The replay clearly showed there was no block in the back, but the referee would not admit his crew blew the call and handed an un deserved win to Colorado and took a fabulous return away from the Rocket.
This is the greatest play I ever saw. The whole game Colorado kick the ball off out of bounds most of the game to prevent him from running it back. That one time they kicked it to him he took it to house. That ref was payed to make that stupid call.
i'm watching this on repeat on the same spot @ :41-:43 seconds....no clip...high and in front. I can see how in regular speed why it would appear to be a clip. hard to be a ref. I wouldn't want that job.
Combine this game with the infamous "fifth down" call at Missouri this same season, a last-play TD at home against Stanford, a last-play end-zone INT to save a win over Washington, a tie against Tennessee and a one-point loss at Illinois, this 1990 Colorado team had the most controversial, and eventful, run to a (half) national title than any team I can think of. If you ask me, they were lucky to even get half a national title, Georgia Tech could easily have been the undisputed national champ.
@walterlv01 Given the national title implications and that it took away one of the greatest individual plays of the decade, this is probably the worst call in college football history. Colorado's is one of the most bogus national championships.
People on here are blind to the fact that a "clipping" penalty is a below the waist and from behind call. Even in normal speed you can clearly see the Irish player hits the Buff player high and in the shoulder, not a "clipping" penalty by any stretch. Come on guys, don't let your girlfriends/wives see you make this kind of bone head mistake in public again!
@bumedyjoke23 Even though I believe it was a horrible call, I believe that the 10 yard block in the back penalty had not yet been adopted, so all blocks in the back (above and below the waist) were clipping at that time.
They called clipping, which is blocking from behind AND below the waist. What is the number of the Colorado player that gets blocked below the waist from behind?
The 1990 Colorado team was by far the most undeserving National Champion EVER! They first stole a victory from Mizzou which would've kept them from even being in the Orange Bowl and now this BS call. 2 victories stolen from 2 games because of the refs. Sounds suspicious, don't you think? I bet they paid the refs.
@MrChunkwhite it WAS a fantastic call. @ :42 #17 was out IN FRONT of a note dame blocker - and had a hand out about to tackle the rocket - when he was tackled LOW from behind by a notre dame blocker (block in the back), i think most people dont know the rule, are jealous or need glasses that dont agree with this OBVIOUS call.
My favorite part about the flag is that it was only thrown after it was obvious Rocket was going to score. Maybe it actually took the official that long to pull it out of his pocket, maybe not. Judging by some of the inept at best, corrupt at worst officiating I've seen in my lifetime, I'm inclined to think not.
There probably isn't a less legitimate "recognized" title than Colorado's that year. They lost this game and they lost the fifth down game. This is Georgia Tech's championship. I don't know a single non-Colorado fan who thinks this is really their championship.
It WAS a block in the back. Of course you probably also think OJ didn't commit double murder either! Oh and as for the 5th down. WHY would Colorado have spike the ball on 4th down?!
The way I see it, even without this game, Colorado still had a questionable win over Missouri in the 5th Down game. Don't get me wrong, if you look at that Colorado team, it was a very talented bunch of players...the best in CU history. But the 1990 national championship belongs to one team and that's Georgia Tech. I'm not a Georgia Tech fan, but their record that year was deserving of a lone claim to the the 1990 national title.
I am always immeasurably entertained by the unlettered know-nothing, have-to-be-contration fiddle twits who share assessment of what "really" happened. The Rocket would have clearly been tackled. Of course, he would. There's no doubting that, other then the myriad times he wasn't during the season on similar kickoffs. More importantly, you don't flag a terribly questionable violation on the last punt return of a championship game. Egad! shameful.
I am always immeasurably entertained by the unlettered know-nothing, have-to-be-contration fiddle twits who share assessment of what "really" happened. The Rocket would have clearly been tackled. Of course, he would. There's no doubting that, other then the myriad times he wasn't during the season on similar kickoffs. More importantly, you don't flag a terribly questionable violation on the last punt return of a championship game. Egad! shameful.
@azzgunther Absolutely not he hit him in the side on an angle. Wrong call. Also, you're probably a Colorado fan just saying this is the first time you've seen it.
Don't be ridiculous. That's a block in the back and is called 70% of the time, with occasional leniency since it's the side of his back and not straight in the back. Someone linked this video to me cold and I had no idea what it was about and I saw block in the back at 0:43 right away. Not a Colorado fan BTW, just objective.
@azzgunther THAT WAS NO BLOCK IN THE BACK,FUNNY ALL THE TV EXPERTS SAID ITS NO PENALTY,BUT I GUESS YOU KNOW MORE THAN THEM.THAT OFFICIAL HAS TO LIVE WITH THAT CALL THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
The block in the back happens @ 00:41as he crosses the 30 yard line. Its hard to tell in real time if the blocker hit from the side or from the back, but if you pause it at 00:41 you can see that, yeah, his head may have been to the side of the tackler, but looks like the shoulder pads hit him from the back... Honestly the call could have went either way :/
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From a Penn State fan. ND ROBBED, give a nigger a whistle and a flag and they ruin the day. Give him control of the country and we pay $5.00 a gallon gas, college education money is gone, heating and assistance funding is gone for the poor, medical is depleted and no longer helping the poor, and the goverment damn nearly shut down! Yep, put one in office, no more racism, we need a voice, now black run the country! Now your own race wants to murder you. USA in shambles. Stick to sports!
referees just piss me off when they make a bad call in a crucial moment of the game. same exact thing in this clip of the 93 national title game you tube ID- 60ITuAu-W54 and ironically the same announcer haha
I hope Bill "The Hypocrite Christian" McCartney is happy with his fake half NC with his thug players. A Guy who recruits Thugs and lets his daughter have a bastard child out of wedlock with one of his player? Hardly a "man of god".
