By Tim Schmitt
CANTON, Ohio — Jeffrey Timko’s most prominent memory of ol’ No. 78 is a popular one. As he and Gail Timko sat through a steady mist at Fawcett Stadium’s midfield before Saturday’s Hall of Fame inductions, the Niagara Falls resident didn’t hesitate a lick when asked what he remembered most about new inductee Bruce Smith.
“The safety on Jeff Hostetler,” he said emphatically of that postcard moment from Super Bowl XXV. “Wish he would have gotten that ball, though.”
Makes sense.
On both counts.
When Hostetler stumbled, and Smith finished him off, the moment was the almost-perfect finish to an almost-perfect season. Smith was having what most consider his most dominant campaign, winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and finishing with 19 sacks as the Bills rolled through the AFC. He took Jeff George down four times in the first half during a late-season win. He was the rare defensive player who found his way into offensive gameplans, making teams worry more about what he could do than what they could.
And even faster than Timko picked his best Bruce moment, Smith used to hop across the line of scrimmage, seemingly knowing the opponent’s snap count before the left tackle he was belittling. On the then-Rich Stadium turf, Smith’s speed was overwhelming, and the occasional spin he’d mix in kept opposing linemen befuddled.
Just ask him. The former No. 1 overall pick has also shown an ego to match his oversized talent.
Of course, Smith got a safety, not a touchdown, when he tracked down Hostetler. And the Bills went on to become the best team never to win a Super Bowl.
Ralph Wilson — a man once vilified for his penny-pinching and now lauded for his perspective — never got to hoist that trophy. Chances keep dwindling that he ever will.
But maybe that’s what made Saturday’s ceremony even more intriguing. Bills jerseys outnumbered every other at Fawcett, and any mention of a Buffalo player drew wild cheers. The team that hasn’t made the playoffs this decade — and the football-loving city that blindly supports it — dominated the town dedicated to NFL history.
Without titles.
With a tiny, dwindling population.
With constant rumors that our relationship with NFL football will end.
There’s a strong case to be made that Smith was the greatest defensive player of all time. Many of the 15,000 in attendance on Saturday probably feel that way.
But maybe he isn’t. Maybe it was Reggie White. Or Lawrence Taylor.
Doesn’t matter.
Maybe since we never had that parade, we never had a chance to tell him — in perspective — how truly talented we thought he was.
But on Saturday night, Bruce had one more chance to stand firmly in the spotlight, one he rightfully deserved after a now bona fide Hall of Fame career.
“I probably didn’t appreciate it then,” Timko said. “We made the playoffs all the time. Back then, I didn’t want to hear about the divisional playoffs. We were used to winning those.
“I appreciate them now.”
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
