PDA

View Full Version : Stanford v. Cal, 1982 ("The Play"), Enhanced Youtube video



PiLfan
February-7th-2007, 05:25 PM
You all probably remember "the play" from this all time great NCAA football finish. This was John Elway's last college game (if they had won, he would have likely would have played a bowl game). With about a minute to go and Stanford losing 19-17, John Elway led the Cardinal on an amazing drive to what seemed to be a game winning FG. Elway looked like the Elway we would come to know from his days as a Bronco, converting on a 4th and 18 deep in his territory. Stanford called timeout with 8 seconds left and kicked the FG to go up 20-19, and with 4 seconds left, they appeared to have won. Even the announcer said "only a mircale can save the Bears now"...how prophetic.

We all know what happens next.

And we've probably seen the clip any number of times, but it's frustrating that all we get is that lousy distant camera shot that makes following "the play" so hard.

Well, here's a video clip of that famous kickoff return that has been zoomed in and enhanced so you can clearly see the amazing play as it happens. There are 5 laterals, including the last one which was a prayer, as the Cal player just blindly tossed the ball back over his shoulder, and the last Cal player caught it and ran through the band members and into the endzone...of course topping it off by spiking the trombone player.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awax0xMDcdY


The third lateral has been controversial to some because it appears the Cal player had his knee down...but this zoomed-in version shows he may have gotten it off a nanosecond before he was tackled. Either way, it probably wouldn't have been overturned if they used replay back then. The penalty that was called, if i recollect, was on Stanford for, ironically, "too many men on the field". Well, duhhh. :laugh:

On a side note, gotta love the call guy going crazy.

PleaseBlitz
February-7th-2007, 05:50 PM
I love watching that play. I have no affiliation with Cal, but MAN, what a freaking chain of events.

Thanks for posting.

rincewind
February-7th-2007, 05:57 PM
Stanford has long protested this play. Elway says 'I didn't know you could score with the band on the field.' They ***** and moan - but it was THEIR f'n band on the field.




On a side note - this may have been bumped down to the second greatest finish ever. ;)

JMS
February-7th-2007, 07:20 PM
You know Cal had the national championship Rugby team that year. Those moves are, lateralling backwards are all part of a rugby back line. I've heard that Cal had Rugby players on their football team. I've always doubted that because football players tend to be scholorship dudes and scholorship dudes typcially don't play Rugby cause they're afraid of getting broken in half.

Anyway, wondering if anybody else heard that connection.

Rocky21
February-8th-2007, 08:24 AM
The announcer's call is great!

EersSkins05
February-8th-2007, 08:35 AM
The announcer's call is great!


THE BAND IS ON THE FIELD!!!!!

Dan T.
February-8th-2007, 08:40 AM
Announcer's call:

"Oh my god. The most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart rending, exciting, thrilling finishes in the history of college football!"

And he wasn't exaggerating.

jrockster21
February-8th-2007, 08:52 AM
I love watching that play. I have no affiliation with Cal, but MAN, what a freaking chain of events.

Thanks for posting.


Me too. I love it when the band guy gets trucked at the end. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


On a side note - this may have been bumped down to the second greatest finish ever. ;)

I dunno - BSU was a great finish, but I don't think this one will ever be topped. I mean...the band was on the field!! :laugh: This game was OVER!

The Evil Genius
February-8th-2007, 09:41 AM
The announcer is Joe Starkey, he used to play by play guy for the Niners.

Classic finish - although I tend to wonder if this is as awe inspiring as Flutie's hail mary against Miami..

jrockster21
February-8th-2007, 09:48 AM
The announcer is Joe Starkey, he used to play by play guy for the Niners.

Classic finish - although I tend to wonder if this is as awe inspiring as Flutie's hail mary against Miami..


I don't get the fascination with Hail Mary finishes. They are 100% pure luck, and aren't that spectacular. IMO, hail mary finishes shouldn't be ranked that high.