Was she supposed to have an abortion? I thought that was murder and sin!?!? A hypocrite, calling another man a hypocrite. That's about as Christian as it gets!
Probably,the worst call in college football bowl history,I would hate to be that official having to live with that calll,THAT WAS NO CLIP!!!THAT WAS BULLSHIT!!!!!!!
I was there. The ref who made this atrocity waited until he saw it was a touchdown and then throws the flag. The Rocket was on the goal line when he threw the flag. Also as another commentator said, he was on the other side of the field and did NOT have a clear view. I've always wondered with the 5th down and this how big the suitcases were to the refs locker room from the CU boosters. CU National Champs? Please....The only thing they are champs in is and was smoking reefer.
Horrible call, not even the right call. It would be a block in the back if anything not a clip. Just a horrible call. Hell it's 2010 and I'm still pissed about it!!!!!!!!!!!
I also remember Rocket walking off the field with a "oh whatever" look on his face. The look on his face in the locker room interview suggested "hey you screwed us over, but I am about to go get paid". He thought. To get screwed out of the Heisman and his second National Championship must have sucked.
The block is on the side and the blockers helmet is in front of the players body, not a clip!!!!!!
The ref closest to the play doesn't call a clip because it wasn't there.
No one makes a call like that unless they have a clear motive, not with one min to play.
The worse call ever made, the greatest kick return in football history and arguable the most dynamic college player of all time. He had few touches of the ball in college relative to his productivity, he was very small.
It's very interesting looking/listening back at this clip. The refs should have kept the laundry in their pocket just for the stupidity of the punter kicking it to the Rocket. I mean listen to the announcers from the beginning ,"just kick it out of bounds". Man Rocket broke about 3 or 4 tackles, and all that for nothing, man it hurt. You can't throw a flag at that point of the game, let them play. Would have been one of the greatest plays in college football history! Stupid
first of all it was a great block, secondly no one calls that unless it is ridiculously obvious and that point in the game. Lastly, the ref standing right there doesn't call it, the jack ass spook up the field who is getting paid off does. What an ass hole that guy is, I wonder if he is still alive?????
@T6531P comments like these are why no black athlete should ever play for the fight "IRISH" The rocket never should have been there. He should have been somewhere like.... USC!!!
I remember watching this play live when i was a kid. To this day its one of the most clutch plays Ive ever seen in my life, in any sport.. EVERYONE watching that game was looking at him to make a play, and the guy did it.
Yeah, Elway and Montana threw some clutch passes to win games, and Michael hit some 20 ft jumpers to win titles and big games, but this is was a friggin PUNT return for a TD. SOOO much more difficult.
@RacerExx Eff you. Every NC gets breaks during the season. Bama last year? Florida a few years ago? A 2-loss LSU team before that? Those teams got lucky as hell. Colorado got some breaks, yes. But they had an 8-year stretch where they were an elite team, they probably should have won 2 more NCs. GA Tech played a weak schedule in a weak conference and were off the radar before and after 1990. No comparison.
@Bradical26 Haha. Colorado got STONED by Mizzou and were given an illegal 5th down and you didn't even score on that! Charles Johnson got stuffed and the refs still handed you that victory. This wasn't a case o Colorado facing a tough opponent and making enough plays to win. You were given TWO victories by the officials.
And now CU is going to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this title? Absolute fucking joke.
@RacerExx If the refs "gave" them two victories, they were on 2 plays. 1 from each game... From my point of view, if there is only one play that decides the game, then both teams made enough plays to win the games. You know?
@ninjacowboy Yes, that 5th down play occurred in the Colorado-Missouri regular season game. J.C. Louderback, a high school math teacher, was the referee for that game. Also, Colorado won a share of the mythical national championship despite a non-conference loss to Illinois in the regular season.
I was at this game, I'm a huge Notre Dame fan. And, as much as I hate to say it, the ref would have been justified if he threw the flag, or if he didn't throw it. It was a borderline block in the back, and the call could have gone either way. Still one of the most thrilling moments for me- I was nine years old.
It was a borderline call. But either way, it doesnt change the fact that the play ended with the Rocket returning the ball to the end zone and everyone seeing it. The call doesnt really take away what he did. When did the Rocket play in a big game and not do something like this?
Best returner ever. Whats sad is that the year before he got to Notre Dame, Tim Brown won the Heisman as a returner and the year after he turned pro, Howard won the Heisman. And the Rocket was better than both.
Exactly Rocket got robbed. ND played 6 teams in the top 20 and beat 5 of them. BYU beat Miami early in the year, so they gave it to Detmer. He won by a landslide, which is still baffling. Rocket was better than both of them as you mentioned.
OMG THE GREATEST MEMORY I HAVE AS A CHILD ...WHICH ISN'T SAYING MUCH CUZ IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MYSELF BUT FUCK THE REFS I HOPE THEY HAVE HAD THE KARMA COME BACK TO THEM500000000000000 TIMES FOR RUINING THIS AMAZING MOMENT
Terrible call. Head was in front, above the waist and no hands used. Ref doesn't even make the correct call. It wasn't a clip. Wasn't even close. Block in back if anything. Oh well. Stuff happens. There was a billion people in China who didn't care about this.
I remember watching that game. Guess I'd have been eight years old. Absolutely not a Notre Dame fan, but even I thought that was a bullshit call. Colorado got away with two highly questionable victories that year, the other being the notorious "Fifth Down" against Missouri.
