Eli Manning is one of the featured honorees who will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches Saturday night, and it comes on the 35th anniversary of his father’s induction into the state sports shrine.
Archie Manning was among the Class of 1988, in the days when everything from the press conference to the golf tournament and the induction was held on the same day. The celebration of the state’s Hall of Famers eventually became a three-day extravaganza that starts on Thursday afternoon and extends through Saturday night.
One of the many events on this starburst weekend is the BOM Celebrity Bowling Bash at Alexandria’s Four Seasons Bowling Center at 11:30 a.m. Friday, with all but Eli (he arrives later Friday) expected to be on hand among the Class of ’23 honorees. This is a ticketed event with a charge to participate or watch, rub shoulders with the legends and enjoy a meal from Walk Ons.
If you’re interested in taking part, or getting a ticket to the bowling event, or the Saturday night induction ceremony in Natchitoches, go to LaSportsHall.com.
One of the funny stories to come out of the 1988 press conference was Archie’s memory from the twilight of his career as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. It was a 1984 game against the Chicago Bears when he was sacked 12 times. Archie spent 14 years in the NFL, 11 with the New Orleans Saints, and he was accustomed to getting sacked during his time with the Saints.
Manning was the backup quarterback in ’84 for Tommy Kramer for the Vikings, who finished 3-13. He had to start for Kramer, who was sidelined with an injury, against the “Monsters of the Midway,” who were champs of their division and one year shy of a Super Bowl title.
Manning, the UPI NFC Player of the Year in 1978 and a two-time Pro Bowl honoree, recalled the 11th sack he sustained in that 1984 game.
“Dan Hampton, their All-Pro tackle, picks me up, holds me there and Otis Wilson gets a running start and puts his headgear on my chin — good form tackling,” he deadpanned. “So I’m laying there, my chin all split open and Otis leans over toward me.
“He says, ‘Archie, these guys aren’t blocking for you. You ought to lay here and play like you’re hurt.’
“I said, ‘Otis, I’m damned well thinking about it.'”
Asked during his round of golf the day of the induction if he had a favorite offensive lineman from his time with the Saints, he said, “No, not really.”
He did, however, add that Conrad Dobler, a three-time Pro Bowl guard for the St. Louis Cardinals before playing two seasons for the Saints, was the individual who had the most impact on improving the team’s offensive line. Dobler, once known as the “meanest” man in the NFL, died in February at age 72.
As for Archie, he’s the only father who can claim to join two sons (Class of 2019’s Peyton in addition to Eli) as members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Bob Tompkins enjoyed a 43-year newspaper career as an award-winning writer and editor, serving the last 39 years at the Town Talk in Alexandria through most of 2015. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as a past winner of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. An Alexandria resident, Tompkins is a contributing columnist sharing his talents with Rapides Parish Journal readers.