Will It Be Payback Time For the 1982 The Play at The Big Game on November 23, 2024 at 12:30 P.M.

 

Payback for The Play 1982 Big Game

In years past the Big Game in some years has become just another game

Either one or both teams have non-winning records so a win will not add to their fame or a loss condemnation further add or tame

This year Stanford goes to the Big Game 3-7 and Cal 5-5

After losing to Syracuse 33-25 needing 1 more win to keep a bowl appearance dream alive

Back in 1982 Stanford with Elway who had never in a bowl game played

Needed a win to clinch a Hall of Fame Bowl invite whose representatives were in the Cal Stadium that day

Cal was leading Stanford late in the 4^th quarter but Elway was leading the Cardinal into field goal range

With 8 seconds left Stanford kicked a field goal with 4 seconds left causing the Stanford Band, fans and players an over exuberant celebration to stage

Moving the kickoff 15 yards further back

Making it impossible to kick it out of the endzone for a touchback

A squib  kick that was handled then the first of 5 laterals began

Cal players were tackled but lateraled “before” they hit the ground as the ball advanced toward the Stanford Band

To this day Stanford alums believe the laterals were forward or after a Cal player hit the ground

But all the instant replay slow motion video cams they have today were not to found

Fearing a riot if the TD call was reversed the refs let it stand

So The Play became and will remain forever as the greatest football play of all time in this land

But in this Saturday’s Big Game Cal will face a well-deserved pay back

Defeating Cal will almost certainly remove them from the Bowl game track

Not a chance they will beat the Mustangs of SMU

So their football season like Stanford’s will be through

Cardinal fans cheering the adage the wheels of justice may move slowly but they move

As an upset win by Stanford this Saturday will without doubt prove

Join us in Yorba Linda at 12:30 P.M. at the Lone Wolf Brewing Company 18210 Yorba Linda Boulevard

As Stanford wins its second game in a row removing the long lasting pain of the Play from the Card

© 11/18/2024 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet