# Is Cal-Stanford's "The Play" the greatest play in college football history?.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 9, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201 "2019-11-09T13:47:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Joeu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joeu/32/2911_2.png) [@Joeu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joeu)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/41 "2019-11-11T18:00:28Z")
I was in the stands at that game, as a Cal student. My friends and I were part of a very large group of Cal fans (maybe the majority among students?) who did not really care much about the football, but went to every home game to enjoy the snacks, sun and substances. Because of the intervening years and maybe the substances, I rarely think about that play or that game, but I can tell you that at the time it was a total blast to be there. None of us were sure what had happened, but we knew it was crazy, and we flooded the field and the streets afterwards in a joyous celebration. It’s probably important, too, to understand the bitterness of that rivalry. Even beyond football, Stanford and Stanford students were thoroughly detested by everyone I knew. It was an elite, expensive private school (still is, of course), while Berkeley was public and inexpensive. Even though Berkeley was considered the flagship of the UC system, it was still a UC school, and at that time in-state tuition was only a few hundred dollars a semester, and if you had a certain high school GPA and test scores, you were guaranteed admission to one of the UC schools, and usually your first or second choice. A large proportion of Berkeley students were at Berkeley either because they were rejected at Stanford, or couldn’t afford it. Or both. We were all very sure that Berkeley gave the equivalent (or superior) education, but Stanford students absolutely were NOT in agreement with that. They treated us with condescending pity, and we treated them with angry resentment. So it wasn’t just a football rivalry, but a much deeper and wider rivalry. All that made this unusual victory all the sweeter. T-shirts with the play diagrammed on them appeared on campus within a week. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/42 "2019-11-11T19:05:14Z")
Not a college game, but my favourite for weirdest game-ender is still the CFL game between the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argos back in 2010, where a missed field goal by Montreal on the last play of the game ends with a Montreal touchdown. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d5BFaykcxGg/maxresdefault.jpg "CFL Montreal at Toronto - Wild Ending - October 29, 2010") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5BFaykcxGg) ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/43 "2019-11-11T20:13:09Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I’m not buying that. The ball appears to travel unimpeded from the 27-yard-line to the 25-yard-line. It was an illegal forward pass. > **[Documentary on ‘The Play’ to be staged in Palo Alto](https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/11/05/documentary-on-the-play-to-be-staged-in-palo-alto/)** > > Documentary on ‘The Play’ to be staged in Palo Alto quoting from the link: \*Many insist the final lateral that came from Cal’s Mariet Ford appeared to be a forward lateral, which called for a penalty. When Vogt interviewed Kapp, a couple of Cal players from that ’82 season were present. “They had some game tapes on 16-millimeter from the ’82 Big Game there,” Vogt said. “They had never seen the tapes before. I asked if I could use them. I blew the film up and you can see Ford’s lateral glancing off a helmet. That’s why it looks forward.”\* ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/44 "2019-11-11T20:52:38Z")
> [@sps49sd](#): > > I can’t disagree with OP, but I’m putting up the [Kick 6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKmkD1pUG0)Alabama vs Auburn game. I came in here to mention this one. It gets my vote. The stakes were much higher, it was on a bigger stage, and the rivalry and absurdity of the whole thing is about the same as the Cal-Stanford play. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/45 "2019-11-11T21:27:50Z")
> [@Joeu](#): > > I was in the stands at that game, as a Cal student. My friends and I were part of a very large group of Cal fans (maybe the majority among students?) who did not really care much about the football, but went to every home game to enjoy the snacks, sun and substances. Because of the intervening years and maybe the substances, I rarely think about that play or that game, but I can tell you that at the time it was a total blast to be there. None of us were sure what had happened, but we knew it was crazy, and we flooded the field and the streets afterwards in a joyous celebration. It’s probably important, too, to understand the bitterness of that rivalry. Even beyond football, Stanford and Stanford students were thoroughly detested by everyone I knew. It was an elite, expensive private school (still is, of course), while Berkeley was public and inexpensive. Even though Berkeley was considered the flagship of the UC system, it was still a UC school, and at that time in-state tuition was only a few hundred dollars a semester, and if you had a certain high