[71Bear]

IMO, yesterday's Iron Bowl knocked the '82 Big Game off the top of the "most improbable finish" to a college game list.  Given all the things that had to happen prior to the ball falling into Davis' hands, the intensity of the rivalry and the stakes they were playing for, it (as ESPN noted this morning) may never be surpassed....

I hope you had a chance to see it live, it was amazing......

[71Bear]

IMO, yesterday's Iron Bowl knocked the '82 Big Game off the top of the "most improbable finish" to a college game list.  Given all the things that had to happen prior to the ball falling into Davis' hands, the intensity of the rivalry and the stakes they were playing for, it (as ESPN noted this morning) may never be surpassed....

I hope you had a chance to see it live, it was amazing......

[OutsiderFan]

I don't know.  Though it was a crazy finish, Auburn was at least prepared for it and executed it well, as though they had prepared for it.  "The Play" was an absurd series of desperation moves that all had to work.  The Auburn missed kick return, though a stunning way to end a game, was basically not that remarkable in terms of degree of difficulty.  Maybe had a band been on the field...

[OutsiderFan]

I don't know.  Though it was a crazy finish, Auburn was at least prepared for it and executed it well, as though they had prepared for it.  "The Play" was an absurd series of desperation moves that all had to work.  The Auburn missed kick return, though a stunning way to end a game, was basically not that remarkable in terms of degree of difficulty.  Maybe had a band been on the field...

[stupac2]

On SportsCenter after the game ESPN ran a feature on the top 10 finishes in college football, the play was still #1. I don't think anything is ever going to top it, at this point there's 30 years of mystique on top of the ridiculousness. Plus if that happened today they'd review it and see that his knee was down.

[stupac2]

On SportsCenter after the game ESPN ran a feature on the top 10 finishes in college football, the play was still #1. I don't think anything is ever going to top it, at this point there's 30 years of mystique on top of the ridiculousness. Plus if that happened today they'd review it and see that his knee was down.

[PrinceLightfoot]

His knee was down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bhbuEDYHho

[PrinceLightfoot]

His knee was down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bhbuEDYHho

[Hank 91]

I don't even know what you guys are talking about. I thought Big Game wasn't played in 1982.

[Hank 91]

I don't even know what you guys are talking about. I thought Big Game wasn't played in 1982.

[Oasis]

C.al faked the play.  They used the same guys who faked the moon landings.

[Oasis]

C.al faked the play.  They used the same guys who faked the moon landings.

[Farm93]

On SportsCenter after the game ESPN ran a feature on the top 10 finishes in college football, the play was still #1. I don't think anything is ever going to top it, at this point there's 30 years of mystique on top of the ridiculousness. Plus if that happened today they'd review it and see that his knee was down.

Replay referees have reviewed the play enough to know what probably would happen now.  The knee down vs. us call would probably "stand" based on the resolution available.  Though it probably could be reversed with the number of cameras and higher definition available now, there just is not a clear enough image of the knee to call that.  The refs running from the sideline is problematic, but Gaffney scored against USC on a similar TD. 

More importantly though I have seen enough people say that even with the image quality there is more than enough evidence to show that UCB had a forward pass at the ~25 yard line.  And therefore the play would be stopped at the point of that forward pass of replay was available for that play now even with the poor resolution.

As quirky as the play was there is NO DOUBT that Auburn's collection of last minute miracles to defeat the #1 two time defending BCS champion was a much bigger deal.  Auburn could have lost the game on that play or the game could have gone to OT.  Instead Auburn won the game on a type of return that was rather uncommon until recently.  To go from loss, to tie, to win all in one play with 1 second left, against the #1 team with national championship implications for both teams is really an amazing finish.

Besides this happened in the SEC.  And we all know that if it happens in the SEC it is bigger, more important and more memorable then if it happens in other conferences.

[Farm93]

On SportsCenter after the game ESPN ran a feature on the top 10 finishes in college football, the play was still #1. I don't think anything is ever going to top it, at this point there's 30 years of mystique on top of the ridiculousness. Plus if that happened today they'd review it and see that his knee was down.

