The Play (American football)

File:The-play.jpg

Error creating thumbnail:

The Play (American Football)

"The Play" is a term used to describe one of the most famous and controversial plays in the history of American college football. It occurred during the annual Big Game between the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) Golden Bears and the Stanford University Cardinal on November 20, 1982. The play is renowned for its chaotic and improbable nature, involving multiple laterals and a disputed finish.

Background

The 1982 Big Game was held at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. The rivalry between Cal and Stanford is one of the oldest in college football, dating back to 1892. The 1982 game was particularly significant as it marked the 85th meeting between the two teams.

Stanford, led by quarterback John Elway, was trailing 19-17 with just four seconds left on the clock. Elway had orchestrated a drive that put Stanford in position for a game-winning field goal, which was successfully kicked by Mark Harmon, giving Stanford a 20-19 lead.

The Play

With only four seconds remaining, Cal was set to receive the kickoff. Stanford's strategy was to execute a squib kick to prevent a long return. The ball was kicked by Harmon and fielded by Cal's Kevin Moen at the Cal 45-yard line.

The sequence of events that followed is what makes "The Play" legendary:

1. Kevin Moen fielded the ball and ran to his left, lateraling to Richard Rodgers. 2. Richard Rodgers advanced the ball and lateraled to Dwight Garner. 3. Dwight Garner was nearly tackled but managed to lateral back to Rodgers. 4. Richard Rodgers then lateraled to Mariet Ford. 5. Mariet Ford sprinted forward and, as he was being tackled, lateraled to Kevin Moen. 6. Kevin Moen caught the lateral and ran into the end zone, crashing into the Stanford band, which had prematurely entered the field.

Controversy

The play was highly controversial due to several factors:

• Band on the Field: The Stanford band had entered the field before the play was over, believing the game had ended with Stanford's victory.
• Lateral Legality: There were disputes over whether all the laterals were legal, particularly the one from Dwight Garner to Richard Rodgers.
• Officials' Decision: The officials on the field ruled the play a touchdown, giving Cal a 25-20 victory.

Legacy

"The Play" is remembered as one of the most dramatic moments in college football history. It is frequently cited in discussions of improbable sports outcomes and is a staple of college football lore.

The play has been analyzed extensively, with debates over its legality and the actions of the Stanford band continuing to this day. It is often replayed in highlight reels and has been the subject of numerous articles and documentaries.

Also see

• Big Game (American football), the annual football game between Cal and Stanford.
• College football rivalries in the United States, for more on historic rivalries.
• Lateral pass, a key component of "The Play."
• Stanford University, the opposing team in the 1982 Big Game.
• University of California, Berkeley, the team that executed "The Play."