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From: lovejoy71
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  • Yes I did see it! A MIRACLE!!!

  • The 2012 season will mark the 40th anniversary of this play - and the anger and passion will come out as if it happened in this year's playoffs.

  • STP43FAN1 What anger? Again, someone with a Remedial Reading issue. Funny, they recently showed with Full clarity, leaving not a shred of doubt, that very play on ESPN. Seems like you missed it. Oh wait, you know more than the professionals about this kind of thing. Maybe next time they air it, you should watch. How original would that be, huh? In the meantime, step in the cage with your mentally disturbed Pal, Planetcheck. LOL LOL. In the meantime, there is no argument till you watch the film

  • @garyb12001 OK.

    Don't believe me.

    It is like the old saying, "Seeing is believing".

    Seeing this DVD I made from the game back in 1972, I attended, will make your jaw drop.

    You can clearly see the ball hit the ground and bounce up right into his hands.

    It is amazing to watch!

  • Raiders have been cheated out of 3 superbowls...Immaculate Reception, Lytle Fumble and the Tuck Rule. The Raiders were the dominant team of the NFL in those seasons. They were hated then and are hated now. Right now, it is a different era...it will never be the same. We will never again see players giving it their all for the team and not for some deodorant contract. Unfortunate, really.

  • MitchORizzo Steelers record during the 1970's- 99 & 20. Whats that again about the Raiders being the most dominant??

  • @SteelerGold1 What about the 60's and 80's? Raiders have been the only team to go to the conference championship in every decade and to the Superbowl in every decade except the 90's. That is not me talking, it is the history books and the autumn wind...no disrespect to the Steelers.

  • Comment removed

  • @MitchORizzo ..And so the Steelers went to a conference championship in every year except the 60's and the Super Bowl in evreey decade, if January 1980 counts in your little twist on making the Raiders success look better than it is

  • Little if ever noted is this play was only possible because Tatum felt obliged to put one of his patented cheap shots to the head/neck on Fuqua, causing the ball to go flailing into the air such as it did and the rest is history. If he had simply put a clean, hard tackle on Fuqua, the Raiders would have won. By the way Tatum died this year. Too bad.

  • Steelers vs Raiders in the 70's: NOW that was a rivalry

  • It's all physics people. Frenchy Fuqua whose running sideways across the field couldn't possibly encounter a ball heading down field, have it hit him & then bounce back toward the line of scrimmage. Ok maybe it could happen but it would be 1 in a billion!

  • Right, the ball hit the ground ???...just like we didn't land on the moon, 2 shooters in the JFK murder, Elvis faked his own death. Bottom line, we all know it's Bush's fault the Raiders lost the game.

  • This is one game that definitely should be released in full by the NFL so football fans can watch the whole game!

  • @jeffee50 I was only 3 years old when this game was played, but all the men in my family watched it. They said that the last two minutes of the game is all that is really memorable, unless you are big on defense.

  • It is the divisional round of the playoffs and the winner is the divisional champ, just like the the winner of the conference championship is the conference champ. At that time there were only two playoff games, the divisional game and the conference championship game.

  • It's funny that this commercial film starts out stating that the Steelers were playing the Raiders for the division title. Wrong, The Steelers and Raiders were in different divisions. This game was for the conference title as in AFC Conference. You would think that they would have caught that before releasing this film.

  • We're from the town with the Super Bowl team...we are the Pittsburgh Steelers!!!

  • I have a film from that game that was filmed on the sidelines and it shows the ball bouncing off the ground and Franco catching it in his hands.

    If I release it to the world, it would prove the Steelers touchdown was no good.

    Should I release it?

  • @planetcheck

    If you don't want to look like you're talking out of your ass, yeah, you should.

  • @planetcheck I am officially calling you out. You mean to tell me that you have archival footage of the Immaculate Reception that has never been released? Right, I bet its right next to your treasure map, key to Atlantis, and the Holy Grail.

