder pads into a guy like they do today.

I was going nuts when Vernon Perry picked that Bradshaw pass off and scored. This was a really good game. Terrible call screwed Houston out of 4 points. But the Steelers still dominated the 4th quarter, as was their custom.

@nymike06

7 ай бұрын

The non call on Renfro killed the momentum. If that TD had counted, I honesty feel the Oilers win.

@katazack

7 ай бұрын

@@beeemm2578 The Steelers were not going to lose this game at home. But, Houston was a gutty team and earned respect from Pittsburgh fans. There will never be another Bum Phillips.

@dwil8621

7 ай бұрын

@@katazack we'll never know. Doofus refs with the Three Rivers Screwjob

@outpost31mac

6 ай бұрын

@@patgalvez4563 Well, it's hard to overcome a crappy call from the refs. If they made the call they should have it's a tie game, and then who knows what could happen?

@countof3everybodyOD

5 ай бұрын

@@nymike06maybe, but probably not. These Steelers were absolute animals.

Reliving these classics in the quality you’ve provided is really fantastic.

Finally a GREAT copy of this game. Please keep up the AMAZING work.

This is a fantastic video, many thanks! The beauty of the games played in the '60s and '70s was that there weren't 20 different sub packages on defense and offenses were pretty basic, with very few gimmicks. The two teams lined up with their best 11 and went at it. The Oilers may have been the best team to never reach a Super Bowl in '78 and '79. They probably beat any team but Pittsburgh.

@hectorlopez1069

5 ай бұрын

They always sucked while facing the steelers.

holy... The fans immediately got excited when they saw that monster D take the field. Man, Pittsburgh had an aura about them.

What a critical mistake by the officials. Renfro made the catch, both feet inbounds. Go, Texans 2024

These upgraded versions are the best. Absolutely 💯. Brings back amazing memories of an awesome era of pro football. Thank you kindly

The clarity is amazing me being born in the 60s this is my earbthe football I grew up watching and the games are the best this is football at it’s best I tell you so glad I found this channel this era thank you Dave keep ‘‘em coming 👍thank you …….

OMG!!! I can watch "REAL" football again!!! Thank you!

@stephendacey8761

2 ай бұрын

The NFL just made putting your body weight into a tackle a penalty. Also, the NFL has now copied the XFL on kickoffs. For onside kicks you need permission from the refs to do so. The league voted unaminously to these bad rules for player safety. I think it's to make the league more like arena football. It will be an offensive game. Lots of pass plays. Boring.

@2:05:50 📺👀 Absolutely a TD! I’m now 60 and remember when….this play was why instant replay was brought in 🏈 the momentum change was right there!

@wolfhound45

6 ай бұрын

The Oilers had 227 total yards of offense in the game. Only 24 rushing yards. The Steelers defense was smothering them the entire game. Congrats on a missed TD. They still would have lost by seven points.

@glockensig

6 ай бұрын

It's so simple.....TD or no, the Steelers win!!!😅

I was at this game with my father, up in what they called the Press box, behind the Oilers end zone and about midway up Three Rivers. I remember it being cold as hell and because we were in the "press box", we didn't get the benefit of any sun. I still have my terrible towel from that year.

This is great quality! Thanks

Amazing work!! Keeping the past alive.

Well done, Dave. I remember watching this game with my dad - I was rooting for the Oilers because they were the underdog and remained an Oilers fan til Bud Adams moved the team to TN.

Thanks for this video amigo. Lots of work to provide it to us fans of older football 🙏

I really miss the Oilers and their rivalry with my Steelers. Wish we could bring them back.

Oilers had a great Team in this 1978/79 Season

Oh man.... awesome!! I could watch these old games all day long!!

Forgotten hero, Vernon Perry coming off his 4 interception game in the Oilers upset of the Chargers. Sets a record with a 75 yard TD return.

This is fantastic!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for doing all this. I'm a lifelong Steeler fan and saw this game on TV when I was 10, live. Haven't seen it since. Amazing how the game has changed. Somethings I noticed thus far: real kickoffs and runbacks, crushing hits, receivers not crying for flags every incompletion, no instant reply slowing down and ruining the game. I miss the old NFL.

@andrewclayterman6230

5 ай бұрын

They had more white dudes

When even football players were articulate and thoughtful

I watched this game and was pulling for Houston. That play wasn't even close. Thanks as always.

And just want to say, what a superb job you made here on this video...outstanding. Thank you.

Thanks for this... I had just graduated high school when this was played...

ive done all of these types of edits, so time consuming. thank you for your time and expertise, well done, sir!

That split screen at 4 minutes is really nice actually

The game that made Instant Replay part of the NFL.

One of the best arms in NFL history Dante Pastorini. He was good.

Thanks for posting this. I sure do like these old time games

Recently, Tennesse hauled out the old Oiler jerseys. What a joy to watch! Brinngs back memories!