I hate Colorado as much as the next guy... But watch just after Rocket breaks free- right at :37. A potential CU tackler gets shoved in the back. Definitely a penalty there.
wow im a CU fan and this was the first game i remember. I was 5. I always thought that there was no block in the back until now. are you guys all blind? Or Nebraska fans? No. 17 was about to tackle Ismial and is pushed from behind at the 30 yard line
@treasureirish1 Haha. Are you going to drive to boulder and get the trophy? is anybody? NO. So shut the fuck up. Besides, its like i said before, you have no idea if CU would have scored even if they counted the TD. So your arguement means as much as this punt return.... NOTHING!!!
@borkzig1 STFU? Grow up and when you can have a logical debate, let me know. And ya, who knows if CU would've scored cuz there was a lot of offense in that game (10-9)
Only thing I could see is at 0:41 where the guy threw a questionable block at about the 30.
On one hand, you don't bail out any team stupid enough to kick to Ismail late in the game, but on the other hand it's almost poetic justice for Miami being screwed out of the title in South Bend back in '88.
for some reason when i saw him give that tumbs up to the sidelines i knew in my heart he was about to do something special i was like 6or seven and love darian hagen and eric bienemy but this nd team was so legit!
@borkzig1 How do you know the ND player saw the # on the Colorado player's back? His shoulder is clearly in front of the player, not the back. Not a clip now and not a clip then!!
@treasureirish1 It was a clip then, it is a clip now, it always will be. How can you honestly watch this video and say its not? It fucking bewilders me!
Now I know why you thought it was a clip, you are a Colorado fan. Too funny!! Majority of people on here who even hate ND think that it was NOT a clip. Bewilders me, homer!!!
@borkzig1 he hit him with his shoulder which is next to your head. i wont argue that most of his body was behind the CU player but his shoulder hit him on his side therefore it was a legal block. case closed so fuck off because no one wants you here. if it wasnt for an awful call ND would have been the national champs
@ah1106onps3 Hey fuck head, who said you would have won even if they had counted the touchdown!? There was time left on the clock, even if there wasnt much time left. See 'miracle in michigan' please. And the fact that you really dont think thats an illegal hit, its fucking sad man.
@borkzig1 ur right but the way the two defenses were playing all game it is extremely unlikely that colorado would have won. and i KNOW thats not an illegal hit even look at the way the CU player falls, he doesnt fall straight forward flat on his face he falls at an angle. Ur just a diehard CU whose pissed because ur team was good for like 3 years and will never be good again. i know ur gonna say ND sucks dick and blah blah blah but at least were coming back to relevance unlike CU
@ah1106onps3 Umm coming back to relevance is a bold statement man. Hey, you guys were damn good, but cu was good for WAY longer than 3 yrs. I just get pissed cuz people always say 'its the luckiest national championship ever'. I mean fuck that, look at colorados schedule that year, non conference was fucking stacked! Yea the 5th down was bullshit, but is that CUs fault the guy on the sideline is retarded? Fuck no it isnt!
@ah1106onps3 But for real, i got no beef with notre dame. I fucking HATE nebraska (obviosly) and usc. So theres one week out of the year, im pulling for you guys big time! I always knew pete carroll was a snake. But yea, difference of opinion, i show this clip to non buffs fans, some agree, some not. Whats done is done i guess.
dont get mad about the truth. congrats about the 90 championship. but it was attained through referees and good luck. no taking any credit away from your team. a very good team. but one loss, one tie, a 5th down victory, and this is very BS way to win it all. thats all i gotta say. but take it the trophy and cherish it. it might be the last one you ever get.
@borkzig1 Head in front of player=NOT A CLIP. Clip occurs when a player is blocked BEHIND. Learn the rules and then argue. Official that threw the flag was at least 25 yds away. So you fail!!
@baculite182 Why is Tom Osborne the A Hole? The Buffs Lost a game, tied a game, had to cheat and be gifted a 5th down against Mizzou (and Charles Johnson didn't even get in on 5th down) in 1990, while GA Tech went undefeated in 1990. Petulant Buff fans blame Tom Osborne because CU had to share a title they didn’t even deserve in the first place. If we put in a rule that any time CU wins more than 9 games (not happening any time soon) they get to share of the title would you stop your bitching?
Look at his burst of speed at the 35! I use to return punts & kickoffs, you can not coach that!! Its adrenaline that did that. The wide step and he took it to the house. He is the reason why I wore #25 in all sports I played!!
No block in the back of #17 for Colorado. Watch him cover the punt. ND's cover man blocks him to the edge, but loses him. He recovers to then chip his back side shoulder and knock him out of the potential tackle. There is no way that the referee should've called that in any situation, let alone a National Title Orange Bowl
I'm amazed something similar to that of bottlegate didn't erupt at the Orange Bowl when this happened. 1990 will always be rememered as a season filled with controversy.
One of the worst calls in the history of college football. Colorado benefitted from this AND the 5th down play vs Missouri in the same season. Talk about a "joke" national title.
i am not a notrre dame fan at all but this call was just putrid
psu68born 1 day ago
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psu68born 1 day ago
The replay clearly showed there was no block in the back, but the referee would not admit his crew blew the call and handed an un deserved win to Colorado and took a fabulous return away from the Rocket.
tincat43 1 month ago
This is the greatest play I ever saw. The whole game Colorado kick the ball off out of bounds most of the game to prevent him from running it back. That one time they kicked it to him he took it to house. That ref was payed to make that stupid call.