  • @ruff3651 Yep. I have it on film and DVD. The ball bounced off the ground and Harris caught it on the rebound. I was at the game and filmed it. I have transfered it from film onto DVD disc. I watched it today again. The ball bounces onto the ground and goes right up into Harris' hands. It is clear and vivid. If I released the DVD to the world, Harris would no longer be a hero. The Raider-Steelers rivalry must continue. I am not going to pop the balloon.
  • @planetcheck No no no, you do not get off that easy. I want to see it.

  • @ruff3651 So you want me to release the DVD and destroy the legacy of Franco Harris and the 1972 Pittsburg Steelers?

    Is that want you want?

    History must continue as it was written.

    Franco Harris caught the ball and ran for a touchdown and won the game.

    For me to change history and release the DVD would not be right.

    Only I and a few friends have seen my film and know the true history of that game.

    That true history must never be shown to the world.

    Never!

  • @planetcheck No, I am not saying I want any of that to happen. I just want you to make good on your threats, or admit you don't have this mystery DVD.

  • planetcheck. You my Primate friend are full of Shit. My Father Coached Offensive Line for the Steelers from 1967 through 1979. He had a Clear view of the play. The Ball Bounced off of Tatums left shoulder, & Franco scooped it no more than 2 inches from the ground. You can clearly see the space between Ball & Ground. My Father was NEVER known to Lie. They wore that badge of honor proudly back then. Besides, both Fuqua and Franco told Dad it was a clean play. Play your DVD or STFU. Well?

  • @SteelerGold1 If I were to release it, legends that were made that day would no longer be legends.

    They would just be players that didn't tell the whole story on that day.

    No. the dvd must never be released to the world.

    History would be changed.

    It must remain locked up forever.

    The Steelers victory must continue on as history recorded it, although not recorded accurately.

  • planetcheck Well then, if you have a DVD showing the proper angles, then you would know what i said in my previous post is True. My father was right on top of the play. I was sitting on the Steeler bench using 20X50 Binoculars and viewed it like i was 5 to 10 feet away. We know 100% what took place. If you deny this, i would say your just trying to keep the controversy going.

  • @SteelerGold1 The ball bounced off the ground.

    My dvd shows it clearly.

    I understand the truth hurts but the dvd does not lie.

    It does not get emotional or roots for either team.

    It is just a recorded video history of that famous play.

    Let us leave it at that.

  • planetcheck The ONLY way your going to Prove that is to show the Video. How convienient it must be to hide behind the auspiciousness of protecting history. LOL. You are as OBVIOUS as a 2 yr old with his hand caught in the cookie jar. Let me see now, are you more believable Stating what ANYONE could say by stating you have a DVD showing it hit the ground, or the word of someone who was there and viewed it up close and personal, not to speak of the fact my Father was OL line coach?? LOL. CAUGHT!

  • planetLiar. 2 Months ago, ESPN & the NFL Channel showed a never before seen Video clip of the Immaculate Reception. In this video, it clearly shows entire ground surrounding the play. It shows Franco catching the ball a full 2 inches above ground. On that alone, YOU LOSE! The only ones who are gullible enough to buy your line of Lying shit, are those who WANT & NEED to believe what you claim. Everyone else knows you have an Agenda. You wont show this so called Video because it doesnt Exist.

  • planetcheck I challenge you to call the offices of ESPN & ask if the video i described was aired in the last 2 months or so. While your at it, ask what undeniable conclusion they came to. Let me know when you do this & whom you talked with, or you may continue to HUMILIATE yourself. I have 5,000 i can put a secure escrow account, that you have no such Video, or at least not one showing what you claim. Theres an easy 5k if you are right, which your NOT! GAME- SET- MATCH, pal. WELL? LMFAO at you!

  • planetLIAR Either your 12 yr old Idiot, or you failed Remedial reading. In my previous post i stated ESPN Aired a film showing without question the ball DID NOT hit the ground. Shows it clear as a bell. I even told you to call ESPN's home office and ask them about the video. If you say otherwise, its incumbent on YOU to show yours. Short of that, you are just another JEALOUS Joe Blow that enjoys making things up. For instance, i could say i I have a Tape of your Sister doing the Nasty SAME THING

  • @SteelerGold1 You are looking at a film that was probably manipulated to make it look like the ball did not touch the ground.

