12-30-2020, 01:28 PM
Darrin Nelson vs WSU in Pullman, 1978. I was there with my father. I saw many great runs made by Nelson during his Stanford career, but this effort had to be the best, and one of the best runs I've ever seen, period.
Stanford was at WSU's 22 yard line when Nelson ran a short circle pattern out of backfield, he received a pass from Steve Dils at about the 15 yard line, shook a linebacker, and then took off on a full sprint to the right pylon. We had a great vantage point and could see Nelson burning straight toward us as two Cougar defenders, one on his right, the other to his left, were rapidly pinching in on him. It looked like Nelson was going to be blown up simultaneously by these two DBs when he made a wicked shoulder dip and head fake as he neared the sideline. Both defenders bit on the fake and launched themselves at Nelson...but he wasn't there. Nelson looked back over his shoulder as he harmlessly trotted into the end zone. Meanwhile, the two WSU players had collided so violently that they knocked each other out and were down on the field receiving medical attention for several minutes.
I saw the WSU Highlight show the next day. While watching the replay of Nelson's catch and run, then WSU HC, Jim Walden said, "Darrin Nelson is the only back in America who could have scored on that play." I agreed.
Stanford was at WSU's 22 yard line when Nelson ran a short circle pattern out of backfield, he received a pass from Steve Dils at about the 15 yard line, shook a linebacker, and then took off on a full sprint to the right pylon. We had a great vantage point and could see Nelson burning straight toward us as two Cougar defenders, one on his right, the other to his left, were rapidly pinching in on him. It looked like Nelson was going to be blown up simultaneously by these two DBs when he made a wicked shoulder dip and head fake as he neared the sideline. Both defenders bit on the fake and launched themselves at Nelson...but he wasn't there. Nelson looked back over his shoulder as he harmlessly trotted into the end zone. Meanwhile, the two WSU players had collided so violently that they knocked each other out and were down on the field receiving medical attention for several minutes.
I saw the WSU Highlight show the next day. While watching the replay of Nelson's catch and run, then WSU HC, Jim Walden said, "Darrin Nelson is the only back in America who could have scored on that play." I agreed.