# NFL game in the 60's or 70's where team was forced to use fans because of injuries? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 6, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422 "2018-07-06T20:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/21 "2018-07-10T18:04:18Z")
It seems to me like, even aside from the submitted roster issue, football would be the least likely sport for this to happen in. Football teams are very large, and you only actually need 11 of them, and unlimited substitutions are allowed. Even if they somehow had so many injuries that they were literally down to only 11 able-bodied players, I’d think that a pro, even one tired out from the last play and playing the wrong position, would still do a better job than some rando from the stands who played in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/22 "2018-07-10T21:22:15Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > There was a movie about it, IIRC. [You do RC.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_(2006_film)) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/23 "2018-07-10T21:54:41Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > But I’ve looked at Wikipedia’s description of playoff games they lost to SF while Drew Pearson was playing, and didn’t see anything about it. > > So, if I guessed right on all of the above, maybe it will jog someone else’s memory. The Cowboys have only lost twice to the Niners twice in the playoffs; both of them epic NFC title games. One was the “The Catch” game where San Fran beat Dallas 28-27; the other was the 1994 NFC title game where San Fran beat Dallas 38-28. It would have been unconscionable in both games for the Cowboys to have left the field early. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/24 "2018-07-11T02:39:51Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > I seem to remember an NFL Pro Bowl game (the most useless game in sports unless it was college all stars vs NFL champions) around 1971 where, because of an injury during a game, they got a current player (Gary Larsen of the Minnesota Vikings) down from the stands to play. Which is the main reason why Alfredo Griffin [played in the 1984 All Star Game.](https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2011/7/3/2257569/1984-dave-stieb-damaso-garcia-and-afredo-griffin-blue-jay-all-star) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/25 "2018-07-11T07:41:20Z")
I recall the Simpsons doing a gag based on this once - Homer has bet on the Raiders based on a scam mailer he got, and when the actual game happens they have so many players injured that they conscript a gang of hobos from a local bar. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/26 "2018-07-11T11:29:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The Cowboys have only lost twice to the Niners twice in the playoffs; both of them epic NFC title games. One was the “The Catch” game where San Fran beat Dallas 28-27; the other was the 1994 NFC title game where San Fran beat Dallas 38-28. It would have been unconscionable in both games for the Cowboys to have left the field early. It certainly wasn’t “The Catch” game, because I was there, and the one I saw was on TV. It’s entirely possible that I’m wrong about it being a playoff game; maybe it was a game they needed to win to get into the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/27 "2018-07-12T07:52:25Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [You do RC.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_(2006_film)) Vince Papale actually played pro ball with the WFL Philadelphia Bell so he was hardly a “fan out of the stands” as the movie portrays. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/28 "2018-07-18T06:44:09Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I don’t remember, but I’d guess it wasn’t a blowout, or they wouldn’t have been disappointed enough to quit. So probably 10-20 points. I also think it may have been a playoff game, for the same reason. And since (if I’m remembering it right) they just had to run a play from scrimmage to finish the game, I’d guess that the previous play would have been an unsuccessful field goal attempt by their opponents. > > And since I was a big Niners fan in the 80’s and 90’s, and never missed watching their games, and since Dallas often met SF in the playoffs during those years, there’s a fair chance that it was the Niners that beat them. But I’ve looked at Wikipedia’s description of playoff games they lost to SF while Drew Pearson was playing, and didn’t see anything about it. > > So, if I guessed right on all of the above, maybe it will jog someone else’s memory. Cowboys versus Redskins, January 22, 1983. Washington won 31-17, not a blowout. Washington was leading and running out the last few seconds in Dallas territory, and they ran their fourth down play, and then, no matter how long they’ve been playing, players forget that the clock stops on a change of possession, and players from both teams started jogging off the field. They weren’t quitting, they just thought the game was over. But the clock had stopped with a few seconds left. Eventually the refs dragged enough people back to run a play, and Drew Pearson came out and ran a kneeldown. Not very exciting stuff, actually. