BROWNS BOOSTERS Kardiac comeback

Members of the Browns' 1980 team reunited in front of nearly 1,000 fans.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The thing Brian Sipe remembers most about the 1980 Kardiac Kids was how well that team fit in with Cleveland.
"Cleveland was going through a lot of hard times then and we kept struggling all season, but were pulling off the comeback victories," Sipe said. "The people of Cleveland could relate to our struggles and we were the examples of what they wanted Cleveland to be remembered by."
Sipe and 19 other members of that legendary Browns team were together again Saturday night at the Maronite Center for "The Return of the Kardiac Kids," sponsored by the Ohio Browns Boosters.
The event, attended by nearly 1,000 Browns fans, was being held for the benefit of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Mahoning Valley.
Jeff Joseph, president of the Ohio Browns Boosters, a 500-plus member non-profit organization, said that all the proceeds from the banquet would go to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Players
Sipe, who quarterbacked the Browns from 1974 through 1983, was joined by teammates Dick Ambrose (1978-80), Ron Bolton (1976-82), Joe Delamielleure (1980-84), Greg Pruitt (1973-81), Keith Wright (1978-81), Dave Logan (1976-83), Reggie Rucker (1978-81), Don Cockcroft (1968-81), Mike Pruitt (1976-84), Thom Darden (1972-74, 1976-81), Cleo Miller (1975-82), Jerry Sherk ((1970-81), Tom Deleone (1974-84), Ricky Feacher (1976-84), Judson Flint (1980-82), Clay Mathews (1978-93), Cody Risen (1979-83, 1985-89), and Henry Bradley (1979-82).
The head coach was Sam Rutigliano, who arrived late and missed the interview session.
The 1980 Browns finished the regular season 11-5 and beat Cincinnati 27-24 in the season finale on a Cockcroft field goal to win the AFC Central title and make the playoffs.
Infamous play
They met the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the playoffs and lost 14-12 on a late interception, one of the few close games the Browns failed to pull out a win. The Browns' final offensive play of that game -- "Red Right 88" -- became infamous when Raiders safety Mike Davis intercepted Sipe's pass and ended Cleveland's hopes for the Super Bowl.
"Do I remember that play? You bet I do," said defensive tackle Jerry Sherk. "Unfortunately I was hurt about midway in the season and didn't play again, but I was on the sidelines and would have gotten any bonus the team received for winning.
"I've got to talk to Sipe. That pass cost me about $10,000," Sherk said.
Sipe, who now is a high school football coach in San Diego, said that getting this group together for a 25-year reunion was a great thrill.
"Just getting together and getting to see one another is a real treat," he said. "We have such a great group of guys and what we went through that year will live with us forever."
Memory loss
And what does Sipe remember about the infamous play?
"I don't even remember calling that play," Sipe joked.
Flint, a Farrell, Pa. native who still resides in the Mercer County area, was a defensive back on that team.
"The things I remember most about that team were the close victories and the exciting games we were involved in all season long," Flint said.
"I've been to the new stadium and it is a fabulous place, I only wish that I had an opportunity to play in it."