Doug Flutie scrambled out of pressure before launching the game-winning pass against the University of Miami.
Hard to believe that it has been 25 years since Doug Flutie captivated the sports world with a special performance that culminated in one of the most memorable endings in sports history.
In a nationally televised game on CBS the day after Thanksgiving, Flutie solidified his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy by dueling with Bernie Kosar throughout the high-scoring affair.
However, in the final seconds it appeared that Kosar and the defending national champion University of Miami would edge Flutie’s Boston College squad.
With just enough time for one final play and with the ball sitting on Miami’s 48-yard line, Flutie rolled out to his right and launched the ball from his own 36-yard line (64-yards from the end zone) into the waiting arms of receiver Gerard Phelan.
The “Hail Mary” gave BC a shocking 47-45 victory and made Flutie a household name. He went on to receive the 1984 Heisman Trophy.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of this amazing moment in sports, below is a YouTube video recapping the game and Flutie’s amazing pass.
This week will be the first opportunity for Boston College to make a statement in the
Mark Herzlich will be cheering on his teammates from the sidelines when BC takes on Clemson.
ACC, let’s hope it is a good one. Boston College will take on Clemson on their home turf for their third game of the year. I know what you’re thinking, “But you said first game of the year”. The first two games of BC’s season were more like practice games in my opinion cause their opponents were not that “high caliber” of a college team. First game of the year they took on fellow Boston team Northeastern and won 54-0 which was followed up with a 34-7 victory vs. Kent State. With two huge victories in the first two games BC still isn’t on the college football radar since the teams they played aren’t very convincing in the least.
This Saturday, September 19, head coach Frank Spaziani will take his BC Eagles into enemy territory for a noon time battle in which Clemson is favored by 7.
BC will try to ride their 2 headed monster QB tandem Justin Tuggle and Dave Shinskie to try and upset the Tigers on their home turf. This game looks to be a big offensive battle, one which new “head cheerleader” Mark Herzlich will definitely be there for. Herzlich is the BC Linebacker who was diagnosed with cancer during the offseason and goes to all the BC games in between chemo therapy treatments. This weekend he will also get the pleasure to catch the Falcons game as well to watch former teammate and Falcons QB Matt Ryan.
We honor Steve Grogan as the Boston Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month. The former Patriots quarterback left it all on the field during his 16 year career. Grogan was playing the “Patriots Way” before Bill Belichick introduced it in 2000. He led by example and his teammates were always behind him.
Steve Grogan was drafted by Patriots coach Chuck Fairbanks in the fifth round of the 1975 draft out of Kansas State. He was one of the school’s all time passing and total offense leaders. Grogan not only beat you with his arm but he was exceptionally quick for a man standing at 6’4”.
The Patriots already had their franchise quarterback in place when he was drafted. Former Heisman Trophy winner, Jim Plunkett had been the Patriots starter for his first four years in the league. However, Coach Fairbanks was not afraid to make a move if a player was under-performing. It didn’t matter who he was.
Midway through the 1975 season, Grogan was given the reigns of the Patriots offense. He started the last seven games with only one victory to his credit. As a rookie, Grogan posted respectable numbers with 1976 yards with 11 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
He also added 110 yards on the ground with three rushing scores.
This would just be a sneak preview for things to come from the lanky quarterback out of K-State.
Set. 3, 1981 - The Red Sox and the Mariners play nineteen innings to a 7-7 tie. The game ends with the Mariners winning 8-7 in 20 innings when the suspended game is resumed the next day making it the longest game played in Fenway Park history.
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