    My film is a true film that has not been retouched or manipulated by any means.

    It clearly shows the ball bouncing off the ground.

    I know the truth hurts but the truth is the truth.

    The Steelers season should have ended on that play when the ball hit the ground.

    There can be no further argument on these true facts as history recorded them on film.

  • @planetcheck I'm starting to wonder if you have all your Metal Faculties. Either that or i'm reading the musings of a 12 yr old. Since Remedial Reading is not your strong suit, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION as i repeat what you OBVIOUSLY missed. Ready? ESPN HAS A FILM IN THEIR POSSESSION SHOWING THE ENTIRE FIELD AROUND FRANCO. THE FILM WHICH AIRED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO DISTINCTLY SHOWED FRANCO CAUGHT THE BALL A FULL 2 PLUS INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. I think i'll go with ESPN on this one, MR. AGENDA. YOU LOSE!

  • planetchec If you doubt what i say, call ESPN's home office and ask about the film they aired. Either that, or show what you have without the Bull Shit. Short of that, you've just been Humiliated for the game player you are. Anything further you have on the subject is totally Devoid of Credence. From this point on, i will simply laugh at you, much like the 12 PM's I received about you. Not one positive. Prove it or STFU. LOL.

    GAME- SET- MATCH. PS: Dont forget to call ESPN's home office. LMFAO

  • @SteelerGold1 The film and dvd are locked up in a bank vault and will not be released to the public until the year 2072.

    100 years after the game took place.

    By then all those that played in the game will have passed on.

    So there will be no embarrassment or shame on their part as to why they did not reveal the truth so many years ago.

    There is no other way.

    In 2072, history will be rewritten on this controversial game.

    And a new winner will most likely be declared in the year 2072.

  • planetcheck So Mr. DELUSIONAL conjures up yet another LIE!. Maybe its best you ask your Doctor to increase your Lithium as its Obvious you suffer with Multiple Personality disorder. Actually, i'm seriously wondering if you've been writing all this from a Mental Institution. So they will release what really took place in 2072 Huh. LOL. So you would rather wait until you have long passed away before its reveled eh? LMFAO Really? Course you do know by now, everyone reading this knows your a Wacko?

  • planetcheck. Upon further review, my latest response to all your Made up LIES should be- ROTFLMAO!!!

    OHBwahahahahahahahahahahahaBwa­hahahahahahahahahahahaBwahahah­ahaahahahahahahahaha

    ROTFLMAO!!! OHBwahahahahahahahahahahahaBwa­hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha­hahahahaha

    BwahahahahahahahahahahBwahahah­ahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha­hahahahahahahahahaha

    2072 Huh?? LOL LOL. Your Dad must have really Beat the hell out of you when you were a young Primate.

    LMFAO! 2072 huh? ROTFLMFAO!

  • ....or as I like to call it...."THE INCOMPLETE DECEPTION"

  • hahahaha good one :-)

  • @ytownteddy

    Correct, a lot of people say the ball touched the ground.

  • Whos the narrator? Because he is very underrated in my book

  • @GiveADogABohnel5 John Facenda, aka "The Voice of God"

  • I thought I remembered that voice...

  • @giveadogabone, Well, your book really isn't very good.

  • If the guy's nickname is "the voice of god", then you're probably the only guy who doesn't like him.

  • @Give a Dog a Bohne: Nice reasoning, ass.  My nickname is "Tobias The Truth Teller," which means (by your logic) I must hold the truth and tell it like it is: you're an idiot. So let it be written.

  • Ok, buddy you don't have to go crazy. Have your own opinion, nobody is stopping u. That doesn't mean I have to agree, though.

  • @GiveADogABohnel5 ...that's NOT John Facenda's voice....his was alot deeper and drawn out. I have no idea who that is doing the narrating, but it's not Facenda.

