A Biscuit, a basket, a few touchdowns
"The best use of fat since the invention of bacon."
Originally published at Sportlanders...
He was part of the most dominating, if not most famous, defense of all-time, but he really made his name on the other side of the line.
In training camp, before the 1985 season his Chicago Bears teammates saddled a 308-pound rookie out of Clemson with the sobriquet of “Biscuit.” It was all in good fun. His teammates loved him.
Yet Biscuit hadn’t got much playing time early in the season. This big fella was a “second-stringer,” even though he was remarkably athletic and known to “360-dunk” on a regulation basket at only 6’2” and well over three-spins.
Nominally, he was a defensive tackle, and the Bears played with two of them. Problem was, the playing time was dominated by Dan Hampton, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, and Steve McMichael, a College Football Hall of Famer who may be better known for his turn as a pro wrestler.
Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan was never sold on Biscuit for the defensive line. Called him a “wasted draft-pick.” First rounder.
Head coach Mike Ditka and Ryan were often at loggerheads, but Buddy ran the D and ran it well.
Iron Mike felt he needed to get Biscuit on the field somehow, some way. They don’t teach 308 and athletic.
Rumor has it that Biscuit may have been bigger than what the Bears media guide reported…a “Biscuit” under 350 pounds.
Against San Francisco in week 6 at Candlestick Park, Ditka put Biscuit in on offense for the final two plays of the game. Handed the ball to him to boot. Four yards on two carries.
Coach Bill Walsh of the 49ers had iced the NFC Championship game versus the Bears the season before by using offensive guard Guy McIntyre in the backfield. Ditka returned the favor.
Fast forward to week 7 and Monday Night Football—Bears v Packers at Soldier Field. Early in the second quarter, the Bears were driving, down 7-0.
Biscuit came back in on offense, this time to plow a hole for Walter Payton. “Sweetness” went in virtually untouched. Tie ballgame…after Kevin Butler kicked the point after.
Almost three minutes later, the Bears were down near the goal line again.
Punky QB Jim McMahon—my grandma’s “Man” (story for a different day)—handed off to Biscuit, who was in there as the blocking back instead of giving it to Sweetness. Touchdown. With Butler’s kick that made it 14-7.
Another second quarter Payton 1-yard dash followed by Butler’s PAT conversion and an Otis Wilson sack of Jim Zorn for a safety in the 4th quarter made for the 23-7 final.
Fans not only in Chicago, but across the nation went berserk for this new gridiron sensation.
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Ray Sons called Ditka’s personnel experiment, “the best use of fat since the invention of bacon.”
Packers 224-pound linebacker George Cumby met Biscuit head-on for all three of his offensive plays, but to no avail. “The second time, I hit him flush. That didn’t work,” said Cumby. “I was outweighed by a few pounds.”
Biscuit started playing more on defense the next week against the Vikings, even notching his first pro sack, nailing Tommy Kramer in the first quarter.
Biscuit was an instant folk hero thanks to Coach Ditka and by delivering when called upon.
In week 9, the legend grew. Playing the Packers again, this time at Lambeau Field, Biscuit caught his first pass. Touchdown.
The Bears finished the regular season 15-1, losing in week 13 to the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. They marched on through the NFC playoffs to the Super Bowl to face the New England Patriots.
This was not the Patriots dynasty squad from the last two decades. This was a good team that caught fire in the playoffs, beating some stalwart AFC opponents. Unfortunately, that fire became a flicker when the Pats stepped on the field in New Orleans for Super Bowl XX.
Early in that game, Ditka sent Biscuit back to pass. Nobody was open. Biscuit got sacked.
Late in the game, the entire world saw Biscuit plunge into the endzone for a touchdown in Super Bowl XX. Final score Bears 46 – Patriots 10.
Sweetness, who at the time was the NFL all-time leading rusher, sadly, never got in the endzone.
Biscuit may have been better known as The Refrigerator, a nickname he acquired in his freshman year at Clemson.
William “The Refrigerator” Perry. Cultural icon.
He owns the largest Super Bowl ring of any professional football player ever to get one. Ring size 25.
Aiken (South Carolina) High School graduate. Clemson alum. Father of 4.
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