SandmanJackson77 1 month ago
i'm watching this on repeat on the same spot @ :41-:43 seconds....no clip...high and in front. I can see how in regular speed why it would appear to be a clip. hard to be a ref. I wouldn't want that job.
kingman88 1 month ago in playlist More videos from irishnd966
Combine this game with the infamous "fifth down" call at Missouri this same season, a last-play TD at home against Stanford, a last-play end-zone INT to save a win over Washington, a tie against Tennessee and a one-point loss at Illinois, this 1990 Colorado team had the most controversial, and eventful, run to a (half) national title than any team I can think of. If you ask me, they were lucky to even get half a national title, Georgia Tech could easily have been the undisputed national champ.
walterlv01 1 month ago
@walterlv01 Given the national title implications and that it took away one of the greatest individual plays of the decade, this is probably the worst call in college football history. Colorado's is one of the most bogus national championships.
jupiter122jupiter122 3 days ago
I got a pic with rocket today he is freaking BEAST!!(:
BeastWrobel 2 months ago
Man, referees REALLY went out of their way to help Colorado win a national championship that season. How considerate of them ; )
dime138 2 months ago
People on here are blind to the fact that a "clipping" penalty is a below the waist and from behind call. Even in normal speed you can clearly see the Irish player hits the Buff player high and in the shoulder, not a "clipping" penalty by any stretch. Come on guys, don't let your girlfriends/wives see you make this kind of bone head mistake in public again!
bumedyjoke23 2 months ago
@bumedyjoke23 Even though I believe it was a horrible call, I believe that the 10 yard block in the back penalty had not yet been adopted, so all blocks in the back (above and below the waist) were clipping at that time.
ottobabble 2 months ago
Definitely not a penalty, terrible call.
BillBagginsStyle 3 months ago
They called clipping, which is blocking from behind AND below the waist. What is the number of the Colorado player that gets blocked below the waist from behind?
jabbagt22 3 months ago
@jabbagt22 I watched that game and its still a mystery A phantom call I never saw Idont have a bias either
stevemtc1 3 months ago
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The 1990 Colorado team was by far the most undeserving National Champion EVER! They first stole a victory from Mizzou which would've kept them from even being in the Orange Bowl and now this BS call. 2 victories stolen from 2 games because of the refs. Sounds suspicious, don't you think? I bet they paid the refs.
Colorado= Big Market/Full of money
Itsjustlikemagic 3 months ago
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Itsjustlikemagic 3 months ago
If your head is out in front of the blockee, then it is legal. Unfortunate for Irish. Even if not touched, no way Colorado tackles him. No chance!
sheehanscience 3 months ago
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tallbragg 4 months ago
#17 tackles the rocket if he is not blocked in the back. Excellent call!!!!
MrChunkwhite 4 months ago
@MrChunkwhite Im sorry I have to disagree that fellow did not block him from the back. It looked like he did but he did not
stevemtc1 3 months ago
@MrChunkwhite it WAS a fantastic call. @ :42 #17 was out IN FRONT of a note dame blocker - and had a hand out about to tackle the rocket - when he was tackled LOW from behind by a notre dame blocker (block in the back), i think most people dont know the rule, are jealous or need glasses that dont agree with this OBVIOUS call.
303MileHigh420 3 months ago
can't believe they kicked it to him
qukarlz 4 months ago
I think the fact that this is shown on tv in a lot of top 100 greates plays in football type shows proves it was a bad call.
420Guitar420 4 months ago
"He does it again!" GO IRISH!
phatwhre786 5 months ago
It was a terrible call then...and its a terrible call now.
thelastdom 5 months ago
exactly
aquatiq 5 months ago
I've got a "rocket in my pocket" for you! Call me.
Father McFeelgood, UND.
ndfaithful 5 months ago
Tim James, #17, is about to make the tackle and gets knocked off his angle from behind as he's about to do Ismail in. Watch it over and over and over.
Claim whatever you want, I'll laugh at you.
It's 20 years later and you still know nothing.
billybfrom303 5 months ago
My favorite part about the flag is that it was only thrown after it was obvious Rocket was going to score. Maybe it actually took the official that long to pull it out of his pocket, maybe not. Judging by some of the inept at best, corrupt at worst officiating I've seen in my lifetime, I'm inclined to think not.
ndistops 5 months ago
gayest call ever in history. notre dame won in my book
taytertotTV 5 months ago
The "5 down" game was Missouri, and they were ranked #1 (if I recall) at the time.
percula8 6 months ago
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@esSDeeThunder
"Don't be ridiculous. That's a block in the back and is called 70% of the time, "
.........FYI, 70% of the time, statistics are made up on the spot....Quite a bit of money was made on the flag.
cptlbc724 6 months ago
that was an absolute chicken shit call
natedagr808 6 months ago 14
@natedagr808 exactly
irishjuwan 5 months ago
@natedagr808 You're a chicken shit! A total clip!
5muftak 1 month ago
@5muftak To you it may have looked like a clip. To me though it looked like a clean block as he hit the other player in the shoulder which is fine
natedagr808 1 month ago
There probably isn't a less legitimate "recognized" title than Colorado's that year. They lost this game and they lost the fifth down game. This is Georgia Tech's championship. I don't know a single non-Colorado fan who thinks this is really their championship.
cauchamar 6 months ago
@cauchamar Colorado would have destroyed Georgia Tech head-to-head.
bjohnson55555 5 months ago
Damn.... only if it weren't for that clipping call.... ND was supposed to bring it home because Rocket Ismail is a legend!!
johnnyrobinsane 6 months ago
I played a lot of football. Borderline call. On those kick returns I have seen worse not called plenty.
cookiegate 7 months ago
It WAS a block in the back. Of course you probably also think OJ didn't commit double murder either! Oh and as for the 5th down. WHY would Colorado have spike the ball on 4th down?!
beckyhammonbest 7 months ago
It was a block on on the side, not a clip, you are blind.