  • yeah i kind of thought that from the beginning of this discussion, but this guy has a good voice as well

  • ha the only player PSU put in the league and did some work. GO BLUE!!

  • Franco Harris makes the play of his life- congrats to him

  • God and the Lord Jesus himself blew their loads watching this great play..............bet on it, asswipes.

  • Oakland also was lucky in this game when Kenny Stabler ran 30 yards for a touchdown. Dwight White was not on the field for this touchdown run because he suffered a stinger. The substitute defensive lineman (Hannamen??) completely blew his assignment on this play by heading upfield giving Stabler the whole left side of the field. If White was in there, he never would have let Stabler run that far. This was the only Oakland offensive play of the game Dwight missed

  • I remember this play and oh man the 70's football nothing like it.

  • YEP,and the next two years 74 and 75 the STEELERS WON THE SUPERBOWL BACK TO BACK! But this play in 72 was a bounce for belief. They knew they could be World Champions, They just had to play harder! this was also the start of Myron Cope Broadcasting, who convinced the fans, STEELERS was great! In the 70's the STEELERS became a dynasty. I believe that they are that again! LETS DOIT AGAIN!! HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!

  • The Steelers got their butts kicked the next week anyway by the undefeated Dolphins in the AFC Championship game, the next season (73) the Raiders got revenge and beat the Steelers in the playoffs.....and then they got their butts kicked by the Dolphins in the AFC championship game lol I'm a Raider fan and that era of football was the best the 70's

  • The Steelers were kings in the 70's, so fuck you!!!

  • Well first of all fuck you too son, facts are facts and thats what I laid out, if you can't handle that it's not my fault, like I said I'm a Raider fan but I loved those 70's teams (Steelers included) they were real men and there weren't as many rules, they let them play.

  • fuck the reception tatum fucked up whoever that was

  • lol well it was french fuqua that got fucked up.

  • Great call of the Immaculate Reception by the voice of the Mountaineers and the Steelers by the late and great Jack Fleming!!  I sure do miss you Jack!!

  • I tuned in when my uncle starting coaching the Mountaineers in '79. Jack had a classic voice that really brought professionalism to Saturday's in Morgantown. I think Ollie Luck was the Mountaineer QB when I starting listening to him.

  • my teacher named a tinker toy after this guy when he was a kid lmao

  • Possibly the greatest moment of my life! My dad, who never wanted to leave a game early, wanted to leave that day. I wouldn't let him! We sat up in Section 626

    right in front of the play! Words could never describe the "feeling" of the moment. Remember, the Steeler fans of that era before all that television, were the "Greatest Fans on Earth!" The referees would have never left Pittsburgh alive if that play didn't count! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!

  • @jeffwins Holy crap, you SAW it?! So cool!

  • Perfect symbolic beginning to Steeler dominance.

  • i AM AT HOME HERE! alive in the heart of Stillers nation!!!!!1!

  • i liked this video :)

    lovin this video!! leave me a comment Sz

  • The refs were afraid to reverse the call

    for their own safety

  • haha so true

  • That and they knew it was good

  • This game was on my 12th birthday in 1972, I remember watching this game amazing catch.I'm a Giant fan but they were 8-6 that year and after that the Giants were the Detriot Lions of today.

  • Golly there's a lot of Steelers hate on the internet.

  • When you are at the top it is bound to happen. There is a lot of love to.

  • Indeed, unfortunately I live in a place where they're hated (no, it's not Cleveland XD).

    The Steel City is one of the few places I feel at home ^_^.

  • Steelers,Raiders,Dolphins,& Cowboys are all

    hated,but they're also the most successful

    organizations since 1970.

  • I would not put the Dolphins, Raiders or Cowboys on the same level as the Steelers. There are real reasons, off field troubles, why people hate the Cowboys. Also the fact that the Cowboys can not back up the talk of their fans. It has been more that ten years since they have won a playoff game. Dolphins have won one SB and people hate the Raiders because their fans stab other fans.

