The Immaculate Reception-30 years later

Great Debates
1

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, perhaps the most controversial play in NFL history.

It breaks down like this. Terry Bradshaw passed the ball to Frenchy Fuqua with only ten or so seconds left in the game, with the Raiders up 7-6. At the moment the ball arrived, “The Assassin”, Jack Tatum, hit Fuqua. The deflection went into the hands of Franco Harris, who ran it 60 yards for a touchdown to win the game for the Steelers.

The rules at that point in the NFL declared that another offensive player could not touch the ball unless it was first touched by a defensive player. Tatum to this day maintains he never touched the ball, and Fuqua won’t tell.

So, I leave it to you guys. Did Jack Tatum touch the ball, or not? Should the Steelers have won the game? And how dramatically has the world changed since that day as a result?

OK, OK, that last part was a joke. Anyway, discuss.

Also, if you’ve never seen it before, here’s a link to some video (RealPlayer needed), although if you’ve never seen it before, you’ve never watched football, I think.

2

Better minds than me, and John Madden, have pondered this question, so I have little to add, except to say that little probably would have changed. We still would have kicked ass and cared little for taking names for the rest of the 70’s. I think that the interesting thing for me is how great boards such as these are for finding common ground with people whom you disagree with so vehemently on a multitude of other issues. I’m only on a high because of the whuppin we just laid on Tampa Bay (Warren who?) so I’ll disavow this later, but, I love you, man!

Too bad murderin’ Ray won’t be around to enjoy next week.