1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Jake the Snake Plumber. The buzz was that we had 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: a hometown kid that was a playmaker. To Sundinals, whatever 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: the Snake does it again for then they'd be able 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: to get Jake was absolutely a miracle. He was an 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: immediate icon for for our squad. We felt like we 6 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: needed a spark and that's what Jake could could do. 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: He could give you a spark. He scores Jake Lumber cocky, 8 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: but cocky with competence. He knew his abilities and what 9 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: he could do. That was an incredible pass by Jake Plummer. 10 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: He basically would say what he was going to do 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: when he went out, he did it. Jake the Snake 12 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: from Arizona State to the Arizona Cardinals. This is Jake 13 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: the Snake, this is our guy. We already have the 14 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: jerseys and welcome in everyone. I'm Paul KELVC, Cardinal's sideline reporter, 15 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: and this is Cardinal's Folk Tales Drafting Jake, presented by 16 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: seventy sold where we go in depth into Cardinals history 17 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: all time, anecdotes through the personal recollections and memories of 18 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: those who lived it or in my case, those who 19 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: covered it. Lumbers on the tank Lumber throws in the 20 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: end zone to a wide open Larry Centers. He's got it, 21 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: he scores. I remember him being vocal in the press, 22 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: like draft this kid, he should be a Cardinal. So 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: that made me feel good because my whole dream from 24 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: being a child was to play in the NFL. Did 25 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: as much as I could to try to lobby for 26 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: him to become a part of our team, and it 27 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: worked out for us, and you know, the rest is history. 28 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: The year was nineteen ninety seven and before the NFL Draft, 29 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals, like every team, had needs and wants. 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: They didn't just need a quarterback. They needed an identity, credibility. 31 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: They wanted market equity. Kids today would say the Cardinals 32 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: wanted a cheet code for all the above. Business execs 33 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: would say the Cardinals needed a brand. The Cardinals wanted 34 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: and needed the local legend and hometown hero Jake Plumber, 35 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: former Cardinals receiver Anthony Edwards. Jay f fans everywhere, they 36 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: were everywhere. Everybody's wearing sixteen jerseys. But I mean he 37 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: came along because of what he's done his history. He's 38 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: proven himself to be a winner. Now I covered Jake 39 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: at Asu and then with the Cardinals, and for those 40 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: of us who are here in the mid to late nineties, 41 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: we watched Jake grow off almost literally right in front 42 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: of us, right here in the valley. For Cardinals fans, 43 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: he was the kid down the street, done good, real good. 44 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: We're talking within ninety seconds of a national title good, 45 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: the teenager from Idaho who became a four year starter 46 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: at Arizona State. Thinking back to getting recruited by Bruce Snyder, 47 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: we were playing what was going to be for the 48 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: national title, and that's what he told me. No other 49 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: coach said that to me. The only reason I was 50 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: in the valley to begin with was because of Bruce saying, 51 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: you know, you're a piece of this puzzle that could 52 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: get us to a national championship level team. And guess what. 53 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: That's exactly what happened Jake Plummer's senior year when ASU 54 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: upset then number one ranked Nebraska, ending the Huskers twenty 55 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: six game winning streak. And by the time the Devils 56 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: went to Pasadena for the Rolls Bowl, they were eleven 57 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: and oh and facing mighty Ohio State. In fact, they 58 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: were the most popular team in Arizona and no doubt 59 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: the Sun Devils caught the eye of their next door neighbor, 60 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Here's former Pro Bowl running back 61 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: Larry Centers being here in Arizona and Phoenix and Asu 62 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: was here and they were making a little bit of noise. 63 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: Trouble steps away, cuts, great breaks, loose FINNI Sun Devils. 64 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: The snake does it again, this team die. I know 65 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: that the valley was just endeared to me on that team, 66 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: that Rose Bowl team, and it was a fun time. 67 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: It was definitely exciting and something you know, not many 68 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: athletes ever get to be a part of something so 69 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: electric and so exciting. You can cut a snake's head off, 70 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: but he continues to have. You know, I remember Jake 71 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: being really scrappy and I thought he would be a 72 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: really good fit for our squad. You know, he had 73 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: to never say die attitude. The guy was proven a winner. 