THE ROAD TO GLORY by Paul Zimmerman Adapted from "Simply Perfect," a 20th-anniversary look at the 1972 Dolphins that originally appeared in a 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated Classic. They were a perfect 17-0, yet to this day the Miami Dolphins of 1972 talk about lack of respect. ''We were the only Super Bowl champ of the last 20 years not to get invited to the White House,'' claims their kicker, Garo Yepremian. The '71 Dolphins had flopped in their first title try—Super Bowl VI—losing 24-3 to the Dallas Cowboys. Seven months later Miami had something to prove, and it launched the '72 campaign with an offense that was heavy on the run and a defense that was young and unknown. These Dolphins ultimately won consecutive championships (Supes VII and VIII) and became the only team ever to play in three straight Super Bowls. Then the WFL took away three of their greatest stars—Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield and Jim Kiick—and the run was over. GAME 1, AT KANSAS CITY, 20-10 Sept. 17: It was the Chiefs' first game in brand-new Arrowhead Stadium. Their last one in old Municipal Stadium had been the Christmas Day playoff loss to the Dolphins in double overtime, the longest pro game ever. ''We closed out their old one,'' quarterback Bob Griese says now, ''and we ruined their opener in the new one.'' Miami 7 10 3 0 — 20 Kansas City 0 0 3 7 — 10 Passing: Griese 8-15-111, 1 TD, 1 int. Rushing: Csonka 21-118, 1 TD Receiving: Warfield 2-49 GAME 2, VS. HOUSTON, 34-13 Sept. 24: The new Poly-Turf in the Orange Bowl was a disaster. After the game, fullback Csonka said, ''Technology has advanced to the point where it's capable of finishing every player before his time. Every time I tried to cut, my toes were driven to the point of my shoe. I feel like my ribs are coming out of my throat. Look at this turf. It's slimy. I swear, there's some kind of fumes coming off the rug.'' No matter. Miami rushed for 274 yards. Houston 0 0 13 0 — 13 Miami 13 7 7 7 — 34 Griese 11-16-142, 1 TD, 1 TD run, 1 int. Morris 15-94, 1 TD Warfield 3-67 GAME 3, AT MINNESOTA, 16-14 Oct. 1: The Vikings led 14-6 with 4:34 left. The Dolphins drove and were stopped. Coach Don Shula called on Yepremian to try a 51-yard field goal, even though his career longest was 48. ''There was a lot of talk about that decision,'' Shula says. ''What the hell, we needed 10 points.'' The kick was good. Miami forced a punt and drove to a first down on the Viking three, where Griese fooled Minnesota with a little sneak pass to tight end Jim Mandich for the winning touchdown. ''That was the game that really made us,'' guard Bob Kuechenberg says. Says Griese, ''I remember thinking afterward, Hey, we must be pretty good.'' Miami 0 0 6 10 — 16 Minnesota 7 0 0 7 — 14 Griese 16-33-127, 1 TD, 2 int. Csonka 10-66 Kiick 3-25 GAME 4, AT NEW YORK JETS, 27-17 Oct. 8: "Our whole concern was Joe Namath,'' says Miami middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti. ''If the rest of the Jets didn't show up, he could beat us alone.'' So defensive coach Bill Arnsparger surprised New York with five defensive backs on first down, and in the second half he used his new 53 Defense—a modern 3-4—exclusively, and Namath and the Jets were stopped. Miami 0 14 3 10 — 27 New York 7 0 3 7 — 17 Griese 15-27-110, 1 TD Csonka 18-102 Warfield 5-71 GAME 5, VS. SAN DIEGO, 24-10 Oct. 15: In the first quarter, Charger defensive end Rob East crashed into Griese's right leg, breaking the fibula and dislocating the ankle. In came Earl Morrall, an April waiver pickup from Baltimore. ''I remember seeing Griese lying there in pain, with his ankle all contorted,'' Mandich says, ''and here's this 38-year-old man with a flattop haircut coming on the field, and I thought, Oh hell, it's all over.'' Against San Diego, he completed eight of 10 passes and threw for two touchdowns. But everyone wondered, How long could he hold up? San Diego 3 0 0 7 — 10 Miami 3 14 7 0 — 24 Morrall 8-10-86, 2 TD Csonka 13-70 Twilley 2-41, 1 TD GAME 6, VS. BUFFALO, 24-23 Oct. 22: Yepremian kicked a 54-yard field goal, his longest ever, and the Dolphins hung on to win. ''I remember later reading our yearbook about the unbeaten season,'' Yepremian says, ''and thinking, My god, what if I didn't make the 54-yarder?'' Buffalo 0 13 0 10 — 23 Miami 7 0 10 7 — 24 Morrall 6-10-91, 1 int. Csonka 18-107, 1 TD Twilley 2-41 GAME 7, AT BALTIMORE, 23-0 Oct. 29: ''They gave me a big cheer when I trotted out,'' says Morrall, who played for four seasons in Baltimore. Morrall threw 15 passes; the Dolphins called 52 running plays. Miami 7 9 7 0 — 23 Baltimore 0 0 0 0 — 0 Morrall 9-15-85, 1 int. Csonka 19-93, 2 TD Twilley 2-46 photographs (from top) by Neil Leifer, Walter Iooss Jr., Neil Leifer, AP Photo
	CHART: Unbeaten, untied	NEXT PAGE: Games 8-14