The Play (American football)

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== The Play (American football) ==

The Play refers to a famous last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the Stanford Cardinal and the California Golden Bears on November 20, 1982. The game is one of the most memorable in the history of college football due to its dramatic and controversial ending.

Background[edit | edit source]

The annual game between Stanford and California, known as the Big Game, is a longstanding rivalry. The 1982 game was held at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. Stanford, led by quarterback John Elway, was trailing 19-17 with only four seconds left on the clock.

The Play[edit | edit source]

After a successful field goal by Stanford, the team took a 20-19 lead. With only four seconds remaining, Stanford kicked off to California. What followed was a series of laterals and a chaotic return that has since become legendary.

1. The kickoff was fielded by California's Kevin Moen. 2. Moen lateraled the ball to Richard Rodgers Sr.. 3. Rodgers then lateraled to Dwight Garner. 4. Garner, after nearly being tackled, lateraled back to Rodgers. 5. Rodgers then lateraled to Mariet Ford. 6. Ford, after advancing the ball, lateraled to Moen, who ran the final yards into the end zone.

As Moen crossed the goal line, he famously ran through the Stanford band, which had prematurely entered the field, believing the game was over.

Controversy[edit | edit source]

The Play was highly controversial due to several factors:

The presence of the Stanford Band on the field.
Multiple close calls on whether the California players' knees were down before lateraling.
The legality of the laterals themselves.

Despite the controversy, the officials ruled the play as a touchdown, giving California a 25-20 victory.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The Play is often cited as one of the greatest moments in college football history. It has been the subject of numerous analyses, documentaries, and discussions. The rivalry between Stanford and California remains intense, with The Play serving as a significant historical moment.