NDXUFan 7 months ago
The way I see it, even without this game, Colorado still had a questionable win over Missouri in the 5th Down game. Don't get me wrong, if you look at that Colorado team, it was a very talented bunch of players...the best in CU history. But the 1990 national championship belongs to one team and that's Georgia Tech. I'm not a Georgia Tech fan, but their record that year was deserving of a lone claim to the the 1990 national title.
CalebMTurberville 7 months ago
I am always immeasurably entertained by the unlettered know-nothing, have-to-be-contration fiddle twits who share assessment of what "really" happened. The Rocket would have clearly been tackled. Of course, he would. There's no doubting that, other then the myriad times he wasn't during the season on similar kickoffs. More importantly, you don't flag a terribly questionable violation on the last punt return of a championship game. Egad! shameful.
bankcounsel 7 months ago
I am always immeasurably entertained by the unlettered know-nothing, have-to-be-contration fiddle twits who share assessment of what "really" happened. The Rocket would have clearly been tackled. Of course, he would. There's no doubting that, other then the myriad times he wasn't during the season on similar kickoffs. More importantly, you don't flag a terribly questionable violation on the last punt return of a championship game. Egad! shameful.
bankcounsel 7 months ago
Good Call, Would have been tackled, if not for block in the back.
start at time :37, you will see the penalty.
I know it hurts, but it was the right call.
PepDawg7171 7 months ago
@PepDawg7171 Wrong, it was not a block in the back, you must be looking at a different clip. I doubt he would have caught Ismail.
NDXUFan 7 months ago
waddya know it was the same year when i was in faurot field and had the unfortunate luck of witnessing 5 downs
mathew12330 7 months ago
bad enough when players are bought by agents. but when refs are bought by bookies.....
sychly 7 months ago in playlist notre dame
This was the first time I've ever seen this footage and I saw the block in the back immediately. Right call.
azzgunther 7 months ago
@azzgunther Yeah because hitting someone from the side is a penalty. Riiiiiight........
dunnyb41 7 months ago
@dunnyb41
I'm talking about the block at 0:42. Are you looking at a different one?
azzgunther 7 months ago
@azzgunther Absolutely not he hit him in the side on an angle. Wrong call. Also, you're probably a Colorado fan just saying this is the first time you've seen it.
esSDeeThunder 7 months ago
@esSDeeThunder
Don't be ridiculous. That's a block in the back and is called 70% of the time, with occasional leniency since it's the side of his back and not straight in the back. Someone linked this video to me cold and I had no idea what it was about and I saw block in the back at 0:43 right away. Not a Colorado fan BTW, just objective.
azzgunther 7 months ago
@azzgunther THAT WAS NO BLOCK IN THE BACK,FUNNY ALL THE TV EXPERTS SAID ITS NO PENALTY,BUT I GUESS YOU KNOW MORE THAN THEM.THAT OFFICIAL HAS TO LIVE WITH THAT CALL THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
yankeesnz2 7 months ago
@yankeesnz2
Oh you posted that IN CAPS. I cannot possibly retort.
azzgunther 6 months ago
Rocket the greatest college football player ever. Yes that was a clip because he would have been tackled by the guy that got blocked in the back.
MrChunkwhite 7 months ago
The block in the back happens @ 00:41as he crosses the 30 yard line. Its hard to tell in real time if the blocker hit from the side or from the back, but if you pause it at 00:41 you can see that, yeah, his head may have been to the side of the tackler, but looks like the shoulder pads hit him from the back... Honestly the call could have went either way :/
luckey808 8 months ago
Notre Dame 1990 national champions
Aronz1000 8 months ago
Notre Dame got completely ROBBED!
montana5526 9 months ago
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From a Penn State fan. ND ROBBED, give a nigger a whistle and a flag and they ruin the day. Give him control of the country and we pay $5.00 a gallon gas, college education money is gone, heating and assistance funding is gone for the poor, medical is depleted and no longer helping the poor, and the goverment damn nearly shut down! Yep, put one in office, no more racism, we need a voice, now black run the country! Now your own race wants to murder you. USA in shambles. Stick to sports!
zombieman82091 9 months ago
this dude was so fast!!!
amun1999 10 months ago
Bill Walsh " He has too"
radamez9 10 months ago
referees just piss me off when they make a bad call in a crucial moment of the game. same exact thing in this clip of the 93 national title game you tube ID- 60ITuAu-W54 and ironically the same announcer haha
travis2x 10 months ago
ND were robbed. And yes Colorado got 5 downs to defeat Missouri that year. A huge asterisk next to CUs only national championship.
dhosebag 10 months ago
I hope Bill "The Hypocrite Christian" McCartney is happy with his fake half NC with his thug players. A Guy who recruits Thugs and lets his daughter have a bastard child out of wedlock with one of his player? Hardly a "man of god".
TheAntihero6212 11 months ago
Hardly a man
Galtline14 10 months ago
@TheAntihero6212
Was she supposed to have an abortion? I thought that was murder and sin!?!? A hypocrite, calling another man a hypocrite. That's about as Christian as it gets!
cbaldwinjr 9 months ago
imagine what he would have done if he stayed for his senior season in 1991. Would have won Heisman and ND might have won the NC
yourstupid36 11 months ago
HAHAHA EAT A DICK NOTRE DAME
straken9k1 11 months ago
Probably,the worst call in college football bowl history,I would hate to be that official having to live with that calll,THAT WAS NO CLIP!!!THAT WAS BULLSHIT!!!!!!!
yankeesnz2 11 months ago
I was there. The ref who made this atrocity waited until he saw it was a touchdown and then throws the flag. The Rocket was on the goal line when he threw the flag. Also as another commentator said, he was on the other side of the field and did NOT have a clear view. I've always wondered with the 5th down and this how big the suitcases were to the refs locker room from the CU boosters. CU National Champs? Please....The only thing they are champs in is and was smoking reefer.