school GPA and test scores, you were guaranteed admission to one of the UC schools, and usually your first or second choice. A large proportion of Berkeley students were at Berkeley either because they were rejected at Stanford, or couldn’t afford it. Or both. **We were all very sure that Berkeley gave the equivalent (or superior) education,** but Stanford students absolutely were NOT in agreement with that. They treated us with condescending pity, and we treated them with angry resentment. > > So it wasn’t just a football rivalry, but a much deeper and wider rivalry. All that made this unusual victory all the sweeter. T-shirts with the play diagrammed on them appeared on campus within a week. I _thought_ so. I’ve been telling my wife that Cal students are convinced that their education is every bit as good as those who go to Stanford and that they very much resent Stanford people’s attitude towards them. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/46 "2019-11-11T21:29:39Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I came in here to mention this one. It gets my vote. The stakes were much higher, it was on a bigger stage, and the rivalry and absurdity of the whole thing is about the same as the Cal-Stanford play. That was a crazy play in its own right (all the better that it beat 'bama) but I still take “The Play,” mostly because of “ **the band is out on the field**!” ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/47 "2019-11-11T21:32:33Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > Yes, different Mark Harmon…Stanford Kicker. Not Cal kicker, and not UCLA QB. Yeah, I meant to put Stanford Kicker in my post, not Cal. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/48 "2019-11-11T22:19:31Z")
> [@sps49sd](#): > > I can’t disagree with OP, but I’m putting up the [Kick 6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKmkD1pUG0)Alabama vs Auburn game. I immediately thought of this play as #1. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/49 "2019-11-11T22:30:29Z")
Can I throw in the last play of the 2007 Appalacian State v. Michigan game where App State blocks a 37 yard field goal try with 6 seconds left for one of the biggest upsets of all time in college football. Hell, the [radio call](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Agqj_GXXHQ) is enough to lift my spirits. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/50 "2019-11-12T00:00:11Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > That was an amazing play. Not only did he fumble the snap, but then he threw it right to an MSU guy. Simply amazing way to finish a game. For me the best part was the look on Harbaugh’s face. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/51 "2019-11-12T00:19:43Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > What some people forget is, in college, **the game cannot end on a penalty against the offense** , so if an illegal forward pass would have been called, Stanford would have accepted it (otherwise, the touchdown counts, and Cal wins), and Cal would get one more play - and if it was close enough, could kick a field goal to win 22-20. Bolding mine. This is not true. In any level of football, a game cannot end on a penalty against the **defense**. If, on the last play of the game, a defensive player commits a penalty (say, defensive pass interference in the end zone), the game continues and there is one untimed down. But if an offensive player would commit the same penalty (offensive pass interference), the game would be over, even if the offense scored a touchdown. The touchdown would not count. If an illegal forward pass had been called against Cal on The Play, the game would have been over at that point and Stanford would have been the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/52 "2019-11-12T00:35:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > As a Michigan State alum, I have to go with the [2015 game-ending punt fumble by Michigan.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqv48MwEbaQ) That one had it all, last play of the game, big rivalry, improbable miscue and scoring a TD as time expires. I remember watching that with a bunch of Michigan fans. When it happened, we all just sorta looked on in shock and then went “Huh, alrighty then”. Because of that my spouse has taken up the mantra “It ain’t over until it’s over.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/53 "2019-11-12T01:15:35Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > For me the best part was the look on Harbaugh’s face. One Michigan fan got brief fame out of it- the student striking the “surrender cobra” pose just after the play on the coverage. Apparently in the weeks after the game, a ton of women wanted to pose with him as he did that pose. I hope he got some phone numbers and a few dates out of it. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/54 "2019-11-15T23:06:49Z")