  • The Dolphins won 2 Super Bowls back to

    back from '72-'73.

  • hahaha

    "stab other fans" an you expext they love´ em?

    i`d hate the raiders since 76 AFCCG

  • @lovejoy71 Just to clarify, the Dolphins did win back to back Superbowls (7 & 8.)

  • @DRbiohazard Raiders? Three frickin' Super Bowls, and their last one wasn't even in Oakland!

  • @shornar

    that's because they know they're not as good as the steelers.

  • don't tell me the steelers suck bitch you have a mean joe green and jack lambert video in your favs so don't talk bitch

  • mean joe green and jack lambert are essential football legends, but i still hate the steelers after there super bowl win over da seahawks in 05. there was som many bullshit calls

  • that was 05 its over dood

  • If the steelers suck then why in the hell do you have three or four Steeler vids in your fav's shit for brains?

  • John Madden has hated pittsburgh for years over that loss, but who cares Madden looks like a bull frog.

  • shut the fuck up madden rocks

  • Be honest and tell me Madden doesn't look like a bull frog fuck stick.

  • The rules are still the rules, H8 if you want to.

  • I have a poster of him catching that up in my room

    I am a die hard steelers fan!!!!

  • best kind of fan there is

  • I have run this play on my dvr. When I see the moment of impact, the ball still goes foward for a split second, fuqua is clearly backwards and clear of tatum. next frame, ball ricochets off the shoulder/chest area of Tatum. I'm a Bears fan, so this is not biased.

    In modern football, December 23, 1972 is the greatest day in NFL history, as the Steelers an Cowboys pulled off the most stunning comebacks in NFL history.

  • lol a raiders fan

  • i've met franco a few times.

    i even have his autograph.

    picksburgh = <3

  • What a call of the game by Jack Fleming!! I sure do miss his voice on the radio!! God bless you Jack!!

    JACK FLEMING=VOICE OF THE STEELERS AND THE WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS!!

  • diaper boy- pls. explain. what was the significance of the ball hitting a raider, as opposed to a steeler? at that time, was there a rule that would have disallowed franco's reception if the ball touched frenchy?

  • wow-- i was alive, but too young to be aware of this game, the loss to the Fish, and the Clemente tragedy (which was storied for years later, of course).

  • i am a steelers fan

  • Both teams got the glory further on.

  • oh..and the brady tuck was clearly a rip off...10x the immaculate reception

  • i'm a raider fan since '73..when i was 6yrs old...the basic fact is that tatum should have knocked the ball down,he was in position to make it a simple incomplete pass..he went for the big hit(and got it) but the steelers got the ring...go raaiiduhhs

  • this play shoulduv been called.....the Immaculate Christmas present. Raiders won this game 7-6. The ball hit Fuqua's shoulder on the way to Franco......that's illegal in 1972.

  • It hit tatum and don't tell me that it didn't cause you know it did.

  • of course it hit Tatum, or more like Tatum hit the ball. But then it hit Fuqua's shoulder on the way to Franco, thus it shouldn't have counted. But instead the refs gave the Steelers and their fans the "Immaculate Christmas present"....ho ho ho!!

  • immaculate christmas present, clever. incorrect and clearly biased, but clever. considering that even with instant replay the play wouldn't have been reversed you just look stupid for whining about something that happened over two and a half decades ago.

  • hey dick, this is one of the most controversal plays in the history of sports, that will be debated until the earth gets burned up by the sun. And of course I'm biased since I'm a Raider fan and saw the play live on TV. But only recently saw the much clearer NBC replay and it's pretty obvious the ball hit both players. Also I've seen an interview with Fuqua who refuses to comment on what happen. If he didn't touch it, than why doesn't he just say so? Got an answer for that Einstien?

  • buT guess wat....it dnt matter!!! wats done iz done!! if u dnt liek dha steelers....dnt watch the damn videoz and dnt leave comments...save yaself sum time!!!!!

  • I didn't say I don't like the Steelers, just saying.........da cawl wuz rong bie da ref........duh hu hu hu......dope.

