12-21-2022, 11:32 PM
Franco Harris, the star of one of the weirdest plays of a pivotal game in an NFL season
He will be best known for that play more than anything else in his distinguished career. He had a long career as a football player; he was a successful businessman; he was one of Pennsylvania's electors for Barack Obama in 2008.
The play:
The teams played to a scoreless tie at the half, with Oakland's longest gain coming on an 11-yard completion from Daryle Lamonica to Fred Biletnikoff. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, came fairly close to a scoring chance, but passed up on a field-goal attempt from the Oakland 31-yard line. Instead, John Fuqua was stopped by Jack Tatum on a fourth-and-2 run to turn possession over to the Raiders.[9] (Interestingly, it would be another collision by these two players that led to the "Immaculate Reception" late in the fourth quarter). On its first possession of the second half, however, Pittsburgh opted for a field goal, with Roy Gerela's successful 18-yard attempt accounting for the first score of the game.[10]
Later in the third quarter, Lamonica was intercepted for the second time in the game – both times by a Steelers linebacker (Andy Russell in the first quarter, Jack Ham in the third).[10] Lamonica's latest turnover prompted Raiders head coach John Madden to put Kenny Stabler into the game at quarterback.[9]
After an interception thrown by Terry Bradshaw in Oakland territory – the Steelers' only turnover of the game – Stabler turned the ball back over to Pittsburgh, when he fumbled the ball inside the Oakland 25-yard line. This led to another field goal by Gerela to extend the Steelers' lead to 6–0.[9]
Stabler would, however, successfully lead Oakland down the field, when he capped a fourth-quarter drive with a 30-yard touchdown run. The ensuing extra point by George Blanda gave Oakland a 7–6 lead with 1:17 left, setting up the dramatic ending to the game.[10]
Events of the play[edit]
![[Image: 300px-Immaculate_Reception_diagram.png]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Immaculate_Reception_diagram.png/300px-Immaculate_Reception_diagram.png)
Trailing the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Raiders]Oakland Raiders 7–6, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced fourth-and-10 on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining in the game and no time-outs. Head coach Chuck Noll called a pass play, 66 Circle Option, intended for receiver Barry Pearson,[11] a rookie who was playing in his first NFL game.
Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw (1 in diagram), under great pressure from Raiders linemen Tony Cline and Horace Jones, threw the ball to the Raiders' 35-yard line, toward halfback John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Raiders safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua just as the ball arrived (2). Tatum's hit knocked Fuqua to the ground and sent the ball sailing backward several yards, end over end.
Steelers fullback Franco Harris, after initially blocking on the play, had run downfield in case Bradshaw needed another eligible receiver. After Bradshaw threw the pass towards Fuqua, Harris recounted the advice of his college football coach Joe Paterno, who always told his players "Go to the ball."[12] Harris, in the vicinity of the deflected pass, scooped up the sailing ball just before it hit the ground (3). Harris ran past Raiders linebacker Gerald Irons, while linebacker Phil Villapiano, who had been covering Harris, was blocked by Steelers tight end John McMakin (4). Harris used a stiff arm to ward off Raiders defensive back Jimmy Warren (5), and went in for a touchdown. The touchdown gave the Steelers a 13–7 lead when Roy Gerela added the ensuing extra point.
The play:
He will be best known for that play more than anything else in his distinguished career. He had a long career as a football player; he was a successful businessman; he was one of Pennsylvania's electors for Barack Obama in 2008.
The play:
The teams played to a scoreless tie at the half, with Oakland's longest gain coming on an 11-yard completion from Daryle Lamonica to Fred Biletnikoff. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, came fairly close to a scoring chance, but passed up on a field-goal attempt from the Oakland 31-yard line. Instead, John Fuqua was stopped by Jack Tatum on a fourth-and-2 run to turn possession over to the Raiders.[9] (Interestingly, it would be another collision by these two players that led to the "Immaculate Reception" late in the fourth quarter). On its first possession of the second half, however, Pittsburgh opted for a field goal, with Roy Gerela's successful 18-yard attempt accounting for the first score of the game.[10]
Later in the third quarter, Lamonica was intercepted for the second time in the game – both times by a Steelers linebacker (Andy Russell in the first quarter, Jack Ham in the third).[10] Lamonica's latest turnover prompted Raiders head coach John Madden to put Kenny Stabler into the game at quarterback.[9]
After an interception thrown by Terry Bradshaw in Oakland territory – the Steelers' only turnover of the game – Stabler turned the ball back over to Pittsburgh, when he fumbled the ball inside the Oakland 25-yard line. This led to another field goal by Gerela to extend the Steelers' lead to 6–0.[9]
Stabler would, however, successfully lead Oakland down the field, when he capped a fourth-quarter drive with a 30-yard touchdown run. The ensuing extra point by George Blanda gave Oakland a 7–6 lead with 1:17 left, setting up the dramatic ending to the game.[10]
Events of the play[edit]
![[Image: 300px-Immaculate_Reception_diagram.png]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Immaculate_Reception_diagram.png)
Trailing the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Raiders]Oakland Raiders 7–6, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced fourth-and-10 on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining in the game and no time-outs. Head coach Chuck Noll called a pass play, 66 Circle Option, intended for receiver Barry Pearson,[11] a rookie who was playing in his first NFL game.
Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw (1 in diagram), under great pressure from Raiders linemen Tony Cline and Horace Jones, threw the ball to the Raiders' 35-yard line, toward halfback John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Raiders safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua just as the ball arrived (2). Tatum's hit knocked Fuqua to the ground and sent the ball sailing backward several yards, end over end.
Steelers fullback Franco Harris, after initially blocking on the play, had run downfield in case Bradshaw needed another eligible receiver. After Bradshaw threw the pass towards Fuqua, Harris recounted the advice of his college football coach Joe Paterno, who always told his players "Go to the ball."[12] Harris, in the vicinity of the deflected pass, scooped up the sailing ball just before it hit the ground (3). Harris ran past Raiders linebacker Gerald Irons, while linebacker Phil Villapiano, who had been covering Harris, was blocked by Steelers tight end John McMakin (4). Harris used a stiff arm to ward off Raiders defensive back Jimmy Warren (5), and went in for a touchdown. The touchdown gave the Steelers a 13–7 lead when Roy Gerela added the ensuing extra point.
The play:
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.