The [Fumblerooski](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRgXCB_sQE) in the Orange Bowl has to be in contention ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/55 "2019-11-16T00:30:18Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > One Michigan fan got brief fame out of it- the student striking the “surrender cobra” pose just after the play on the coverage. Apparently in the weeks after the game, a ton of women wanted to pose with him as he did that pose. I hope he got some phone numbers and a few dates out of it. Chris Baldwin was his name. [![](https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/surrender-cobra-3.gif) ](https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/surrender-cobra-3.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/56 "2019-11-16T07:10:36Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > This is not true. In any level of football, a game cannot end on a penalty against the **defense**. If, on the last play of the game, a defensive player commits a penalty (say, defensive pass interference in the end zone), the game continues and there is one untimed down. > > But if an offensive player would commit the same penalty (offensive pass interference), the game would be over, even if the offense scored a touchdown. The touchdown would not count. Flat-out incorrect. See post #39 for an accurate statement of NCAA rules with respect to an offensive penalty on the last play of the game. Note that offensive pass interference is not a loss-of-down penalty. It was at one time, but hasn’t been for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/57 "2019-11-16T12:39:40Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Thanks for mentioning that. Wow, that is some game: [Boise State Upsets Oklahoma: A Game to Remember](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWKULiNY-VE) > > And one of those moments you wouldn’t dare put in a movie script - the guy that made the last reception proposes to the head cheerleader during his post match interview. What made the Boise State-OU ending (and those last two plays) memorable was the fact that nobody had ever taken Boise St seriously as a football program; OU had won a championship under Bob Stoops in 2000 and they had competed for championships and conference championships in other years. And of course they were a powerhouse under Switzer in the 1980s. Boise St jumped out to an early lead but OU clawed back and eventually took the lead late in the 4th quarter on a pick 6. And at that time, it appeared that the game was sealed - until that amazing hook and ladder that absolutely nobody saw coming. And then the decision to go for two after scoring a potentially tying touchdown, and that play. It’s the best football play-calling and execution I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/58 "2019-11-16T12:41:32Z")
In case nobody’s mentioned it already, let’s not forget “the return” by Auburn against Alabama in the Iron Bowl, to deny Alabama a shot at the BCS title game in 2013. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqIBNX0CXDc) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/59 "2019-11-17T03:26:30Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Flat-out incorrect. See post #39 for an accurate statement of NCAA rules with respect to an offensive penalty on the last play of the game. > > Note that offensive pass interference is not a loss-of-down penalty. It was at one time, but hasn’t been for a long time. No, I am correct. I just [downloaded](https://operations.nfl.com/media/3831/2019-playing-rules.pdf) a copy of the NFL 2019 rule book. On page 15, Rule 4, Section 8: EXTENSION OF A PERIOD OR A HALF … ARTICLE 2. PERIOD EXTENDED. At the election of the opponent, a period may be extended for one untimed down, if any of the following occurs during a down during which time in the period expires: (a) **If there is a live-ball foul by the defensive team that is accepted, the offensive team may choose to extend the period by an untimed down after enforcement of the penalty.** If the first or third period is not so extended, any accepted penalty is enforced before the start of the succeeding period. (b) **If there is a foul by the offense, there shall be no extension of the period. If the foul occurs on the last play of the half, a score by the offense is not counted.** … Bolding mine. Pretty much what I said in Post #51. I haven’t looked, but I’m 99.99% certain that the NCAA rule book reads much the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201/60 "2019-11-17T03:44:58Z")
Actually, Freddy, we’re both right. And in this thread, you were more right than me. It appears that the NCAA and NFL rules differ. Here’s what the[NCAA rule book](http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/FR19.pdf) says: Extension of Periods ARTICLE 3. a. A period shall be extended for an untimed down if one or more of the following occurs during a down in which time expires (A.R. 3-2-3-I-VIII): 1. A penalty is accepted for a live-ball foul(s) (Exception: Rule 10-2-5-a). **The period is not extended if the foul is by the team in possession and the statement of the penalty includes loss of down** (A.R. 3-2-3-VIII). 2. There are offsetting fouls. 3. An official sounds his whistle inadvertently or otherwise incorrectly signals the ball dead. b. Additional untimed downs will be played until a down is free of the circumstances in statements 1, 2 and 3 of Rule 3-2-3-a (above). c. If a touchdown is scored during a down in which time in a period expires, the period is extended for the try (Exception: Rule 8-3-2-a). The bolding is exactly as you said in the college game. My apologies to Don and you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cal-stanfords-the-play-the-greatest-play-in-college-football-history/843201.md?page=4)