I have no idea if this view of the Immaculate Reception is well known, or if as the tweet suggests, is not known to many.
Enjoy
Enjoy
Steeler Fans Should Enjoy This
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
I have mentioned before that I was at that game. My family had Steeler season tickets back then. We sat right behind Don Cannon, the former WTAE news anchor. The seats were in the upper deck but only a few rows up. The view was terrific.
Place had to be electric when he scooped and scored.
I was at the game too. Most exciting and electrifying play I was ever lucky enough to witness.
I’m not sure if I’ve seen this exact view before, so thanks for posting. I do know that I’ve seen some view like this because it always cracks me up that a Raiders DB started celebrating too soon — and if he hadn’t, he easily would have been able to tackle Franco.
I hope this view puts to rest the more-recently invented “controversy” over whether Franco caught the ball before it hit the ground. Once upon a time NFL Films had a direct view of him from the far end zone catching the ball a foot or so above ground, but apparently that film has disappeared. For about thirty years the only controversy was whether Fuqua or Tatum touched the ball, but somehow “the ball hit the ground” myth has been added to the mix.
I’m not sure if I’ve seen this exact view before, so thanks for posting. I do know that I’ve seen some view like this because it always cracks me up that a Raiders DB started celebrating too soon — and if he hadn’t, he easily would have been able to tackle Franco.
I hope this view puts to rest the more-recently invented “controversy” over whether Franco caught the ball before it hit the ground. Once upon a time NFL Films had a direct view of him from the far end zone catching the ball a foot or so above ground, but apparently that film has disappeared. For about thirty years the only controversy was whether Fuqua or Tatum touched the ball, but somehow “the ball hit the ground” myth has been added to the mix.
I was also at the game. Was gifted a ticket the night before.
I'll add that less than half of the crowd was left when it happened.
I'll add that less than half of the crowd was left when it happened.
My parents were there too. I hope my mom didn't freak out too bad. Soon after they decided to move to Harrisburg to ensure that the only thing this exciting to happen around my family would be a partial nuclear meltdown. Good times.
They were good seats if you like to sit up high. Perhaps he did. I didn't go to every home game but he was in those seats every time I was there.
It was. Because we had both Pirate and Steeler season tickets for many years my Dad (now passed) saw both the Immaculate Reception and the Mazeroski home run. My Mom was also there for Maz.
Jimmy Warren was the DB who started celebrating and ended up being the final Raider to have a shot at Franco along the sideline.
I was at the game, sitting in the upper deck in "center field", watching the whole play develop in front of me. The main thing I remember from the moment was screaming like crazy for Franco to get out of bounds so Gerela could kick a field goal. The Steelers had no time outs and if Franco got tackled in bounds, the game would have been over. As the clip shows, he almost got tackled at the 10 yard line.
I was at the game. I bought tickets that week. I got 4 tickets. We sat in the end zone behind Bradshaw. We were in a concrete "window" where the Management had set up temp blechers. Not good seats. We saw Terry throw the ball but were not sure what happened after that. The stadium staring cheering so we know somehting good had happened. There were no screens for replays in the stadium so we had to wait until we got home to see what had happened.
Nice. Old school projector. People seeing it now are like “what is that noise” lol.
I’ve never seen that angle very nice!!
I’ve never seen that angle very nice!!
…no matter how you look at it…The Steelers lost the next game to the Dolphins. All they did was extend the inevitable one more week.
So there’s that
So there’s that
That was my first Steeler Game. My cousin and I stood in line all-night to get 4 tickets. We were 4th in line., and offered money to buy a ticket, only allowed 2 per person. I call this game part of the sports daily double in Pittsburg for I also saw the game for hit 3000 for Roberto in September
Thank you for sharing this…I hadn’t seen this footage before. Amazing how all these years later and it’s still one of the most famous plays in US sports history. I was just a baby when this happened, but my parents assured me that I did in fact witness it on TV.
That was nice.
During the Covid sports lockdowns, Philly WIP Saturday morning hosts Didinger and Macnow started a feature called “Tell Us Your Story”, an hour long recorded radio interview with former players, announcers, etc., and Franco was a guest. When he was asked about the play, he said that one of the things Joe always said, when your not the ball carrier, was run to the ball. You could throw a block or recover a fumble. That’s how he got into position to make the most famous play in football.
When I heard that, I thought it was another little detail that made Joe a great coach. Little things add up.