edflhnd 1 year ago
Return to Dominance? When did Colorado ever dominate anybody? They're a joke..Go Irish!!!
packagecheck 1 year ago
Horrible call, not even the right call. It would be a block in the back if anything not a clip. Just a horrible call. Hell it's 2010 and I'm still pissed about it!!!!!!!!!!!
sfucik007 1 year ago
I also remember Rocket walking off the field with a "oh whatever" look on his face. The look on his face in the locker room interview suggested "hey you screwed us over, but I am about to go get paid". He thought. To get screwed out of the Heisman and his second National Championship must have sucked.
drbayoms 1 year ago
I hate Notre Dame. But I loved Rocket! All I remember was Chris Zorich crying like a baby. BAD CALL!
drbayoms 1 year ago
@drbayoms He was crying like a baby because he found out his mom passed.
mregan25 11 months ago
@mregan25
No way, are you serious?
drbayoms 11 months ago
The block is on the side and the blockers helmet is in front of the players body, not a clip!!!!!!
The ref closest to the play doesn't call a clip because it wasn't there.
No one makes a call like that unless they have a clear motive, not with one min to play.
The worse call ever made, the greatest kick return in football history and arguable the most dynamic college player of all time. He had few touches of the ball in college relative to his productivity, he was very small.
T6531P 1 year ago
It's very interesting looking/listening back at this clip. The refs should have kept the laundry in their pocket just for the stupidity of the punter kicking it to the Rocket. I mean listen to the announcers from the beginning ,"just kick it out of bounds". Man Rocket broke about 3 or 4 tackles, and all that for nothing, man it hurt. You can't throw a flag at that point of the game, let them play. Would have been one of the greatest plays in college football history! Stupid
triofdoom 1 year ago
I was hurting so bad as a 10 year old in my room, when I saw that flag!!! A bunch of Bull
triofdoom 1 year ago
first of all it was a great block, secondly no one calls that unless it is ridiculously obvious and that point in the game. Lastly, the ref standing right there doesn't call it, the jack ass spook up the field who is getting paid off does. What an ass hole that guy is, I wonder if he is still alive?????
T6531P 1 year ago
@T6531P I agree,I saw the block and it was clean!!
Irishfanism 1 year ago
@Irishfanism but it was not necessary
DaAmericanWanksta 1 year ago
@T6531P comments like these are why no black athlete should ever play for the fight "IRISH" The rocket never should have been there. He should have been somewhere like.... USC!!!
MrChunkwhite 4 months ago
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kmcinerny222 1 year ago
I remember watching this play live when i was a kid. To this day its one of the most clutch plays Ive ever seen in my life, in any sport.. EVERYONE watching that game was looking at him to make a play, and the guy did it.
Yeah, Elway and Montana threw some clutch passes to win games, and Michael hit some 20 ft jumpers to win titles and big games, but this is was a friggin PUNT return for a TD. SOOO much more difficult.
Too bad a BS call ruined an unbelievable moment.
LightningJanitorial 1 year ago
I watched in horror from my room in Florida and ND got the shaft but good. Go Irish forever!
Lar24man 1 year ago
Who has the National Championship trophy sitting in Dal Ward? Oh yeah, Colorado. Raghib (raghead) go home. Go Buffs.
amarantman 1 year ago
@amarantman you didn't deserve that titl (neither did ND by the way they already had two losses on the year)
thestuvylives 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@amarantman you didn't deserve that title (neither did ND by the way they already had two losses on the year)
thestuvylives 1 year ago
The guy who was about to make the tackle was pushed to the ground from behind.
End of story.
lungcancercure 1 year ago
the rockett should of won heisman
balrww 1 year ago
Colorado won a bogus National Title. 5th down plus this call = garbage title
RacerExx 1 year ago
@RacerExx Eff you. Every NC gets breaks during the season. Bama last year? Florida a few years ago? A 2-loss LSU team before that? Those teams got lucky as hell. Colorado got some breaks, yes. But they had an 8-year stretch where they were an elite team, they probably should have won 2 more NCs. GA Tech played a weak schedule in a weak conference and were off the radar before and after 1990. No comparison.
Bradical26 1 year ago
@Bradical26 Haha. Colorado got STONED by Mizzou and were given an illegal 5th down and you didn't even score on that! Charles Johnson got stuffed and the refs still handed you that victory. This wasn't a case o Colorado facing a tough opponent and making enough plays to win. You were given TWO victories by the officials.
And now CU is going to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this title? Absolute fucking joke.
RacerExx 1 year ago
@RacerExx If the refs "gave" them two victories, they were on 2 plays. 1 from each game... From my point of view, if there is only one play that decides the game, then both teams made enough plays to win the games. You know?
JTara20 1 year ago
1990 was a crazy year for college football. Wasn't that the 5 down year involving Colorado?
ninjacowboy 1 year ago 15
@ninjacowboy Yes, that 5th down play occurred in the Colorado-Missouri regular season game. J.C. Louderback, a high school math teacher, was the referee for that game. Also, Colorado won a share of the mythical national championship despite a non-conference loss to Illinois in the regular season.
UsonianAC 11 months ago
@ninjacowboy yessir colorado and mizzou i was there
mathew12330 7 months ago
@ninjacowboy no, that was much more recent
fattyslick 5 months ago
@fattyslick Um, you're wrong. It was in 1990.
goten1214 5 months ago
@goten1214 You're right, my bad, maybe I just couldn't believe how long ago that was or how old I am!
fattyslick 5 months ago
@ninjacowboy Yeah, it was against Missouri in 1990.
goten1214 5 months ago
:41 clip on #11 clear as day.
