Leonard Tose eventually sold the team to Norman Braman, who kept the Eagles in Philadelphia

A large number of fans flew to Atlanta. If this really was to be the last game for the Philadelphia Eagles, they wanted to be there. There was no problem getting tickets. The Falcons were lousy (3-12) and on a cold rainy December day, few Atlanta fans were interested in coming out to see more of Mike Moroski (he was the Atlanta quarterback).

An hour before kickoff, most of the people milling around the stadium were wearing Eagles green and carrying signs that said "Don't Take Our Team Away" and "The Eagles Belong in Philadelphia."

The announced attendance was 15,582, the smallest crowd to see an Eagles game since 1962. I'd say more than half of those on hand were from Philadelphia. By the time the game began, there was a report of a negotiated settlement between the Eagles and the City of Philadelphia which restructured the Veterans Stadium lease and added more luxury boxes with all the revenue going to the team. The Eagles would be staying after all.

The players, who went through a surreal week of practice, lost the game, 26-10. Mike Quick scored the only touchdown, a 15-yard pass from Pisarcik. They lost four fumbles and Pisarcik was sacked eight times. The only highlight for the Eagles was defensive end Greg Brown recording four sacks, a club record at the time.

The fans who made the trip from Philadelphia for the game waited near the team buses to cheer the players as they left. Many had tears in their eyes. They heard the reports of an agreement, but they weren't sure they believed them. They had been jerked around so much they didn't know what to believe anymore.

Two days later, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle called an emergency meeting of the club owners to discuss the situation. The meeting was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. It lasted most of the day and while Rozelle tried to put the best possible face on things when it was over there was little doubt Tose was on his way out. He was heavily in debt - due largely to his gambling habit - and he had to sell the team, but he would sell to someone who agreed not to move it.

Tose, who bought the team for $16 million in 1969, sold it to Florida car dealer Norman Braman in 1985 for $65 million. He was hailed as a savior at the time although the fans soured on him later. But try to imagine this town without the Eagles? It almost happened 30 years ago.