Immaculate Reception Story

[84Duke]

Figured this was off-topic and not EK, even though the story is on the front page.

The Steelers and Raiders were not tied 7-7. The Steelers trailed 7-6. It was 4th and 10 with 22 seconds left, and Pittsburgh had no time outs left. An incompletion there ends the game.

That - as well as the ricochet - is what made the play Immaculate.

And I will add that as a Pittsburgher, I heard that game on the radio. I didn’t see the play live. The NBC TV broadcast was blacked out in Pittsburgh.

[dudog84]

Figured this was off-topic and not EK, even though the story is on the front page.

The Steelers and Raiders were not tied 7-7. The Steelers trailed 7-6. It was 4th and 10 with 22 seconds left, and Pittsburgh had no time outs left. An incompletion there ends the game.

That - as well as the ricochet - is what made the play Immaculate.

And I will add that as a Pittsburgher, I heard that game on the radio. I didn’t see the play live. The NBC TV broadcast was blacked out in Pittsburgh.

Yeah, I read that too on the front page but didn't bother to correct it, though it puts the play in a completely different light. To my memory Franco kept running straight into the locker room. But I honestly can't remember whether we went crazy or sat in stunned silence, wondering what we had just witnessed.

[sagegrouse]

Yeah, I read that too on the front page but didn't bother to correct it, though it puts the play in a completely different light. To my memory Franco kept running straight into the locker room. But I honestly can't remember whether we went crazy or sat in stunned silence, wondering what we had just witnessed.

I had no idea what I had just seen, and --IIRC -- neither did the announcers. And I am not sure about the referees, but wasn't this reviewed via videotape by the officials before the play was ruled a TD?

[mr. synellinden]

https://youtu.be/dHIXFKrrUhA

[Bob Green]

I had no idea what I had just seen, and --IIRC -- neither did the announcers. And I am not sure about the referees, but wasn't this reviewed via videotape by the officials before the play was ruled a TD?

At the time this play occurred, it was illegal for two offensive players to touch the ball in a row so the refs had to verify the ball ricocheted off the defensive back.

[Ggallagher]

They covered this play in Episode #24 of the Peyton's Places series that ESPN ran a few months ago. It was available free at the time on ESPN; they may have moved it back into one of their other paying channels now. It was pretty fun to watch as they brought back the original players and tried to re-enact it - which didn't work out very well.

If you can still find it, it's pretty enjoyable.

[JasonEvans]

At the time this play occurred, it was illegal for two offensive players to touch the ball in a row so the refs had to verify the ball ricocheted off the defensive back.

Huh? What about a pass or handing the ball off? Or was it that two players who are not the QB could not touch it in a row. I'm very confused about this rule. Would this rule have forbidden laterals like on the famous Stanford-Cal band play or Miami's miracle over Duke (too soon)?

[dudog84]

Huh? What about a pass or handing the ball off? Or was it that two players who are not the QB could not touch it in a row. I'm very confused about this rule. Would this rule have forbidden laterals like on the famous Stanford-Cal band play or Miami's miracle over Duke (too soon)?

He's right, though I don't remember the specifics of the rule. If the ball had hit Frenchy Fuqua (still one of my favorite nicknames), Franco would not have been allowed to complete the play.

[Bob Green]

Huh? What about a pass or handing the ball off? Or was it that two players who are not the QB could not touch it in a row. I'm very confused about this rule. Would this rule have forbidden laterals like on the famous Stanford-Cal band play or Miami's miracle over Duke (too soon)?

Poorly worded on my part...two offensive players could not touch a forward pass in a row (not including the QB). Basically, one receiver could not tip the ball to a second receiver.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Currently sitting about 10 miles from the site of the Immaculate Reception, I figured I would do some research on the rule that existed at the time (GIYF). This link explains it pretty well:

Any forward pass (legal or illegal) becomes incomplete and ball is dead immediately if pass is caught by any A player after it has touched ineligible A player or second eligible A, and before any touching by B.

The Penalty of this this infraction is a loss of down at the previous spot.

https://www.profootballhof.com/immaculate-rule/

[JasonEvans]

Would this rule have prevented the famous hook and ladder play by the Miami Dolphins against the Chargers in the 1981 playoffs?



Fewer rules = more fun!

[Bob Green]

Would this rule have prevented the famous hook and ladder play by the Miami Dolphins against the Chargers in the 1981 playoffs?

No! The pass was cleanly caught and lateraled to the second player.

[sagegrouse]

Huh? What about a pass or handing the ball off? Or was it that two players who are not the QB could not touch it in a row. I'm very confused about this rule. Would this rule have forbidden laterals like on the famous Stanford-Cal band play or Miami's miracle over Duke (too soon)?

It was a detail under the rules for "forward passes." Rule did not and rules today do not forbid laterals -- "hook and ladder (lateral) play," etc.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I was at an RV dealership today and our salesman had lots of Steelers stuff, including a huge framed photo of Franco Harris running towards the endzone with the description of the play underneath, and it was signed by Harris. Pretty cool.

[Turk]

Figured this was off-topic and not EK, even though the story is on the front page.

The Steelers and Raiders were not tied 7-7. The Steelers trailed 7-6. It was 4th and 10 with 22 seconds left, and Pittsburgh had no time outs left. An incompletion there ends the game.

That - as well as the ricochet - is what made the play Immaculate.

And I will add that as a Pittsburgher, I heard that game on the radio. I didn’t see the play live. The NBC TV broadcast was blacked out in Pittsburgh.

To me, other than beating the hated Raiders, legendary broadcaster Myron Cope missed the play; he was on his way to the locker room for post-game interviews. IIRC, former broadcaster Jack Fleming had the call by himself. Myron probably would have blown a gasket on the call. "Double YOI!!!"

[weezie]

They covered this play in Episode #24 of the Peyton's Places series that ESPN ran a few months ago...
If you can still find it, it's pretty enjoyable.

It was very enjoyable I agree. Although I was forced to watch Peyton filet the Lions in person more than once, he's one charming son of a gun.