Replay referees have reviewed the play enough to know what probably would happen now.  The knee down vs. us call would probably "stand" based on the resolution available.  Though it probably could be reversed with the number of cameras and higher definition available now, there just is not a clear enough image of the knee to call that.  The refs running from the sideline is problematic, but Gaffney scored against USC on a similar TD. 

More importantly though I have seen enough people say that even with the image quality there is more than enough evidence to show that UCB had a forward pass at the ~25 yard line.  And therefore the play would be stopped at the point of that forward pass of replay was available for that play now even with the poor resolution.

As quirky as the play was there is NO DOUBT that Auburn's collection of last minute miracles to defeat the #1 two time defending BCS champion was a much bigger deal.  Auburn could have lost the game on that play or the game could have gone to OT.  Instead Auburn won the game on a type of return that was rather uncommon until recently.  To go from loss, to tie, to win all in one play with 1 second left, against the #1 team with national championship implications for both teams is really an amazing finish.

Besides this happened in the SEC.  And we all know that if it happens in the SEC it is bigger, more important and more memorable then if it happens in other conferences.

[washingtonismoney]

The Play is the opiate of the 59ers.

[washingtonismoney]

The Play is the opiate of the 59ers.

[scorecard]

The Play is the opiate of the 59ers.

Bravo!  Quite the appropriate analogy, as long-term chronic use can lead to physical dependence, a false sense of safety, and of course, hypogonadism.

[scorecard]

The Play is the opiate of the 59ers.

Bravo!  Quite the appropriate analogy, as long-term chronic use can lead to physical dependence, a false sense of safety, and of course, hypogonadism.

[terry]

I have seen enough people say that even with the image quality there is more than enough evidence to show that UCB had a forward pass at the ~25 yard line.  And therefore the play would be stopped at the point of that forward pass of replay was available for that play now even with the poor resolution.

Yep. Here are a couple of screenshots showing the last lateral. In the first one, the ball is leaving Ford's hands just outside the 27 yard line. In the second one, Moen (#26) is about to catch the ball just outside the 25 yard line. The ball traveled forward about 2 yards.

[terry]

I have seen enough people say that even with the image quality there is more than enough evidence to show that UCB had a forward pass at the ~25 yard line.  And therefore the play would be stopped at the point of that forward pass of replay was available for that play now even with the poor resolution.

Yep. Here are a couple of screenshots showing the last lateral. In the first one, the ball is leaving Ford's hands just outside the 27 yard line. In the second one, Moen (#26) is about to catch the ball just outside the 25 yard line. The ball traveled forward about 2 yards.

[Kathy]

There's a poll running on http://espn.go.com:

Which is the greatest highlight of the college football video age?

22%  Doug Flutie's Hail Mary vs. Miami in 1984
   
31%  California vs. Stanford's band in 1982
   
47%  Chris Davis' missed FG return TD for Auburn vs. Alabama in 2013

(Total votes: 162,813)

Interestingly, the numbers break out geographically — those voting for Flutie's Hail Mary are clustered in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; those who prefer weenies thievery are located in California; the rest of the country likes the Auburn runback.

So maybe we won't be forced to view that god-awful sequence quite so often in the next few years. Unfortunately for Redrum's family, the bombardment continues — only with different uniforms and in higher resolution.

[Kathy]

There's a poll running on http://espn.go.com:

Which is the greatest highlight of the college football video age?

22%  Doug Flutie's Hail Mary vs. Miami in 1984
   
31%  California vs. Stanford's band in 1982
   
47%  Chris Davis' missed FG return TD for Auburn vs. Alabama in 2013

(Total votes: 162,813)

Interestingly, the numbers break out geographically — those voting for Flutie's Hail Mary are clustered in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; those who prefer weenies thievery are located in California; the rest of the country likes the Auburn runback.

So maybe we won't be forced to view that god-awful sequence quite so often in the next few years. Unfortunately for Redrum's family, the bombardment continues — only with different uniforms and in higher resolution.

[Redrum]

OF COURSE the Auburn play seems to fill the sky with its improbability.  But remember, most football fans today weren't even born in 1982 and couldn't find Berkeley on a map even with laser pointer assistance. 

