User:Guy Branch

Guy Paul Branch was born in [Houston,Tx] in 1959 to Johnnie & George Branch. At the age of 7 he began playing football in [Pop Warner].Guy later began to play football,basketball,&run track at his school.During his high school years he broke his schools rushing record for the season with 1,142 yards and later career record for 3,873 yards.Following his graduation in 78' FSU(Florida State University), Notre Dame,& Arkansas in the late summer of 78' Branch accepted to Arkansas.At Arkansas Branch broke the record for rushing in season & career(later broken by [Darren Mcfadden])with 2,469 & 5,783.Branch was also in the [Heisman] race two years in a row but never won. In 1982 Branch was drafted in the 1st round 4th pick to the [Oakland Raiders] later to be traded to the [San Fransico 49ers]. The 1982 season was a bad one for the 49ers, as they lost all five games at Candlestick Park en route to a 3–6 record in a strike-shortened season. This would be the 49ers last losing season for the next 17 years.In 1983, the 49ers won their final three games of the season, finishing with a 10-6 record and winning their 2nd NFC Western Divisional Title in three years.However, Montana would lead a comeback, hitting running back Guy Branch on a game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass with 2:00 left on the clock to put the 49ers ahead 24—23. But sadly Branch & the 49ers lost the [NFC Championship]to the [Washington Redskins] after overcoming a 21-0 defecit. In 1984,Branch & the 49ers had one of the greatest seasons in team history by finishing the regular season 15-1-0, setting the record for most regular season wins that was later equaled by the 1985 Chicago Bears, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, and the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, and finally broken by the 2007 New England Patriots (with an 18-1-0 overall record). The 49ers' only defeat in the 1984 season was a 20-17 loss to the Steelers; a late field goal attempt in that game by San Francisco kicker Ray Wersching went off the uprights and was no good. In the playoffs, they beat the New York Giants 21-10, shut out the Chicago Bears 23–0 in the NFC Championship, and in Super Bowl XIX the 49ers shut down a record-setting year by NFL MVP Dan Marino (and his speedy receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper), beating the Miami Dolphins 38-16. Branch,Montana,&T heir entire defensive backfield (Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Dwight Hicks, and Carlton Williamson) was elected to the Pro Bowl—an NFL first. Their overall record of 18-1 including playoffs is also an NFL record (only tied by Chicago in 1985 and New England in 2007).In 1988, Branch the 49ers at first struggled. At one point, they were 6–5 and in danger of missing the playoffs but rose to defeat the Washington Redskins on a Monday night game, eventually finishing the season at 10-6. They gained a measure of revenge by thrashing the Minnesota Vikings 34–9 in the first round. The 49ers then traveled to Chicago's Soldier Field, where the chill factor at game time was 26 degrees below zero. The Las Vegas line at game time was "pick", but it was the Bears famed 46 defense who got picked apart by Joe Montana,Jerry Rice,& Guy Branch as the 49ers dominated the Chicago Bears 28-3 in the NFC Championship game.

The win over the Bears gave the 49ers their third trip to the Super Bowl: Super Bowl XXIII, located in Miami. Despite numerous trips deep into Cincinnati territory by the 49ers, the game was tied 3–3 at halftime. A late Cincinnati field goal put the Bengals ahead 16-13 with just over three minutes left on the clock. Following the kickoff, and a holding penalty, the 49ers took over on their 8 yard line with 3:08 left on the clock. Joe Montana began the final drive by stepping into the huddle and remarking to his teammates during a television timeout, "hey, isn't that John Candy," as he pointed to the stands. His calm demeanor reassured the 49ers, and he then engineered what some consider the greatest drive in Super Bowl history, as he drove the team 92 yards for the winning touchdown on a pass to John Taylor with only 34 seconds left. Final score: 20–16 49ers. With 13 wins and 6 losses, the 49ers finished with the worst overall record for a Super Bowl champion in a given season, having a winning percentage of .684.

The following year, coach Bill Walsh retired, and his defensive coordinator and handpicked successor, George Seifert, took over head coaching duties. Branch & the 49ers then steamrolled through the league to finish 14–2 and gain homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Their two losses were by a combined 5 points. In the first round, they crushed the Vikings, 41—13. In the NFC Championship game, they blew out the Los Angeles Rams 30-3 before crushing the Denver Broncos 55–10 in Super Bowl XXIV - setting a record for points scored and widest margin of victory in a Super Bowl, amongst others. Montana himself set many Super Bowl records (some since tied or surpassed) en route to his third Super Bowl MVP. In winning the Super Bowl, the 49ers became the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls under different head coaches. This 1989 championship squad is often regarded as one of the most dominant teams ever, winning all three playoff games by a combined 100 points. In 1990 Branch retired and settled in Houston,Texas. In 1996 giving birth to his second son,Julian Paul Branch to Victoria Marie Carriere(Peterson in 2004). Branch is now working at Ron Carter in Alvin,TX and lives in Pearland,TX with his son & Girlfriend,Cindi Krystal Attiway.Branch hass 3 Super Bowl Rings and 4 Pro Bowl Visits.