Singletary seeking ‘moment' with 49ers

There was “The Drive,” a 92-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown march 21 years ago to beat Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII, Montana hitting John Taylor with the game-winner.

But if San Francisco’s 3-1 start under coach Mike Singletary turns out to be 24 karat and not fool’s gold, 49ers fans might add a 34-13 regular-season loss to Seattle last Oct. 26 to their list of landmark games.

Let’s call it “The Debut.”

It was on that October day at Candlestick Park that Singletary, in his first game as 49ers interim coach, grabbed the once great but now struggling franchise by the throat and started pulling it in a new direction.

Singletary spent the entire day sending messages at ear-splitting volume. He warmed up by benching starting quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan for Shaun Hill late in the first half. At halftime in the locker room he actually dropped his pants, showing his players the part of their anatomy that was getting kicked by the Seahawks.

Singletary’s signature moment came late in the third quarter after combustible tight end Vernon Davis drew a costly personal-foul penalty and showed no remorse. Singletary kicked him off the field and banished him to the locker room.

Then at his postgame press conference, Singletary went on a rant that should land him a Coors Light commercial when his coaching career ends.

“I will not tolerate players that think it’s about them when it’s about the team,” Singletary said. “We cannot make decisions that cost the team and then come off the sidelines just nonchalant. I’m from the old school. I would rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we’ve got to do something else, rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person has not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team.

“Cannot play with them. Cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win.”

The 49ers went on to win five of their final eight games last season under Singletary before this year’s fast start, which is a Brett Favre miracle shy of perfection. He had the “interim” tag stripped from his title on the final day of the 2008 season.

“He sent a strong message about what he expects from his players and what we expect from each other,” 49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley said Monday, recalling Singletary’s debut. “He’s not going to be tolerating foolishness. I think everybody responded pretty well to that. We were able to finish up that season pretty strong, and it’s carried over into this season.”

When he played for the Bears, under coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, Singletary was a Pro Bowl middle linebacker known for his wild eyes and ferocious hits. The crazed linebacker in Singletary still lurks just below the surface and will come out from time to time. But he also spent some 10 years after his playing career as a motivational speaker, a skill that has served him well with the 49ers.

After seven straight losing seasons, Singletary’s players didn’t really need much convincing. They were ready to follow his lead, to accept his demands for selflessness, discipline and toughness,

And after laying the foundation so solidly last year, Singletary doesn’t have to do all the heavy motivational work this season. His team leaders are stepping up.

“The less I say the better I feel,” Singletary said Monday. “I’m going to say what has to be said and hopefully they beat me to it all the time so we can stay on the same page.”

In many ways, Singletary is the polar opposite of legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh, who was known for his offensive wizardry. Singletary is building the 49ers more in the image of the Bears under Ditka, with a dominant defense and a run-heavy, conservative offense. He made that clear after his first game last year.

“Our formula is this” Singletary said that day. “We go out and we hit people in the mouth, No. 1.”