74 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: We thought that, you know, as a team, he would 75 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: be absolutely excellent to come here and try to help 76 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: us get a chance to you know, move this team, 77 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: to move us to the next level. And to see that, 78 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: you know, they was willing to go get him. Everybody 79 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: in the lockerho was pretty excited. About that. That's former 80 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: Cardinals receiver Frank Sanders. And when he says everyone was excited, 81 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: that includes the head coach at the time, Vince Stolban, 82 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: who saw not only what Jake could bring to the field, 83 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: but how he could bring new life to a fan base. 84 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: We've scouted him quite extensively, and Jake was a very, 85 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: very exciting player. We really felt like Jake could come 86 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: in and give us a shot in the arm as 87 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: far as fans support, adrenaline, just the things that he 88 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: does on the field. Again, Jake the Snake had just 89 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: taken ASU to its first rolls ball in a decade, 90 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: within ninety seconds of a win and a national title 91 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: before Ohio State's victory. But that wasn't on Jake. He 92 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: was arguably the best known and most exciting player in 93 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: college football, and he was in the Cardinals' backyard. Longtime 94 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: Arizona Republic reporter Richard rellis fans in the Phoenix area 95 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: were used to rooting for Jake Plumber, so now this 96 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: is another opportunity to root for this guy. This isn't 97 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: someone we're bringing in from the outside. You know, we 98 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: went out to eat once and everybody just wanted to 99 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: have a piece of Jake Plumber. You know, people were 100 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: kind of like looking in like a fishball, like is 101 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: that Jake Plumber? And you know he was always going 102 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: to give people time, especially kids. That's ASU assistant athletic 103 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: director Doug Tamaron. Now. The best way I could describe 104 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: just the sheer popularity of ASU football in nineteen ninety six. 105 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: They were like that popular rock band in demand, and 106 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: Jake was the lead singer, a Heisman finalist who a 107 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: week before the nationally televised ceremony didn't even own a suit. 108 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: He had to go shopping last minute and wore a 109 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: suit off the rack, tags still in it. But see, 110 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: those were the stories that endeared him not only to 111 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: fans but his future teammates like Larry Centers. As a player, 112 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: you know, you only have so much say if you will, 113 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, I got one position to play, but you know, 114 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: to anybody who would listen, you know, I just got 115 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: to put that bug in their ear and hoping everything 116 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: worked out. Coming off of his great success as a 117 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: Sun Devil, he was a known quantity here and that 118 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: was true. Jake might have been known, but that was 119 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: as a college quarterback. As an NFL prospect, he was 120 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: still an unknown longtime Arizona Public Cardinals beat writer Kent Summers. Yeah, 121 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: there was a lot of speculation. You know, we'll Jake 122 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: be there. At what point do you draft Jake? Are 123 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: you making a mistake by just drafting a hometown kid? 124 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: Can he really play in the NFL? Kind of quarterback 125 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: who runs like that? Can he survived very long? I 126 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: knew that I wasn't going to be a first round 127 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: pick at the time. I was too small, too skinny, 128 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: not durable enough, all this you know, bs that they'd 129 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: like to have. And now had I come out, I 130 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: might have been a first pick in the draft because 131 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: I have the style that these teams are looking for. 132 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: And Jake's not kidding there. In fact, here's the funny 133 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: story two nineteen Draft on the Great Lawn at State 134 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: Farm Stadium. I'm hosting on stage with Frank Sanders and 135 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: Jake Plummer. Right, we're in front of the Red Sea. 136 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: We're all waiting for the Cardinals to pick number one 137 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: and the player I had been calling the future of football, 138 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray, the ultimate dual threat quarterback. Come for the arms, 139 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: stay for the legs. Well, Jake cut me off on stage, 140 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: grab the mic, and only half jokingly said, what do 141 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: you mean? I was the future of football swenty years ago? 142 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: And you know what, He's right. I'll say this. Going 143 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: into the ninety seven draft, I still remember we had 144 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: Bill Walsh on a radio show and he told us 145 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: he considered Jake the closest comp to Joe Montana he'd 146 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: ever seen since the Hall of Famer went to the 147 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: Niners twenty years before Jake went to the Cardinals. As 148 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: a draft was coming up, I had my family come down. 149 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: We were having some fun parties and living it up 150 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: because this was a moment that you know, don't get 151 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: experience but once in your life. And we had a 152 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 1: tea time, me and my brothers and my dad that morning, 153 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 1: and everybody was like, you're gonna miss the draft. They're 154 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: gonna call your name. You're gonna be on the golf course. 155 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: I said, don't worry, I'm not going in the first round. 