CORKS A POPPIN' Their legacy preserved, the undefeated 2008 Black Dogs celebrate Green's first loss of the season

Brian Urlacher was one of the undefeated 2008 Black Dogs who celebrated last night at Vanderbilt hospital following the Dogs win over the Green. (FILE PHOTO)

By R.E. Porter

Associated Web Press

Members of the 2008 East Nashville Black Dogs gathered in team owner Bill Money's private room at Vanderbilt hospital last night not only to continue their vigil for Money, who remained in a coma since being shot back in September, but also to watch the finale of the current team's game against the 10-0 Village Green.

Of course, the 2008 Black Dogs are the only team in the league's 17-year history to go undefeated for an entire season, and every year, they gather to celebrate when the final undefeated team suffers its first loss. It's a ritual, and one they had to delay this season longer than they like, according to Brian Urlacher who starred at linebacker for that undefeated team.  

“I admit we were starting to get a little nervous,” Urlacher told the AWP. “The Green have been so damn lucky, we were wondering if they might go all the way. So Frank (Gore) called up Coach Lynch and told him the Dogs need to take care of this [expletive] themselves.”

And that's exactly what the Black Dogs did, holding off the Green 176.3-171 in a thrilling contest that went down to the wire. The 2008 Black Dogs, a group that included Frank Gore, Tony Romo, Patrick Willis, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jared Allen, Chris Johnson, and Coach Jim McMahon, watched anxiously as the Green pulled close as the game wound down. When the final horn sounded, those gathered in Money's hospital room cheered loudly and began popping the corks on the two cases of Dom Perignon champagne they had on ice.

Then something miraculous happened: Money woke up from his coma. He opened his eyes, sat up in bed, and said in a croaky voice, “What's going on?”

The players turned and looked at the owner in shock. Willis said, “What the [expletive]?” McMahon said, “I'll be damned.” Romo buzzed for the nurse, who soon joined them. Before it was all said and done, Dr. Lionel Godwin, who performed the life-saving surgery on Money after he was shot by “Little Tussie” Crenshaw, had joined the celebration.

Godwin speculated Money had been so traumatized by the attempt on his life that he retreated deep into his subconscious, but “when he heard the corks popping, he associated that with something of such tremendous joy, he overcame his fear and rejoined the conscious world.”

After Godwin explained to Money why he was in the hospital and that he had been in a coma for more than two months, the Black Dogs owner said, “The current team is in our usual place atop the division, and the 2008 Black Dogs are still the only undefeated team in league history. What can I say, it's like I never left.”