Go Buffs.
smitryan 1 year ago
@smitryan Wow you really are a Buffs fan. It's from the side.
jamala22 1 year ago
@smitryan looked more like a block to the back than a clip
chitownsuperfan 1 year ago
@chitownsuperfan Same thing
smitryan 1 year ago
@smitryan Whoops! Well the point is, it was definitely there. Good call by the refs.
chitownsuperfan 1 year ago
@smitryan Your dreaming man,that block was clean,your seeing what you want to see!
Irishfanism 1 year ago
I was at this game, I'm a huge Notre Dame fan. And, as much as I hate to say it, the ref would have been justified if he threw the flag, or if he didn't throw it. It was a borderline block in the back, and the call could have gone either way. Still one of the most thrilling moments for me- I was nine years old.
wafwaf62 1 year ago
It was a borderline call. But either way, it doesnt change the fact that the play ended with the Rocket returning the ball to the end zone and everyone seeing it. The call doesnt really take away what he did. When did the Rocket play in a big game and not do something like this?
Best returner ever. Whats sad is that the year before he got to Notre Dame, Tim Brown won the Heisman as a returner and the year after he turned pro, Howard won the Heisman. And the Rocket was better than both.
lexlucid909 1 year ago
@lexlucid909
Exactly Rocket got robbed. ND played 6 teams in the top 20 and beat 5 of them. BYU beat Miami early in the year, so they gave it to Detmer. He won by a landslide, which is still baffling. Rocket was better than both of them as you mentioned.
triofdoom 1 year ago
Even watching this game as a 9 year old I couldn't understand why they kicked it to him in the first place. Colorado should have lost just for that.
udderprojectz 1 year ago
Hawkeye fan here, obvious block in the back. The guy would of stopped the play.
dave52623 1 year ago
@dave52623 Another Hawkeye fan here and yes it was a good call.
Still it was a spetacular play by the Rocket.
mongoose704 1 year ago
saw that play on many different cameras, bad bad call. shame to rob a great athlete of such a moment , not to mention the national championship.
turkeytonite 1 year ago
worst f cking call ever! Rocket was the man!
lorcaliph514 1 year ago
OMG THE GREATEST MEMORY I HAVE AS A CHILD ...WHICH ISN'T SAYING MUCH CUZ IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MYSELF BUT FUCK THE REFS I HOPE THEY HAVE HAD THE KARMA COME BACK TO THEM500000000000000 TIMES FOR RUINING THIS AMAZING MOMENT
djcaff 1 year ago
Terrible call. Head was in front, above the waist and no hands used. Ref doesn't even make the correct call. It wasn't a clip. Wasn't even close. Block in back if anything. Oh well. Stuff happens. There was a billion people in China who didn't care about this.
hogandaas 1 year ago
Ok so i paused it at :42. This is the frame right before the CU player gets hit. He is behind him therefore it was a good call.
shaybird45 1 year ago
I remember watching that game. Guess I'd have been eight years old. Absolutely not a Notre Dame fan, but even I thought that was a bullshit call. Colorado got away with two highly questionable victories that year, the other being the notorious "Fifth Down" against Missouri.
angelus4282 1 year ago
Damn, this return gets called back every time I watch it.
Sierra688 1 year ago
They were running side to side parallel. It's only from 'behind' in the sense that Rocket was cutting northeast across their path. terrible.
tbonesays 1 year ago
I hate Colorado as much as the next guy... But watch just after Rocket breaks free- right at :37. A potential CU tackler gets shoved in the back. Definitely a penalty there.
porkolicious 1 year ago
@porkolicious I don't see anybody getting shoved in the back at :37. At :42, a CU
Buff gets shoved from his right side. What is the number on the jersey?
micbaca 1 year ago
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dabomb2045 1 year ago
how could it be ND winning 2 years in a row when Miami won it 1989. Plus Georgia Tech was still undefeated?
MrCesmith13 1 year ago
wow im a CU fan and this was the first game i remember. I was 5. I always thought that there was no block in the back until now. are you guys all blind? Or Nebraska fans? No. 17 was about to tackle Ismial and is pushed from behind at the 30 yard line
cpiep 1 year ago
@cpiep You are acting your age then. Helmet in front of player means no clip young lad.
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 Haha. Are you going to drive to boulder and get the trophy? is anybody? NO. So shut the fuck up. Besides, its like i said before, you have no idea if CU would have scored even if they counted the TD. So your arguement means as much as this punt return.... NOTHING!!!
borkzig1 1 year ago
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treasureirish1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 STFU? Grow up and when you can have a logical debate, let me know. And ya, who knows if CU would've scored cuz there was a lot of offense in that game (10-9)
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 I dont need to have a logical debate, colorado won, there is no debate.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 obviously there was a debate...
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 Look at the scoreboard, debate untill youre blue in the face, and see if the score changes...
borkzig1 1 year ago
Only thing I could see is at 0:41 where the guy threw a questionable block at about the 30.
On one hand, you don't bail out any team stupid enough to kick to Ismail late in the game, but on the other hand it's almost poetic justice for Miami being screwed out of the title in South Bend back in '88.
KingmanIII 1 year ago
Horrible, horrible call... And I am a MICHIGAN fan, born and bred.... ND got robbed here, pure and simple....
jpsartrean 1 year ago 22
@jpsartrean it was almost as bad as the infamous 5th down. what team was....oh that's right. it was for Colorado, too.
srvaughan121 1 year ago
@jpsartrean Bullshit! I saw at least 3 blocks in the back. Great run but too bad so sad.
captmclain 1 year ago
@jpsartrean For once I agree with a Michigan fan,ND got robbed!
