(EDITOR’S NOTE

: A series by Times News writer Rich Strack will recall his favorite moments in sports history. Throughout the upcoming weeks, Strack will offer his thoughts about different sports. College football is today’s topic)

BY RICK STRACK

tnsports@tnonline.com

In this difficult time of a health crisis, the matter of sports competition that brings so much recreational joy to millions of Americans has been rightfully postponed.

Every level from the professional and college ranks down to high school spring sports will have empty stadiums, ball fields, and running tracks for the foreseeable future.

If you’re a sports fan like me, sports may not be live for a while, but from many years of devotion to athletic competition, some of the greatest events continue to play on in my memory rewind.

So sit back and let me distract you from public concerns for just a moment with Part Seven of a series of the greatest games and events that will remain forever in my personal Hall of Fame. Today I give you the best college football games of my lifetime.

Nov. 20, 1982

Stanford vs California

This game was the last to be played of the regular season between two teams whose rivalry spanned 85 years. The game had huge implications for Stanford. At 5-5, a victory would make the Cardinal bowl-eligible.

With many bowl scouts in attendance and a packed Golden Bears’ stadium, the game became one of college football’s best ever, ending with a kickoff return that is remembered as, “The Play.”

With Cal leading 19-17 and time running out, Stanford faced a fourth-and-17 from its own 13-yard line. Quarterback John Elway completed a 29-yard pass and moved his team down the field where it eventually kicked a field goal with just 04 remaining.

Stanford’s celebration after the field goal cost it a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty that was assessed on the kickoff, placing the ball on its own 25-yard line.

What followed would be arguably the most exciting play in football history. Upon the kickoff, California had only 10 men on the field which was legal. Stanford, however lined up 12 players and as the play commenced, penalty flags were thrown.

The ball was kicked to Kevin Moen at the Cal 45 yard line. About to be tackled, he lateraled to Richard Rogers, who ran for one yard and then lateraled to Dwight Garner, who gained five yards before he lateraled back to Rogers. Believing Rogers’ knee was down from being tackled, the Stanford bench ran onto the field and its band marched into the end zone in celebration.

But the play continued.

Now at the Stanford 45, Rogers, surrounded by a group of his teammates, pitched the ball to Mariet Ford. At this time all 144 members of the Stanford band were in the end zone that Ford was trying to reach. At the Cardinal 27, Ford blindly tossed the ball over his shoulder as he was grabbed by two defenders. Meanwhile, several Stanford cheerleaders, assorted spectators, and many Cardinal players had wandered onto the field as the play moved forward.

Moen caught Ford’s lateral and ran across the goal line, through the band, and knocked over a trombone player. No touchdown was signaled. Stanford’s coaching staff argued that Garner’s knee had touched the ground and that Ford’s toss over his shoulder was not a legal lateral.

Referee Charles Moffett, who would later say that by rule he would have had to award a Cal TD because of interference from everyone on the field, found that no whistle was blown so he signaled a Golden Bear score and victory.

Stanford lost their bowl bid and John Elway still whines today that his last game as a Cardinal was a victory stolen away by a terrible no-call on “The Play.”

Nov. 23, 1984

Boston College vs Miami

Boston College, ranked 10th in the nation with a 7-2 record, was facing defending national champion Miami, ranked 12th in the nation with an 8-3 record.

Eagles quarterback Doug Flutie, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner, directed BC to an early 14-0 lead, but his counterpart, Bernie Kosar, rallied Miami to tie the game.

The two teams went back and forth trading scores in an offensive display that would total 92 points when it was finally over. Kosar threw for 447 yards and two touchdowns while Flutie passed for 472 yards and three TDs.

With three minutes to go, the Eagles led 41-38, but then with less than a minute remaining, the Hurricanes scored.

Down by four points with 28 seconds left, BC had the ball on its own 20-yard line. Flutie completed three short passes and with six seconds remaining, had time for one last play from the Miami 48.

In the huddle, the play call was “55 Flood Tip.” The receivers were running vertical routes into the end zone and would try to tip the ball for a teammate to grab. Flutie took the snap. He narrowly avoided a sack and dropped all the way back to his own 37 yard line. After already throwing 45 passes in the game and facing 30 mph winds, the 5-10 quarterback threw the ball 63 yards into the end zone. The Hurricane defensive backs had doubted Flutie could throw the ball that far so they were jammed up at the goal line while wide receiver Gerard Phelan got behind them and the ball floated into his hands for the winning TD. The game has since been referred to as “Hail Flutie.”

Nov. 24, 2018

LSU vs Texas A&M

This game began at 6:30 p.m. CST and after 146 points and 1,017 total yards, the game ended at 11:30 p.m. There were 10 lead changes, 64 first downs and remarkably only four penalties over the five hours.

The winning score was a two-point conversion in the seventh overtime.

The highest scoring game and one of the longest overtime games in NCAA history, LSU and Texas A&M showcased virtually unstoppable offenses. The Tigers were quarterbacked by current National Champion Joe Burrow. while the Aggies featured QB Kellen Mond, who would throw six touchdown passes in the game.

LSU had a TD lead and as the clocked ticked off the final seconds, the players dumped the Gatorade bucket on top of Coach Ed Oregeron. But Mond threw a 19- yard TD pass with no time left and the Aggies had tied the score, 31-31, setting up the overtimes in which the teams would score 14 more times.

Each overtime was incredibly dramatic. Field goals were matched by field goals and touchdowns were matched by touchdowns. Great leaping and diving catches by receivers were made by both teams, especially on do-or-die two-point conversions because PAT attempts were not allowed after the second OT.

In the sixth OT, LSU was eight points down when Burrow tied the score at 66-66 on a four-yard TD run and a two-point pass.

In the seventh OT, Burrow ran for a 10-yard TD, but his two-point conversion pass fell incomplete. With the Tigers ahead 72-66, Mond was put to the test and he delivered, throwing a 17-yard TD strike. He then scrambled to find a receiver in the back of the end zone for the conversion and a 74-72 Aggie win.

Final Thoughts

College football games are often won by players who are not nationally known stars, or by those who aren’t the prototypes at the position they play.

Although California’s win against Stanford had notable players like John Elway, and Bears defensive end and current NFL coach Ron Rivera, the game was won by players by the names of Moen, Rogers, Garner, and Ford with five laterals on one play.

Flutie was told he was too small to play quarterback, but he went on to win a Heisman trophy and on one late November day, threw a football 63 yards against the wind for a thrilling last-play touchdown.

It took five hours and seven OTs, but Aggie QB Mond out-dueled eventual Heisman winner and All-American Burrow.

In life, like in sports, we can get caught inside of a sudden moment in time when we “bring the crowd to their feet.”

And in those instances, we often surprise ourselves as much as we do them.