156 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: I knew that I wasn't going to be a first 157 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: round pick. We went and played golf. I was extremely 158 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: tired from partying two three nights prior, so I went 159 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: to a back room at the hotel we were at 160 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: there's still five picks in the first round. I'm gonna 161 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: go lay down. I'm gonna catch a little sleep. And 162 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: so I was asleep when I got drafted. Jake Plummer, 163 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: known for being ultra cool, calm clutch, He wasn't even 164 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: awake when his name was called forty second overall, the 165 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals second round pick, unknown to Jake until his 166 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: agent came in they've done. Came and tapped me on 167 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: the shoulder and woke me up, and I came to. 168 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: He said, hey, man, you're you're an Arizona Cardinal. I said, oh, wow, okay. 169 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: So once he woke up and realized it wasn't a dream, 170 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: what do you think? At first, I was like, Oh, 171 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: I've been here, I've lived here. I was excited to 172 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: maybe go somewhere else, But as it played out, like 173 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: to get drafted by the Cardinals, to stay in the 174 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: town that I was really I was used to. I 175 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: knew the roads, I knew how to get around. I 176 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: had a great support system. I had asu folks that 177 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: would support me. I had friends, I had a very 178 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: good network already there. It was really awesome to get 179 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: drafted by the Cardinals and make a really easy transition 180 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: to you know, be ready to go into the league. 181 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: For then they be able to get Jake was absolutely 182 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 1: a miracle. And I think that is the part where 183 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: you can see when it's meant to be. It's meant 184 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: to be. These were fans that had seen me grow 185 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: up get there as an eighteen year old punk kid 186 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: from Idaho and grow into like Heisman Trophy candidate and 187 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: possible national championship team. You know, that was they'd watched 188 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: me grow to that, and so it was really it 189 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: was an easier transition for sure. But I thought obviously 190 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: there was gonna be a lot of pressure on him, 191 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: you know, coming from a hometown team. I knew he 192 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: was gonna have a lot of attention, a lot of 193 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,599 Speaker 1: the spotlight, and that's gonna be that's gonna be a 194 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: lot of pressure, especially from a quarterback position and such 195 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: a young guy. So I knew that he was gonna 196 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: have to overcome some things in that regard. But you know, 197 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: he handled it well. He had I think maybe a 198 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: few bumps early in the row, but you know, he 199 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: got his footing and his balance of underhim and speed 200 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: under him, and you know, I think you did a 201 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: great job for us coming out of college. They knew 202 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: about me and they'd seen me play. They were excited 203 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: to see how I would fit into their system. And 204 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: for me, I was just wide eyed and like going, 205 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: holy smokes, here I am in the NFL. And I 206 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: really wasn't prepared like these kids come out now. I 207 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: knew a little bit about defenses and knew a little 208 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: bit about offense, but my skills were able to get 209 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: me through all that and be able to go play. Now. 210 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: I was in the league where you needed to know everything, 211 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: so it was a big learning experience for me. The 212 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: NFL was brand new to Jake, but his home field 213 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: was not. In those days, the Cardinals played at Sun 214 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: Devil Stadium, so Jake felt at home because he was 215 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: at home. I remember playing the Raiders in the preseason 216 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: and I'm looking around, like I know this place. I've 217 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: been here, this is my home. This is the USC Trojans. 218 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: They're just bigger and faster, and I can't make any 219 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: mistakes because this is the league now. And so I 220 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: told myself that that I was still Sun Devil playing here. 221 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: It's still football. This is the grass I'm used to. 222 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: I can look up there where I spent hours studying 223 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: film going to last. For the first couple of times 224 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: we got in the huddle, I was like, okay, guys, 225 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: let's let's show him what we can do, you know, 226 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: And I thought that was absolutely fabulous. I mean a 227 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: lot of guys rallied around that because he scrambled, he ran, 228 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: he tried to make things happen, but he was doing 229 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: it to show the guys it's not about me. I 230 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,199 Speaker 1: will sell out for you, and I think that wins 231 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: the guys of them more. Maybe the most famous example 232 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: of getting that buy in from his teammates was Jake's 233 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: regular season debut, his first real action middle of his 234 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: rookie season, Week eight, nineteen ninety seven, about ten and 235 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: a half minutes to play in the fourth quarter. We 236 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: were in Philly and at the half is when they said, hey, 237 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: you're going in. And I think I was able to 238 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: come in and leave quite an impression on my offense 239 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: and the team. I got the ball on the two 240 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: yard line in Veteran stadium going the other way, and 241 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: my words to the huddle at that time were I 242 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: can't say everything that I said in the huddle, but 243 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: I said, let's take this ball ninety eight yards and 244 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: score a touchdown. And that's exactly what the Cardinals did. 245 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: A fourteen play ninety eight yard drive cap by Jake's 246 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: thirty one yard touchdown passed to Kevin Williams. The Cardinals 247 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: came back but ultimately lost in overtime. However, Jake made 248 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: a lasting first impression former Cardinals receiver Anthony Edwards. I 249 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: thought he did an amazing job of keeping us together rally. 