During the Covid sports lockdowns, Philly WIP Saturday morning hosts Didinger and Macnow started a feature called “Tell Us Your Story”, an hour long recorded radio interview with former players, announcers, etc., and Franco was a guest. When he was asked about the play, he said that one of the things Joe always said, when your not the ball carrier, was run to the ball. You could throw a block or recover a fumble. That’s how he got into position to make the most famous play in football.
When I heard that, I thought it was another little detail that made Joe a great coach. Little things add up.
...Yep. on a fake punt. But the Immaculate Reception was the beginning of the Steeler dominance in the 70's.
So there's that.
...which still had to wait to get started.....because it didn't really start it,....but a lucky play is what Yinzers cling to, as opposed to sound coaching....so there's that....
Ah.....I believe they cling to 4 Superbowl wins in the 70s....lol.
Considering that play marked the first postseason win for a team that went on to become one of the greatest ever, it is largely considered the start of the dynasty. It was a stepping stone towards greatness. Also, Chuck Noll was far better than just a “sound” couch. Considering his dynasty was almost entirely organic (mostly drafted, maybe a trade or 2 - no FA in those days), I’d argue he’s on the Mt. Rushmore of pro coaches.
Nice. Way to turn a positive into a negative. I bet all players would rather lose than win.
Years afterward I saw an interview with Raiders LB Phil Villapiano. He said if Franco wasn't so lazy, he never would have caught the ball. It was his claim that Franco gave up and was making a lazy jog downfield which put him in position to make the play. Villapiano lined up to the outside of the left DE. Franco initially stayed in to block as Villapiano sort of danced around in no man's land as Bradshaw scrambled. Franco broke downfield in a full sprint and Villapiano followed in coverage. The pass sailed over Franco's head and he slowed slightly as anyone would after they realize they're not being targeted. Villipiano also said if he had been as lazy as Franco, he would have intercepted the ball.
The video shows none of that to be true. Franco wasn't jogging and the carom went nowhere near Villapiano.
The video shows none of that to be true. Franco wasn't jogging and the carom went nowhere near Villapiano.
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The whining by the Raiders, which continues to this day, only makes the memory sweeter.
First off, nobody beat the Dolphins that year, as that was their perfect season. So trying to denigrate the start of a dynasty by pointing to the loss to the Dolphins in the AFC Championship is a weak starting point.
Second, in a quirk in the weather that seemed to indicate destiny was on the Dolphins’ side, the game time time temperature on December 31 in Pittsburgh was 67 degrees! It would have been nice to play the Florida team in real winter weather.
Third, the Steelers had a 7-0 lead and were in control of the game when Bradshaw got hurt first quarter. They played most of the game with Terry Hanratty at QB. By the time Bradshaw came back in the Steelers were down 21-10, and ultimately they lost 21-17.
I’ll take the Immaculate Reception and four Super Bowls in six years while in my teens and early 20s, along with two PSU national titles and the 79 World Series. Gee, who knows how many Super Bowls they could have won if only they had “sound coaching.”
Not just the whining , but the made up stories that they created and NFL films allows them to tell them Pure garbage by NFL films
It is a little higher than the what is shown on NFL films so where did that come from ? Very interesting
As I stated before the Raiders made up a lot of stories and their own version of what went down and NFL films allows them to do it
Don’t take Ro’s comments to heart. Our lovable curmudgeon is just stirring the pot.
It’s an all-time play by a pupil of Joe, and it was a stepping stone for a long suffering franchise.
So who does he root for? Which team with less Superbowls can I take a dump on next time he's enjoying a pleasant conversation?
Really what the **** bro horrible take, that said as a eagles fan the immaculate reception was fantastic and always will be
At that time there was no seeding. There was a set annual rotation for who would host a given playoff game.
Not only that, I believe the game was not broadcast in the local market, which is really bizarre.
I am wondering If that view is from the crows nest that high above the stadium , where the Steelers film guy used to be ?
Exactly right. I was at the Immaculate Reception game. The next week I was huddled by the radio listening to the AFCC game. Crazy.
I was in that line too, only I was a lot further back as I didn't get there till mid-morning the day they went on sale. I bought 2 for the Raiders game and 2 for the AFC championship. It's funny to think about it with today's inflated ticket prices, but I think the total cost was less than $50 for all 4.
As for the 3,000 hit game, I went to the game on Friday night and Sunday afternoon, but couldn't find anyone to go with on Saturday. I listened to the game on the radio and while most Pirate fans were celebrating, it just killed me that he got the hit on the day I couldn't find anyone to go!
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