[Redrum]

OF COURSE the Auburn play seems to fill the sky with its improbability.  But remember, most football fans today weren't even born in 1982 and couldn't find Berkeley on a map even with laser pointer assistance. 

[FarmBoy]

While the Calfan obsession with The Play is bordering on (has exceeded?) pathetic, the truth is, it's not going away. In college football highlight shows, it's one, if not the, most recognizable shot. With 1/2 a second footage, 50% of fans know what it is. The rest have a vague familiarity of what it is even if they can't name who was playing. Five years from now, few people will recognize Saturday's play in a college football montage--visually it was as impressive as any 100 yard punt return with a straight shot down the sideline. But They Play will always be recognizable due to the chaos on the field. How many college plays include a trombonist getting crushed on the TD? It's as iconic as Laettner's shot against Kentucky (which wasn't even in the Final Four.)

Saturday's game brought me joy because it's always nice to see Goliath lose a game, though it would have been nice if it had been against a lower ranked, non-SEC team (or an SEC team that had lost to a Pac12 bottom feeder like WSU...) But it did nothing to lessen the pain of 1982, mainly because I feel no pain from that game. It was 30+ years ago for godssakes. I wasn't a fan of Stanford, I was barely paying attention to college sports. It's just another game from an age gone by. I feel just as much pain from The Play as most Calfans probably feel for Wrong Way Reiggels play.

[FarmBoy]

While the Calfan obsession with The Play is bordering on (has exceeded?) pathetic, the truth is, it's not going away. In college football highlight shows, it's one, if not the, most recognizable shot. With 1/2 a second footage, 50% of fans know what it is. The rest have a vague familiarity of what it is even if they can't name who was playing. Five years from now, few people will recognize Saturday's play in a college football montage--visually it was as impressive as any 100 yard punt return with a straight shot down the sideline. But They Play will always be recognizable due to the chaos on the field. How many college plays include a trombonist getting crushed on the TD? It's as iconic as Laettner's shot against Kentucky (which wasn't even in the Final Four.)

Saturday's game brought me joy because it's always nice to see Goliath lose a game, though it would have been nice if it had been against a lower ranked, non-SEC team (or an SEC team that had lost to a Pac12 bottom feeder like WSU...) But it did nothing to lessen the pain of 1982, mainly because I feel no pain from that game. It was 30+ years ago for godssakes. I wasn't a fan of Stanford, I was barely paying attention to college sports. It's just another game from an age gone by. I feel just as much pain from The Play as most Calfans probably feel for Wrong Way Reiggels play.

[Redrum]

Most Calfans have no more knowledge of /emotional reaction to Roy Riegels than they would if you brought up Teddy Roosevelt  or Buster Keaton.

[Redrum]

Most Calfans have no more knowledge of /emotional reaction to Roy Riegels than they would if you brought up Teddy Roosevelt  or Buster Keaton.

[stupac2]

While the Calfan obsession with The Play is bordering on (has exceeded?) pathetic, the truth is, it's not going away. In college football highlight shows, it's one, if not the, most recognizable shot. With 1/2 a second footage, 50% of fans know what it is. The rest have a vague familiarity of what it is even if they can't name who was playing. Five years from now, few people will recognize Saturday's play in a college football montage--visually it was as impressive as any 100 yard punt return with a straight shot down the sideline. But They Play will always be recognizable due to the chaos on the field. How many college plays include a trombonist getting crushed on the TD? It's as iconic as Laettner's shot against Kentucky (which wasn't even in the Final Four.)

Saturday's game brought me joy because it's always nice to see Goliath lose a game, though it would have been nice if it had been against a lower ranked, non-SEC team (or an SEC team that had lost to a Pac12 bottom feeder like WSU...) But it did nothing to lessen the pain of 1982, mainly because I feel no pain from that game. It was 30+ years ago for godssakes. I wasn't a fan of Stanford, I was barely paying attention to college sports. It's just another game from an age gone by. I feel just as much pain from The Play as most Calfans probably feel for Wrong Way Reiggels play.

