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- Mar 19, 2019
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Alan Page makes 'eloquent case' for Jim Marshall to be in HOF
Hall of Fame defensive tackle and retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page spoke last week to high school students as part of a special Black History Month event.
Prior to the event, Mark Craig of the Star Tribune spoke with Page about the fact that his friend and former teammate, Jim Marshall, has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Craig and Page spoke in the lobby of the Vikings Museum, fitting that exhibits behind them tell the stories of the Purple People Eaters and first decades of the Vikings franchise.
"Jim was the absolute heartbeat of our entire team for 19 seasons," Page told Craig. "Nineteen years, Jim was the leader of our team."
Craig wrote:
A team that went to four Super Bowls in eight seasons from 1969 to a '76. A team whose defense posted one of the most dominant three-year stretches in league history, giving up 9.5, 10.2 and 9.9 points per game with seven shutouts from 1969-71. A team that sent defensive tackle Page, defensive end Carl Eller, center Mick Tingelhoff, quarterback Fran Tarkenton, offensive tackle Ron Yary, safety Paul Krause, [Head Coach] Bud Grant and General Manager Jim Finks to the Hall of Fame.
A team that won't rest as long as Marshall, their co-captain and extroverted leader, remains outside the walls of the shrine in Canton, Ohio.
When Marshall retired in 1979 after 20 NFL seasons, he had played in every game, every week, for one-third of the league's 60-year existence. Marshall's record 270 consecutive starts stood until Brett Favre broke it 30 years later while playing for the Vikings.
As the NFL turns toward its second century, Marshall's 282 consecutive games played ranks third behind punter Jeff Feagles (352) and Favre (299).
"Jim not only had the excellence deserving of the Hall of Fame, but he also had longevity that's never been seen by anyone else in 100 years," Page told Craig. "No offense to kickers and quarterbacks, but Jim hit someone or was hit by someone on every play for 20 years.
"You can't do what without (A) being available every single day; (B) being good enough; and (C) playing at such a high level that a team would want to keep you around that long," Page added.
There was hope when the Hall announced plans for a 20-member Centennial class for 2020. But Marshall wasn't among the 10 senior candidates chosen by the Hall's one-time "Blue Ribbon" committee.
Page called it "the biggest shame."
"No matter what happens, nothing changes," he told Craig. "Jim Marshall had a great career that never will be forgotten."