Steve Young, whose Number 8 will be retired on Sunday, is one of the great 49ers. Joe Montana was a better quarterback and in the history of players Jerry Rice was a better receiver than Steve was a QB. OK, sure. But Steve was one hell of a quarterback, a great competitor, a man who played in joy, a man who laughed as he made long runs. He experienced the thrill and fascination we would have felt if we were good enough to be him. As quarterback, Steve was Everyman.

He represented the 49er standard, which no longer exists. He used to lecture me about this standard which he called “It.” Steve, unlike Montana, had fun with the media — he always has been social and outgoing and upbeat. So, he used to lecture me about It — he kept It vague. You had to experience It to know It. But It was a standard of play personified by Steve and Ronnie Lott. Ronnie had It to the max. And Joe had It and so did Roger Craig. And It was a standard of behavior in the locker room, a feeling of the importance and responsibility of being a Niner in those glory days. I’m sure you know what It is even if I’m being vague.

Steve told me one generation of Niners handed It down to another — this handing down was a tradition started by Bill Walsh which mattered, and helped the team become a team. The 49ers don’t have It anymore, although they’re trying to rediscover It. When Young appears Sunday at the game, sure we will get a glimpse of him. More important, we will get a glimpse of It. I’m sure he knows what I mean.

— Lowell