Another reason the play isn't going away: on that Top 10 list I mentioned, the ESPN talking head knew the announcer's lines by heart. It's just too iconic at this point to ever die.

[stupac2]

While the Calfan obsession with The Play is bordering on (has exceeded?) pathetic, the truth is, it's not going away. In college football highlight shows, it's one, if not the, most recognizable shot. With 1/2 a second footage, 50% of fans know what it is. The rest have a vague familiarity of what it is even if they can't name who was playing. Five years from now, few people will recognize Saturday's play in a college football montage--visually it was as impressive as any 100 yard punt return with a straight shot down the sideline. But They Play will always be recognizable due to the chaos on the field. How many college plays include a trombonist getting crushed on the TD? It's as iconic as Laettner's shot against Kentucky (which wasn't even in the Final Four.)

Saturday's game brought me joy because it's always nice to see Goliath lose a game, though it would have been nice if it had been against a lower ranked, non-SEC team (or an SEC team that had lost to a Pac12 bottom feeder like WSU...) But it did nothing to lessen the pain of 1982, mainly because I feel no pain from that game. It was 30+ years ago for godssakes. I wasn't a fan of Stanford, I was barely paying attention to college sports. It's just another game from an age gone by. I feel just as much pain from The Play as most Calfans probably feel for Wrong Way Reiggels play.

Another reason the play isn't going away: on that Top 10 list I mentioned, the ESPN talking head knew the announcer's lines by heart. It's just too iconic at this point to ever die.

[FarmBoy]

Most Calfans have no more knowledge of /emotional reaction to Roy Riegels than they would if you brought up Teddy Roosevelt  or Buster Keaton.

My point exactly. I have no personal connection to The Play. At this point, the majority of fans for both teams probably weren't watching football in 1982, let alone having a strong allegiance to either team. It's ancient history. I get more upset remembering the 2009 BG outcome than 1982.

[FarmBoy]

Most Calfans have no more knowledge of /emotional reaction to Roy Riegels than they would if you brought up Teddy Roosevelt  or Buster Keaton.

My point exactly. I have no personal connection to The Play. At this point, the majority of fans for both teams probably weren't watching football in 1982, let alone having a strong allegiance to either team. It's ancient history. I get more upset remembering the 2009 BG outcome than 1982.

[yvonne]

That was his point. That's how much attachment he has to the Play. Those of us who attended before it happened or somewhat closer to when it happened have a stronger reaction. To the young people, it's just a weird play that happened many years ago. I'm not sure how old you are, but compare what you feel about sporting events that happened 10 years before you were born.

For some reason, kal youth are shown the game every season. Yikes showed it to the team before the season started to get them fired up. hmmm.

[yvonne]

That was his point. That's how much attachment he has to the Play. Those of us who attended before it happened or somewhat closer to when it happened have a stronger reaction. To the young people, it's just a weird play that happened many years ago. I'm not sure how old you are, but compare what you feel about sporting events that happened 10 years before you were born.

For some reason, kal youth are shown the game every season. Yikes showed it to the team before the season started to get them fired up. hmmm.

[FarmBoy]

For some reason, kal youth are shown the game every season.

Do they watch the whole game? That would be awesome. What a waste of time. I assume they only show the final quarter, compressed, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were showing the only thing, including commercials. What a bunch of maroons.

[FarmBoy]

For some reason, kal youth are shown the game every season.

Do they watch the whole game? That would be awesome. What a waste of time. I assume they only show the final quarter, compressed, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were showing the only thing, including commercials. What a bunch of maroons.

[jayasena]

What a bunch of maroons.

Blues, to be precise.

[jayasena]

What a bunch of maroons.

Blues, to be precise.

[yvonne]

For some reason, kal youth are shown the game every season.

Do they watch the whole game? That would be awesome. What a waste of time. I assume they only show the final quarter, compressed, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were showing the only thing, including commercials. What a bunch of maroons.

My mistake. They're shown that single play.

[yvonne]

For some reason, kal youth are shown the game every season.

Do they watch the whole game? That would be awesome. What a waste of time. I assume they only show the final quarter, compressed, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were showing the only thing, including commercials. What a bunch of maroons.

My mistake. They're shown that single play.