So cool to be able to watch these classic 45 year old games. The running backs are so much slower than the players of today's game but enjoy the harder hits. I was 7 years old when this game took place, before I started watching. Would have rooted for the Oilers, hate the Steelers. WHO DEY!

Thanks Dave, last time I watched this game, I was a junior or senior in high school.

Renfro was in bounds.

@user-qv3wb2gy1f

11 ай бұрын

Well, R Mike Renfro's llnd foot was in bounds at back corner, Steeler end zone, but no TD signal was immediately called. Then after mtg. w/officiating crew, it was concluded that R for then-Hou. Oilers (current Tenn. Titan franchise) Mike Renfro didn't quite have complete possession, ball as his llnd foot landed at back corner, end zone split-second before going outta bounds. Late Harry Kalas in N.F.L. Films' "N.F.L. Game, Wk." highlight film stated that Mike Renfro didn't quite have complete possession, ball as his llnd foot landed in back corner, Steeler end zone just split-second before going outta bounds

@dantheman5745

11 ай бұрын

@@user-qv3wb2gy1f I have no idea what you just said, but Renfro had possession when his left foot touched inbounds in the end zone. This was a clear and obvious touchdown that the refs blew.

@user-qv3wb2gy1f

11 ай бұрын

@dantheman5745 But he (Mike Renfro) might've juggled ball tiny bit as his llnd foot landed in back corner, Steeler end zone/that was why no TD signal was immediately called and play was eventually ruled incompletion instead, TD reception

@dantheman5745

11 ай бұрын

@@user-qv3wb2gy1f He didn't. Any juggling was over before his left foot hit the white line at the back of the end zone. You can see this from the end zone camera angle. He secured the ball before he went out of bounds. Maybe "juggling" was the rationale for the refs' decision, but they were wrong. IMO, this would've been overturned under current replay rules. This was one of the casualties that were sadly required to move the NFL along toward replay. Unfortunately, it completely changed the game. I would've loved to have seen a Rams-Oilers Super Bowl. (although it _should_ have been San Diego, but they were too busy letting Houston decipher their offensive play-calling the previous week) BTW, I just figured out what "IInd" meant. Second/2nd.

@user-qv3wb2gy1f

11 ай бұрын

@@dantheman5745 2nd

Excellent! Thank You! GO Steelers!!

Great memories never forget both great teams good memories ❤️

Oh wow, the heartbreaker game. I remember pounding the shag carpet in my paren't living room when the bad call was made.

Wow, this was a classic battle. The best team did win, but I had forgotten about that officiating blunder that robbed Houston of a TD and cost them a net 4 points. In the end, it was a moot issue, but still another moment pushing the NFL to allow for coaches' play-call challenges and instant replay as part of the game. Great, great video quality. Thanks for another wonderful sports upload, Dave.

What cool background stories on the teams, players, and coaches. So much smarter and genuine than the Tik Tok phone addicts of today...

Wow! Nice job. The opening song is "alive again" by the band Chicago. In 1980 CBS sports used the same song for it's NBA coverage.

Back when men played Football.

You are awesome, Dave. Great video.

This is great, thank you! I wonder if anyone would have time to make extended highlight videos out of some of these high-quality recordings, 10-15 minutes long perhaps. But that'd be the icing on the cake--this is wonderful already! Great to see these old games in such quality video!

@GeorgeDamon

6 ай бұрын

Well, you're kind of missing the point of this channel. Dave is very much invested in NFL history in as complete a form as he can present it, and he feels that it would be a cheat to condense any of these great games. Even standing alongside a full presentation of the game, extended highlights would be the game out of context, and wouldn't serve the games, the players, and us subscribers. You also probably don't know that these games are viewed by former players and their friends and families, and condensing the games would deprive them of the opportunity to see some plays they might relish seeing. If you're looking for extended highlights of games, you could try doing a search on YT. Just put in the search term and see if you get any hits. But even if you do, the quality won't match what you'll find here.

@zzzaphod8507

6 ай бұрын

@@GeorgeDamon Fair enough-I see your point

Great upload. Your channel is incredible, like a time machine, thank you for your great work and effort. And yes, it was a touchdown😁

Not a fan of either team but i remember watching this on tv and yelling that Houston should’ve won the game, I was 10 though, lol

Thanks! I was 10 yrs old watching this

Watching sports without always knowing score, time left and quarter is something else

@dang75790

5 ай бұрын

Lol I remember that. Well I forgot it was that way.

The Steelers always had the advantage in the playoffs when they played on their own field. the conditions were always miserable, but they were more used to it than the visiting teams.

@weirdbeard63

6 ай бұрын

Not to mention the fact that Art Rooney was known to be very generous with the officials.....

Wow, how exciting game of was.