1985 Bears Coverage: Bears' Fridge: The derring-do of a dirigible

Every day of the 2015 Chicago Bears season, Chicago Sun-Times Sports will revisit its coverage 30 years ago during the 1985 Bears’ run to a Super Bowl title.

Bears’ Fridge: The derring-do of a dirigible

Kevin Lamb; Joel Bierig

Originally published Nov. 25, 1985

Yesterday’s best banner at Soldier Field: “Sir William Perry, Discoverer of the South Goal.”

Perry gave its writer a chance to display it when he plunged several inches for the second touchdown in the Bears’ 36-0 victory over Atlanta. He used an air route.

He had filed his flight plan in the back of his mind after last week’s game at Dallas. The Cowboys had stopped his two-yard try for a touchdown by hitting him low.

“So I had my mind set to go over the top,” Perry said. “Then they couldn’t cut me. Whatever it takes.”

Perry said he never had tried to run by diving, but “I’ve seen a whole lot of players do it. It’s something you learn by watching other people.”

One of those people, Walter Payton, expressed admiration on the way to the sideline. “He said, `Great touchdown, great touchdown,’” Perry said.

The play was similar to Perry’s first touchdown run five weeks ago, but it went over left tackle instead of right and Payton lined up behind the right tackle instead of the quarterback. It made the score 20-0 and overshadowed his sack, one of five for the Bears.

“I didn’t see it,” left tackle Jimbo Covert said. “I just try to get as low as I can so he doesn’t crack my back.”

Perry has five carries for seven yards, two touchdowns rushing and one receiving. He’s tied for fourth in team scoring behind Kevin Butler, Payton and Dennis McKinnon.

“I don’t know about him as a running back, but he’s added a lift for the team,” said Atlanta’s Gerald Riggs, the league-leading rusher. “He gets the guys excited. Even if things weren’t going as well as they are right now, just having a guy like that to keep everybody up is a big thing.”

For Atlanta, where things aren’t going so well, Riggs’ prescription is clear. The Falcons need a Refrigerator to brighten their way.