  • I'd heard of that play, now I've seen it. The wildest end to a game IMO.

  • THE most famous play in the history of the NFL.

  • Totally agree with you

  • This happened on Dec 23, which is my b-day. Granted 13 yrs before I was born, but it's still cool to say something this big happened on that date. Great catch!

  • Unreal.

  • Best football catch ever.

  • Be sure to check my profile for a link to a great Football game i found online

  • I don't even know if I'm spelling Vilapiano's name right, and, quite frankly, I don't really care. He's not worth the time and effort, the jealous jerk-off.

  • its great how all the ghetto thugs of america have their own team, though (the raiders). its even greater how they continue to fail year in and year out.

    stabler: yea, i hated him, but he was a tough dude, like bradshaw. they both would run downfield like all getout.

  • yeah, I admit, Stabler WAS tough like Bradshaw, but I still don't like him. Plus I laughed when you described the Raiders as being " America's Ghetto Team." Funny, yet not untrue!

  • This, without a doubt, was the greatest touchdown ever, of all time, simply because it launched the greatest dynasty ever. Plus, even if Franco Harris stepped out of bounds, the Steelers would probably be close enough to have Roy Gerela kick the game- winning field goal. Steelers rock!

  • Here's the thing. The call for this play has been questioned for 36 years. I could care less who ACTUALLY hit it, and all I know is that if Jack Tatum wasn't such a retard and didn't try to physically KILL Fuqua, the Raiders might ( might) have won. Phil Vilapiano has said in numorous interviews that the play happened because Franco was lazy, but Franco's assignment was to block an incoming linebacker, who wasn't there. Plus, he said that he was covering Franco. I didn't see him. Raiders suck.

  • @patriothater-- hahahahahaa. lmao.... so funny: "i didnt see him. Raiders suck".

    i always hated stabler.

  • Yeah, Ken Stabler sucks balls, if he didn't, he would be in the HOF. Plus, who the hell is Vilapiano to talk? He sucks! Jesus, the Raiders should just get over it. You lost. You suck. Get over it. I mean, lately, sometimes I forget they exist, they're so god- awful!

  • Manwithoutaroom makes agood point, the ball didn't continue forward, it when backwards as if it were a latteral.

    Even still, it hit Tatum, or hit hit at teh same time both of them.

    It did not Only hit Fuqua.

  • You realize this was in the 70's. The rules and penalties are more intense and complicated than they were. The refs are THE REFS for a reason. They weren't just picked out of the crowd. So if they called the play fair then it is fair.

  • OK, this argument is over. The offense / offense rule was meant to prevent an offensive player from tipping a ball forward and being caught by another offensive player, something the Raiders were good at. Even IF the ball hit Fuqua, it ricocheted BACKWARDS, just like a hook and lateral. What's the difference? Raiders and their ass kissing buddy Curt Gowdy lose, Steelers rule!

  • the Steelers do rule!!!!!!!! no 1 can say any different

  • I'm going to end this argument once and for all. The Offense / offense rule was intended for a "forward" pass. Even IF it hit Fuqua, the ball went backwards, the same as a hook and lateral. What's the difference? Raiders & Curt Gowdy lose....Steelers rule!!

  • I'm going to end this argument once and for all. The Offense / offense rule was intended for a "forward" pass. Even IF it hit Fuqua, the ball went backwards, the same as a hook and lateral. What's the difference? Raiders & Curt Gowdy lose....Steelers rule!!

  • The late Adrian Burke was the referee that called this pass a completion. In looking back most folks consider that he made the correct call.

  • i take back that last comment

  • im still wondering y they didn't kick a field goal

  • cool

  • u guys can argue over this play all u want, but the only person who really knows wether it was a complete pass or not is Francco Harris. but there is one thing i do no. we would have beat the raiders anyway. and even if it was an incomplete pass, there is nothing we can do about it now.

  • what? it was fourth and ten.. how could u have still won if it was incomplete?

