Montgomery's Birds ruffle feathers of Van Buren's crew

HAVE YOU EVER wondered how a game would turn out that pits arguably the two best running backs in Eagles history against one another?

In a semifinal matchup of the "Best of the Nest" tournament on WIP (610-AM) last night, Wilbert Montgom-

ery's 1980 Eagles upset Steve Van Buren's top-seeded 1949 NFL champs, 17-10.

The game was played at Shibe Park, amazingly reconstructed just for last night's action.

Montgomery was named player of the game with 17 rushes for 95 yards and a touchdown. Van Buren had 98 yards on 22 carries.

The game was decided on a TD by Louie Giammona, who took it 37 yards to the end zone with less than a minute left. No word on whether Giammona celebrated by biting off a bird's head.

So, the 1980 team is set for the "Best of the Nest" title game at high noon on Saturday on the WIP show hosted by Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger.

The 1980 team will meet the winner of tonight's contest between Chuck Bednarik, Norm Van Brocklin and the 1960 NFL champs and the 2004 team that coach Andy Reid led to the Super Bowl. Look for a recap in tomorrow's Daily News.

"Best of the Nest" is matching the six greatest Eagles teams of the past against each other. Every game is played 300 times on an NFL simulation program by www.whatifsports.com, and the average result is taken as the decision.

After Saturday's airing of the championship on WIP, don't miss Monday's Daily News. In it you will find a column by Daily News alum Didinger and the winners of the WIP-Daily News "Best of the Nest" contest. *