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/29 "2018-07-18T20:19:32Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Cowboys versus Redskins, January 22, 1983. Washington won 31-17, not a blowout. Washington was leading and running out the last few seconds in Dallas territory, and they ran their fourth down play, and then, no matter how long they’ve been playing, players forget that the clock stops on a change of possession, and players from both teams started jogging off the field. They weren’t quitting, they just thought the game was over. But the clock had stopped with a few seconds left. > > Eventually the refs dragged enough people back to run a play, and Drew Pearson came out and ran a kneeldown. Not very exciting stuff, actually. Ah, thank you, that pretty much corresponds with what I dimly remembered. It was a playoff game, the game was out of reach for Dallas but not a blowout, and the game circumstances resulted in the need for the Dallas offense to run a play from scrimmage with just a few seconds left, without having been on the field for the previous play. And Drew Pearson took the final snap. I guessed wrong about the field goal and the opponent, but I’m going to give myself a B+ for getting that much right, especially remembering Pearson by name, when it’s been over 35 years since I’ve thought about it. But with my renewed confidence in my memory, I’ll push back a bit on your implication that it was just an innocent brain fart, or at least, no more than that. Yes, anybody can momentarily forget a rule, but if they do, they have coaches and refs there to remind them. My memory was that after some confusion, the (Skins) defense was on the field waiting for the Dallas offense to come out, but the announcers weren’t sure whether they would since they couldn’t possibly win, and that this situation lasted at least a minute or two. Eventually, as you say, they “dragged enough people back to run a play.” ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/30 "2018-07-18T21:19:05Z")
Not quite the same thing as the OP, but back in 1912 the Detroit went on strike (in support of Ty Cobb, who was suspended for beating up a heckler). Rather than forfeit the game, the management rounded up a bunch of amateur players and lost 24-2. [https://www.si.com/vault/1977/08/29/621959/ty-cobbs-anger-led-to-baseballs-first-strike-a-comedy-of-errors](https://www.si.com/vault/1977/08/29/621959/ty-cobbs-anger-led-to-baseballs-first-strike-a-comedy-of-errors) Which, when you think about it is pretty impressive. On the pitching and defense side of the ball, obviously a ridiculously poor performance, but scoring two runs is pretty respectable. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/31 "2018-07-18T21:38:53Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Not quite the same thing as the OP, but back in 1912 the Detroit went on strike (in support of Ty Cobb, _ **who was suspended for beating up a heckler** _). (My emphasis.) That is what is known as burying the lead. I’m getting a lot of pictures in my mind, and all of them are funny. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/32 "2018-07-18T21:45:04Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Ah, thank you, that pretty much corresponds with what I dimly remembered. It was a playoff game, the game was out of reach for Dallas but not a blowout, and the game circumstances resulted in the need for the Dallas offense to run a play from scrimmage with just a few seconds left, without having been on the field for the previous play. And Drew Pearson took the final snap. I guessed wrong about the field goal and the opponent, but I’m going to give myself a B+ for getting that much right, especially remembering Pearson by name, when it’s been over 35 years since I’ve thought about it. > > But with my renewed confidence in my memory, I’ll push back a bit on your implication that it was just an innocent brain fart, or at least, no more than that. Yes, anybody can momentarily forget a rule, but if they do, they have coaches and refs there to remind them. My memory was that after some confusion, the (Skins) defense was on the field waiting for the Dallas offense to come out, but the announcers weren’t sure whether they would since they couldn’t possibly win, and that this situation lasted at least a minute or two. Eventually, as you say, they “dragged enough people back to run a play.” Any day that the Skins beat the Cowboys is a good day. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/33 "2018-07-19T02:35:55Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > My memory was that after some confusion, the (Skins) defense was on the field waiting for the Dallas offense to come out, but the announcers weren’t sure whether they would since they couldn’t possibly win, and that this situation lasted at least a minute or two. Eventually, as you say, they “dragged enough people back to run a play.” That sounds about right. I don’t doubt that grumpiness played a part. Rather like the often-seen situation where teams have to be “dragged back onto the field” for meaningless PAT attempts after time expired, which requirement I see has been mercifully eliminated for the 2018 season. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/34 "2018-07-20T15:02:49Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Vince Papale actually played pro ball with the WFL Philadelphia Bell so he was hardly a “fan out of the stands” as the movie portrays. > > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk It’s been a while since I saw _Invincible_, but I believe the movie did make it clear that Papale had had some experience playing ball at a fairly high level. That was the impression that I had, that he’d taken a shot at pro ball,and just didn’t make it. Of course, “random Eagles fan tries out for, makes the team” is a better story, so I may be misremembering. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422/35 "2018-07-21T20:34:34Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > It’s been a while since I saw _Invincible_, but I believe the movie did make it clear that Papale had had some experience playing ball at a fairly high level. That was the impression that I had, that he’d taken a shot at pro ball,and just didn’t make it. Of course, “random Eagles fan tries out for, makes the team” is a better story, so I may be misremembering. I saw the movie about ten years ago on TV while I was doing something else, so don’t quote me on this, but I thought it just showed him playing football with friends from the bar, where he was clearly the best player among them. Googling just now for his actual record, I see he got a private workout from the Eagles based on his WFL performance. That DEFINITELY was not in the movie. In the movie, he was at some kind of publicity stunt open tryout with a bunch of mokes, and impressed the coaches enough with his 40-yard dash that he was given a chance to make the team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-game-in-the-60s-or-70s-where-team-was-forced-to-use-fans-because-of-injuries/817422.md?page=1)