  • because the steelers are and were the best team ever in the NFL

  • The play was legit. The ball bonced off Jack Tatum's shoulder pads a second before Frenchy Fuqua got there. Even Gene Upshaw of the Raiders said the ball hit Franco Harris' foot and not the ground.

  • RIP Myron Cope. Tis a sad day in the Steeler Nation. :(

  • Indeed it is a sad day, he will be missed but never forgotten. I wonder if God will be watching the Steelers with Myron this fall? ;o)

  • frenchy fuqua was the intended receiver

  • RIP Myron Cope :(

  • You are entitled to your OPINION.

    I will stick to the facts.

  • you can have your opinion my facts are from people who were there. If the same nfl rules that are in place now were in place then, the play wouldn't have counted for two reasons.

  • But they weren't, so it doesn't' matter. And unless "your people" who were there were the refs, it is just their opinion as well. I also double checked and the NFL still has yet to take away the win.

  • I dont think the nfl should take away the win, the steelers lost there next game anyway, if there not gonna take wins away from belicheat and the pats then the play stands. The play wouldn't stand today because the pass was touched by both teams before franco "caught" it, the rulebook wouldn't allow it today but that is now and that was then.

  • DO NOT compair the Steelers to the Patriots!

  • I was using that as an example because I know some steeler fans who think they only lost to the pats this decade because of belicheats tactics

  • Cool

  • Um, today, both teams can touch the ball before someone catches it and it's fine. Back then, it couldn't bounce directly off a teammate before the catch. People like Tatum say it bounced off Fuqua, but even John Madden admitted that it looked like it hit off Tatum before Franco caught it.Physicists and sports reporters who have done studies of the film and the trajectories all conclude it hit off Tatum's shoulder.

    Also, there is no footage showing it hit the ground.

  • Um if you look at the rulebook it states that both teams couldn't touch it before the offensive team does, Madden said so on MNF, I'm not a steeler or raider fan so it doesn't matter to me if it was legit, my initial comment was just ball breaking, frenchy said on nfl films that the ball hit the turf before franco caught it, but franco and other steelers will go to their graves saying otherwise. The bottom line is pittsburgh won that game and lost the next game but had a GREAT decade anyway

  • If the ball hit both players at the same time which one counts as the primary deflecter?

    There was no rule to specify a conclusion to this point.

    But it hit Tatum anyway and that's why it traveld as far as it did of a hard surface of his shoulder pad.

    It didn't hit the ground and that wasn't even a factor of discussion during the call.

  • back then the play counted, all I'm saying is because of the way the rules are now it wouldn't have counted and if it hit the ground or came close, instant replay of today would probably overturn it

  • Probably not becaue it was a TD on the field instant replay only over turn a call on the field if it's conclusive and the replay is not conclusive.

  • the replay may have shown that it hit the ground but regardless it hit two opposing players and by rule today it would not have counted, although with the game in Pittsburgh it would have been a gutsy call.

  • What are you talking about? There is no such rule in today's game that would discredit this play. You're confusing what Madden said. Whenever he talks about the Immaculate Reception, he always notes that BACK THEN there was a rule that said an offensive player could not catch a ball if it deflected off one of his teammates. That's why there's controversy, because if it bounced off Fuqua then it was not a legit play. It has NOTHING to do with the rules today.

  • look up the rules online, its in there

  • No, it's not.

  • The head of officiating said as much, get over it. The play had to stand then and the won the game

  • No, he didn't. Seriously, look it up in the rulebook. There's no such thing.

  • There was a guy works for the NFL who was on the NFL network a few years back and there was a discussion of the game and HE stated it would be ruled incomplete today.

  • this is 2 philblunt420, yea it wudve ruled incomplete 2day back then the rule was if an pffensive player touched the ball while it was in the air and continued in the air it would have been ruled a dead ball unless a defensive back touched it or caught it either way after 1 offensive player touched it and it continued therez no possible way it would have been complete. the contreversy is weather lynn swan touched it first or that raiders corner back did.

  • It would've been complete in today's game. There is no question about it.

  • all these years later I still love it!!!