250 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: He was in the caurager. He'll come in at huddle, 251 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: Hey we need to get this, you know. So he 252 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: took command as a quarterback should of that of the huddle. 253 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: I just love how he carried himself. He was our 254 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,839 Speaker 1: captain and we depended on him to do what Jake 255 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: the state does. I just did what I do. I 256 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: stepped in with like, hey, we're going ninety eight yards, 257 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: let's go. Who's with me? And those veterans looked at 258 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: me and they got excited, and we went ninety eight 259 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: yards and scored on my very first possession, very first 260 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: drive as an NFL quarterback. One thing about Jake Plummer, 261 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: there's just something about him. They bring him in the 262 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: second half and they start scoring touchdowns, a defense starts 263 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: playing takes the man that was Jake in relief. But 264 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: how would the rookie fair in his first NFL start 265 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: the very next week against the Tennessee Oilers. This would 266 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: be in front of the home fans who had been 267 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: channing for Jake to play since the first month of 268 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: this season. I was horrible. I threw four interceptions. I 269 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: was throwing hot routes where I wasn't hot, hitting guys 270 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: my own guys in the back. But most places you go, 271 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: if you throw four picks your first start, you're gonna 272 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: either be benched or booed out of there. That stands. 273 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: They cheered me every time I came out. They were excited, like, 274 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: here he is, here's this kid that did this at 275 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: a su He's gonna do it here for the Cardinals. 276 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: So I got I was eased in nicely into my 277 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: starting role as the quarterback there because the fans were 278 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: endeared to me through my ASU days, so made it 279 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: a little easier. No doubt the fans found Jake must watch. 280 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: But what made him so exciting, Well, it was a 281 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: combination of backyard full ball and true to his nickname, 282 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: he'd slither away from defenders former Cardinals linebacker Mark Maddox. 283 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: You know he'd run around, he'd find that open receiver. 284 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: You know, he'd find Rob Moore, or he'd find um 285 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: Frank Sanders. Plumber throws it deep in his cart at 286 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: the pony yard line. Sanders, you were happy to be 287 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: on the other side of the ball, on his team 288 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: instead of the opposite team. Jake the Snake Plumer unbelievable tality, 289 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: can move. You know, he can bend down and get 290 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: up out of any situation. Unbelievable. I was so happy 291 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: that we had him because I was always picking in Okay, 292 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: we need a running quarterback. I thought it was a 293 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: project hill. Jake Plummer. It's so fabulous in these situations 294 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: because he just comes up. He has that scrambling ability, 295 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: which puts a lot of pressure on the defense. That 296 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: is always one of the most frustrating things as a 297 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: defensive player. You think you have everything controlled and contained, 298 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: and then and one little thing happens and this person 299 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: exploits you. And that's what Jake would do. I wasn't 300 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: happy with my performance, but I got better as the 301 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: weeks went on and gained more confidence and also gained 302 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: the confidence of my teammates as they saw me react to, 303 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: you know, not playing well. How I worked harder and 304 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: would have out my business to just do whatever I 305 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: couldn't help this team get better. And the Cardinals definitely 306 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: got better. That old saint in the NFL, no QB 307 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: no chance well. With Jake under center and or out 308 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: of the pocket making plays, the Cardinals seemingly always had 309 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: a chance. Clumber to throw it again out of the 310 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: back build of a rail at the five, hit fake 311 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: crost to the end store. That's Jake Plummer learning and 312 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: becoming the great quarterback that he's going to become. He's 313 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: figured it out. It was hard at times, but there 314 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: were so many amazing players there that took me under 315 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: their wing. I mean Knt Graham, the starting quarterback, was 316 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: very supportive of me. He saw the writing on the 317 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: wall that Kent Graham or Jake the snake here I 318 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: how long is he gonna last? They were helpful to me, 319 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: along with guys like Larry Centers, Frank Sanders, Thomas Brown. 320 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: I mean, these vets, they all kind of they took 321 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: me in and they treated me well. I think they 322 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: saw that down the road I could be the quarterback 323 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: that would help them, you know, maybe get to the 324 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: way we wanted to go, which ended up being that 325 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: next year. We almost did it. By that ninety eight season, 326 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: fans were holding signs that read Jake Rattle and roll. 327 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 1: Fans had Cardiac cards t shirts on as Jake did 328 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: something no other Cardinals qbad done since nineteen forty seven? 