R.I.P. Erich Barnes

1978 Profile: Joe Pisarcik

Quarterback

No. 9

New Mexico State

"'I'm very big in Calgary,' he says. That's where he played for almost three seasons in the Canadian League. Pisarcik was a free agent who started as the Giants' No. 5 quarterback in summer camp a year, but by the fourth regular-season game had won the starting job.

Pisarcik would prefer showing off his arm more than his coaches allow. Born in Kingsport, Pa., he went to New Mexico State 'because they had a pro-style offense, and I wanted to be a pro.' He has none of the doubts about his talent that others may have.

He lives off-season in Fort Lauderdale. 'Do you know many bikinis and belly-buttons there are down there?' he asks."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"One of the NFL's most outstanding rookies of 1977, Joe was rewarded with selection as the quarterback on the all-rookie team last season. A three-year starter for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, he has a powerful arm. Joe worked with the Giants during the club's spring trip to Mexico City in 1977."

-1978 Topps No. 7

JOE PISARCIK: READY WHEN LUCK CAME CALLING

The Giants QB Went From Fifth-String To First Team In '77 And Looks To Stay No. 1 In '78

"The young autograph-seeker looked over his latest treasure and exclaimed, 'Joe Pisarcik! Wow!'

Just a year ago, however, the reaction would have been, 'Joe Pisarcik? Who?'

'I think back to it sometimes, how it was then,' says the Giants No. 1 quarterback. 'It reminds me I have to work just as hard if not harder this year to stay where I got last year.'

Pisarcik's meteoric rise from No. 5 to No. 1 has been chronicled many times. Certainly, the climb was partially by default as well as by Pisarcik's design. But the 26-year-old former Canadian Football League quarterback can't deny his life has changed immeasurably in the past 12 months.

'I got to play in a lot of celebrity golf tournaments in the off-season,' he says. 'People know who I am. Last year nobody knew me, and I didn't have an American Express card.'

Only three quarterbacks populated the training camp as compared to the five who clogged things a year ago. Pisarcik was the fifth man during last year's preseason, as the team prepared for its first exhibition game.

'We never really talked about cutting him, but let's just say he didn't figure in our plans,' says Bob Gibson, the offensive coordinator.

'I'd go three or four days sometimes without really getting to practice,' Pisarcik recalls. 'I'd just kind of stand around and watch the other guys. It was very frustrating because I knew what I could do if I just got the chance.'

That's where the default helped out. First Dennis Shaw failed miserably in the first exhibition game. Steve Ramsey, acquired from Denver in the Craig Morton deal, couldn't shed his excess weight. Randy Dean was green. Finally, Jerry Goldsteyn just couldn't stand up behind a porous offensive line.

'Funny thing is I never considered myself competing with any of those guys,' Pisarcik says. 'I almost considered it to be competing with myself. If you compete against another guy, you may be satisfied with performing one level higher than he is. You may never reach your potential if you're always satisfied just doing a little better than the other guy.'

Pisarcik's first big break came in that initial exhibition game when Goldsteyn was battered. Paterson Plank Joe was tossed into fourth-period action without any warmups. He completed his first pass, out of his own end zone, on a play run from the wrong formation.

The next big step came in the Buffalo exhibition game, which Pisarcik pulled out with his passing. Finally, when Goldsteyn withered under Atlanta's pressure, Pisarcik was given the starting job.

At first it appeared to be nothing more than a move to save Goldsteyn's life. Pisarcik was the buffer, the man who would take the punishment until the line was strong enough to protect the pocket-passing Goldsteyn. But as the season progressed, Paterson Plank Joe changed some coaching opinions.

'He may not have the greatest natural ability in the world, but he's tough mentally and physically,' says Gibson. 'He works hard and eventually will play as well as he can.

'He's far advanced from what he was a year ago in his knowledge and techniques. He hasn't been throwing the ball as well he did as last year, but that will come with work. Joe's not your picture quarterback, and he may never be a great one. But he'll give it everything he's got.'

Pisarcik was sometimes at odds with the coaches last year. He wanted to call his own plays. He wanted to open up the attack. This time he won't get his first wish, but he may get his second.

'We've got more formations and looks this year,' Pisarcik says of the implementation of the man-in-motion plays in Dallas. 'It will make the opposing defenses think a little more about us and not just sit back and work on the same keys every week.

'If we can score a touchdown, maybe 10 points a game in the first period, we'll make the playoffs. If we can get a lead and really let our defense go to work, we'll beat some people. Believe me, I know how good our defense can be. I work against it every day.'

This summer he worked against it every day. Last summer Pisarcik knew of the Giant defense only from what he read in the papers or saw in training-camp films.

'I can't forget about it, but I've got so much going on for me now it's almost hard for me to imagine how it was last year,' Pisarcik says. 'All I knew was the Giants needed a quarterback, and there I was. Now, here I am.' "

-Vinny Ditrani, The Bergen County Record (Football Digest, November 1978)

R.I.P. Gary Brown

1978 Profile: John Mendenhall

Defensive Tackle

No. 64

Grambling

"Happier as a Giant last year than he'd been in a while. Mendenhall demanded to be traded in both 1975 and 1976. He played too well in 1974 for the Giants to consider such a demand.

