Former Steelers Franco Harris and Frenchy Fuqua will talk on the phone at some point today. It’s something they do every year on Dec. 23. It happens without fail, because today is special for them. It’s the anniversary of not just one of the greatest moments in their football lives, but one of the greatest plays in the history of the NFL.
Today is the 43rd anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, a play that changed the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Let’s just set the stage for that day back in 1972. Three Rivers Stadium, AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. the Oakland Raiders. Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler had run 30 yards for a touchdown that gave his team a 7-6 lead with just 1:17 to play. Soon afterward, quarterback Terry Bradshaw and the rest of the Steelers offense were looking at a fourth-and-10 from the 40-yard line with just 22 seconds remaining. Desperately searching for the team’s first ever playoff, it didn’t look promising. But they never gave up. While under pressure Bradshaw through the ball in the direction of Fuqua and as it arrived he collided with Raiders safety Jack Tatum, and the ball ricocheted back and Harris miraculously scooped it out of the air and took off running for a 60-yard touchdown reception that gave the Steelers the 13-7 win and a wild celebration ensued.
“I don’t think the fans knew what happened,” said Fuqua, who was knocked to the ground after the collision. “Everyone I spoke to after I got up off the ground said what happened, what happened. Someone said it’s a miracle. Then we had to go through that long, long wait when the referees went in there to look at replay and it seemed like an eternity.”
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vasteeler
Posts : 4193 Join date : 2011-04-06 Location : richmond va
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:15 am
That makes me feel old
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El-Gonzo Jackson
Posts : 1826 Join date : 2015-04-18
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:57 am
Man I need to see that on Alcoa Fantastic Finishes !
Vis
Posts : 1946 Join date : 2015-04-06 Location : South Kakalaki
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:58 am
vasteeler wrote:
That makes me feel old
You were the guy who runs on the field in that clip, right?
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vasteeler
Posts : 4193 Join date : 2011-04-06 Location : richmond va
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 11:11 am
Vis wrote:
vasteeler wrote:
That makes me feel old
You were the guy who runs on the field in that clip, right?
not that old
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"Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead." - Butch
effyou515
Posts : 5165 Join date : 2011-09-28 Location : from upper Ohio Valley to Conyers Ga.
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:01 pm
LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1643 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:52 pm
My all time favorite Steelers play. I couldn't see it then but I've watched it probably 300x.
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FrancoLambert
Posts : 763 Join date : 2015-05-02 Location : Tony Soprano's neighborhood
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:56 pm
The play that launched the Steelers to all time greatness.
WVABE
Posts : 246 Join date : 2015-04-15 Location : Deep in a holler of WV
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:32 pm
Subject: Re: Happy Immaculate Reception Day Wed Dec 23, 2015 11:25 pm
El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:
Man I need to see that on Alcoa Fantastic Finishes !
ha..wow ...bringing back some memories..i still remember the jingle "we cant wait..we cant wait for tomorrow...Alcoa cant wait!".."Alcoa presents fantastic finishes"....good stuff
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not that old
ha..wow ...bringing back some memories..i still remember the jingle "we cant wait..we cant wait for tomorrow...Alcoa cant wait!".."Alcoa presents fantastic finishes"....good stuff