Nov. 18, 1979. The Chargers, in the takeoff stages of Air Coryell, are hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris ... those Steelers, the NFL’s 1970s dynasty.
Russ Washington and Louie Kelcher, massive men, walk to midfield for the coin toss as captains.
“And Rolf Benirschke!” cries public-address announcer Bruce Binkowski.
A crowd of 51,590 at then-San Diego Stadium rises to its feet, cheering raucously, their applause telling Benirschke that they love him, that they want him to live.
A La Jolla High graduate, Benirschke was battling ulcerative colitis.