329 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: What about those wild cards? No one gave him a 330 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: chance to win this football game. That nineteen ninety eight 331 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: campaign was a season long roller coaster ride. The team 332 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: started going two for the fifth time in seven years. 333 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: But it's how that season ended on a massive up swing. 334 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: Jake engineering fourth quarter comebacks make it nine times in 335 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: twenty six NFL games at that point. The last three 336 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: games ended with three straight game win He fueled goals 337 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: que the drama Jackie from thirty two to win it 338 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: for the Cargals. Here it overtime, it's on the way, 339 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: and he is good, and the Cardinals win. The Cardinals win, 340 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: and they're even at seven and seven, and they're still alive. 341 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: The Seeds blitz. Plumber clutched out of the pocket. Plumber's 342 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: gonna run. Plumber's on the thirty five. Plumbers still running 343 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: on the thirty plumbers on the twenty five. He's got 344 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 1: a first out of the twenty three to try to 345 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: win it for the Cardinals with six seconds to go. 346 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: The snamp, it's on the way. It looks good God, 347 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 1: and here it is to trying to win it and 348 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 1: put the Cardinals in the playoffs. The snap, it's on 349 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: the way, it's got the leg. It is God, the 350 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: Cardinals with the Cardinals are in the playoffs. The Cargals 351 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: with fifty two yards by Jackie. We're not happy tonight. 352 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: We're happy being into the playoffs. We're not happy with 353 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: our season. We want to go out of Dallas and 354 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: keep going on and it's gonna be a big challenge. 355 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: But they're looking back. This will be a year where 356 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: we turn things around. The longest streak of not being 357 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: in the playoffs in the NFL right now has just 358 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,239 Speaker 1: been broken and we're in and it feels great. It 359 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: was the Cardinals one hundredth anniversary season and it took 360 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: every last second of that ninety eight season, but behind 361 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: signature Jake the Snake, the Cardinals went from six and 362 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: seven to nine and seven and a playoff spot. As 363 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: one fan shouted into the NFL films cameras. This is 364 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: the beginning of the beginning. We all became friends. We 365 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: became a band of brothers. If you will, you know, 366 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: And that's what it really takes for for you to 367 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: be successful at the pro level. Yeah, you can have 368 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: great athletes, but if you got to have guys that 369 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: play for each other, and you're probably not gonna maximize 370 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: your potential. The wild Cards, the Cardiac Cards, were off 371 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: to Dallas, where they lost nine straight in Big d. 372 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: In fact, they lost twice to the Cowboys already that season, 373 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: but not this day. The snap handed off, the Morrel 374 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 1: bands it back to its right perch. Down guarded, he 375 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 1: breaks into the cler plumber running for his life, and 376 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: Sanders makes some one handed stab on a fifty eight 377 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 1: yard pass play hit us intercepted back to the thirty 378 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: five or the thirty goes Tommy Bennett on the twenty, 379 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: on the fifteen, on the ten, on the five, he's 380 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 1: knocked down on the Cowboy two, and you can turn 381 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: out the lights in Dallas. This one's over. Bring on 382 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: the Vikings to do it here against the team that's 383 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: dominated us for some time. Now, to do it here 384 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: in Texas stadium in such a big game as real 385 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: fund the Cardinals first playoff win in half a century. 386 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,719 Speaker 1: Think about that fifty years. In fact, I was on 387 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: that sideline as the Cowboys fans they exited dejected, and 388 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, Cardinals fans filled the seats behind 389 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: the Cardinals bench celebrating. There's an iconic NFL film shot 390 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: of Jake running off the field with the ball hoisted 391 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: high in the air his own Joane name it if 392 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: you will. That game ball was then presented to owner 393 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: Bill Bidwell, and as a member of the media walking 394 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: into that locker room moments later, I'll never forget the 395 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: smile on mister Bee's face, just beaming as he held 396 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: that game ball with both hands and fielded questions from 397 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: the medium. The Cardinals had a playoff victory, That Cardinals 398 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 1: had a quarterback. They came here, and everybody wanted to 399 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: see how he was going to make that transition from 400 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: college to the pros. So I think he did a 401 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: pretty good Dome It worked out well. Jake and I 402 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: became pretty good friends, and you know, obviously great teammates 403 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: and just really happy he was able to become a 404 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: part of our squad. Cardinals, Folk Tales, Drafting Jake, presented 405 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: by seventy two sould. We hope you enjoyed it everyone, 406 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us for Jim Almahundro. I'm Paul Kelvey, 407 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: SA