Mendenhall is more unpredictable off the field than on, where's he's quick and knowledgeable, though not exceptionally big. He constantly wonders aloud when the Giants are going to get a better offense.

Born in Cullen, Louisiana, he's another former Grambling football hero. He was a close personal friend of defensive end Jack Gregory in his first few seasons, and he and Gregory are the only remaining defensive starters from as far back as 1972."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"John has enjoyed an awesome career with the Giants. He won due recognition in 1974 when he was named to the UPI All-NFC team, to the New York Daily News All-NFL first team and to the Pro Football Writers' All-NFL second unit. A starter since his rookie year, he was named to the All-Rookie team that season.

He was an AP Little All-American. He excelled in the 1972 College All-Star Game.

John combines great strength with quickness and agility and usually requires double-teaming."

-1978 Topps No. 75

Because of a good defense, an easy schedule and the improvement of quarterback Joe Pisarcik, many fans think the Giants have an outside chance of sneaking into the playoffs this year. However, Giant defensive tackle John Mendenhall says: "We're all right, but not good. We're just an average team with an average defensive line. We have no All-Pros, no one you can call a superstar. It will be just another season."

-from Notes, Quotes & Comments, Football Digest (December 1978)

1978 Profile: Dave Jennings

Punter

No. 13

St. Lawrence

"More dependable, maybe, than any other Giant the past four years. His 100 punts (for a 39.9 average) set a team record last season (breaking Tom Landry's record, by the way).

Jennings has a radio sports talk show in New Haven, Conn., and is a favorite off-season speaker. He was once asked, 'Why are you so terrible?' and says, 'I was flabbergasted; I thought he meant my punting. But he clarified it. He said, 'Why are the Giants so terrible?' '

Born in New York City, Jennings was a walk-on at St. Lawrence College. Now a crazed Boston Celtics fan and a Red Sox fan. He wouldn't mind throwing or catching a pass someday, so he practices both."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Dave has steadily become one of the premier punters in the NFL. Adept at kicking the ball out of bounds and inside the 20-yard line, he has had some of his biggest games against such Giants' rivals as the Redskins and Cowboys since 1974.

Dave is a fan of the Boston Celtics."

-1978 Topps No. 248

"A good case can be made this year that the Giants' MVP has been punter Dave Jennings. The 6-4, 205-pounder has been fighting for the league in punting average lead all season long.

'The early part of my career, I didn't have the experience, and I started to sit on my success. Now I work harder. I probably punt 75-100 balls a day,' he says. Jennings is bidding to become the first Giant to lead the league in punting since 1957."

-From News, Quotes & Comments  (Football Digest, January 1979)

1978 Profile: Bobby Hammond

Running Back-Kick Returner

No. 33

Morgan State

"Before last season, Hammond failed two previous tryouts, with the Giants and then New Orleans, and was selling shirts at a My Man Clothing Store in his hometown Queens. That was before last season when he was the Giants' most exciting and most productive runner (577 yards) and was second in the NFC in punt returns (10.4 average). Hammond was dependable enough that Doug Kotar, who had led the team in rushing in 1976, had to either sit or play fullback to make room.

Born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, he played at Morgan State. He's found returning kicks to be 'like a gunfight: When you draw, you don't have time to look, only to react.' "

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"The Giants' leading rusher in 1977, Bobby has also proven to be a valuable kickoff return artist for the club. He originally signed with the Giants in 1975 and was very impressive as a return man in pre-season games.

Bobby was an all-purpose back at Morgan State winning three letters. He was an all-city standout in high school."

-1978 Topps No. 352

1978 Profile: Brad Van Pelt

Linebacker

No. 10

Michigan State

"All-Pro linebacker Brad Van Pelt of the New York Giants played out his option after the 1976 season and nearly signed with the Lions. But Van Pelt, who is from the Detroit area, is happy he stayed with the Giants.

'I decided to stay with the Giants because I enjoy the staff and the players. I know them. It's away from home, and there's an advantage to being closer to home, but I want to be here when the Giants finally turn things around. I think I've paid my dues here.' The Giants, 5-9 in 1977, have one of the better defenses in the NFC and may be just a year or two from being a playoff contender."

-from Did You Hear That ..., Football Digest (July/August 1978)

"All-Pro the past two seasons. Van Pelt is stuck with several cliched characteristics: Blond hair, the accepted 'perfect athletic build,' All-American college player. But life has been bumpy at times, and the death of his father magnified his insecurity. For several years he felt more comfortable around the team's ball boys rather than with teammates.

Born in Owosso, Michigan, he was a football and baseball hero at Michigan State and even had some serious baseball offers as a pitcher. Brad has never been entirely comfortable with the Big City; he still lives in Michigan."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Another fine season was 1977 for Brad as he was named to the All-NFC squad. A two-time participant in the Pro Bowl, he won All-NFC first-team honors from both the AP and New York Daily News in 1976.

Brad won the Maxwell Trophy at Michigan State in 1972. He had major league offers as a pitcher after setting a Spartan strikeout record."

-1978 Topps No. 270

-Named to All-NFC squad, capping an outstanding 1977 campaign for the Giants.

-Was winner of the Maxwell Trophy, highlighting a brilliant collegiate career.

-Received major league baseball offers after setting Michigan State strikeout record.

-1978 Topps Holsum No. 22