Irishfanism 1 year ago
@jpsartrean thank you!!
go blue!!
i support honesty!!
TheTzdope 1 year ago
The closest I see to clipping was that block at the 30 yd line, but I don't know if that was enough for a game-costing penalty.
swissirish1 1 year ago
for some reason when i saw him give that tumbs up to the sidelines i knew in my heart he was about to do something special i was like 6or seven and love darian hagen and eric bienemy but this nd team was so legit!
trentteh 1 year ago
If youre blocking someone and you can see the numbers on his back when you hit him, its illegal. It was the right call all the way.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 How do you know the ND player saw the # on the Colorado player's back? His shoulder is clearly in front of the player, not the back. Not a clip now and not a clip then!!
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 It was a clip then, it is a clip now, it always will be. How can you honestly watch this video and say its not? It fucking bewilders me!
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1
Now I know why you thought it was a clip, you are a Colorado fan. Too funny!! Majority of people on here who even hate ND think that it was NOT a clip. Bewilders me, homer!!!
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 Learn the rules of football before you try to argue.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1
ahhh, I coach football fool and I think I know the rules, homer.
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 When you say football, you mean soccer then? Theres no way this is a legal hit, cu fan or not, id agree all the way.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 Just answer 1 question. How come the ref closest to the "clip" didn't throw the flag?
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 Pause at 42 seconds, the helmet is in FRONT of the CU player thus not a clip.
treasureirish1 1 year ago
@treasureirish1 Maybe his helmet is close to being in front of him, but the rest of his entire body is not even close. Thus, a clip.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 he hit him with his shoulder which is next to your head. i wont argue that most of his body was behind the CU player but his shoulder hit him on his side therefore it was a legal block. case closed so fuck off because no one wants you here. if it wasnt for an awful call ND would have been the national champs
ah1106onps3 1 year ago
@ah1106onps3 Hey fuck head, who said you would have won even if they had counted the touchdown!? There was time left on the clock, even if there wasnt much time left. See 'miracle in michigan' please. And the fact that you really dont think thats an illegal hit, its fucking sad man.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 ur right but the way the two defenses were playing all game it is extremely unlikely that colorado would have won. and i KNOW thats not an illegal hit even look at the way the CU player falls, he doesnt fall straight forward flat on his face he falls at an angle. Ur just a diehard CU whose pissed because ur team was good for like 3 years and will never be good again. i know ur gonna say ND sucks dick and blah blah blah but at least were coming back to relevance unlike CU
ah1106onps3 1 year ago
@ah1106onps3 Umm coming back to relevance is a bold statement man. Hey, you guys were damn good, but cu was good for WAY longer than 3 yrs. I just get pissed cuz people always say 'its the luckiest national championship ever'. I mean fuck that, look at colorados schedule that year, non conference was fucking stacked! Yea the 5th down was bullshit, but is that CUs fault the guy on the sideline is retarded? Fuck no it isnt!
borkzig1 1 year ago
@ah1106onps3 But for real, i got no beef with notre dame. I fucking HATE nebraska (obviosly) and usc. So theres one week out of the year, im pulling for you guys big time! I always knew pete carroll was a snake. But yea, difference of opinion, i show this clip to non buffs fans, some agree, some not. Whats done is done i guess.
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 ya i guess your right about CU. And ya i got no beef with CU either just USC. ya i guess it is what it is
ah1106onps3 1 year ago
@borkzig1
dont get mad about the truth. congrats about the 90 championship. but it was attained through referees and good luck. no taking any credit away from your team. a very good team. but one loss, one tie, a 5th down victory, and this is very BS way to win it all. thats all i gotta say. but take it the trophy and cherish it. it might be the last one you ever get.
travis2x 1 year ago
@travis2x
borkzig1 1 year ago
@borkzig1 Head in front of player=NOT A CLIP. Clip occurs when a player is blocked BEHIND. Learn the rules and then argue. Official that threw the flag was at least 25 yds away. So you fail!!
treasureirish1 1 year ago
Yeah--- it was a block in the back-- and Tom Osborne is still an asshole for voting for Ga Tech.
baculite182 1 year ago
@baculite182 Why is Tom Osborne the A Hole? The Buffs Lost a game, tied a game, had to cheat and be gifted a 5th down against Mizzou (and Charles Johnson didn't even get in on 5th down) in 1990, while GA Tech went undefeated in 1990. Petulant Buff fans blame Tom Osborne because CU had to share a title they didn’t even deserve in the first place. If we put in a rule that any time CU wins more than 9 games (not happening any time soon) they get to share of the title would you stop your bitching?
stevewatson81 1 year ago
@baculite182 It's just that Tom knew Colorado didn't deserve the NC. Check out the Mizzou game. GT was undeated--Colorado----not so much.
MsAbracadebra 1 year ago
22 years later and its still not a clip. Not even close really, especially when you factor in how they call it in the game now a days.
Even worse, the ref closest to the play doesn't call it, its one an additional 10 yards down field.
Amazing play from an amazing player with everything on the line.
matt81874 1 year ago
Look at his burst of speed at the 35! I use to return punts & kickoffs, you can not coach that!! Its adrenaline that did that. The wide step and he took it to the house. He is the reason why I wore #25 in all sports I played!!
CROD2525 1 year ago
Probably, the greatest punt return ever.
topdogg757 1 year ago
I hate ND as well but they were screwed here. Rocket was one of the most exciting players ever.
bull864 1 year ago
The block on #17 at 0:41 is the DEFINITION of a block in the back preventing a tackle. I do npt get all the blown-call comments.
mangchander 1 year ago
@mangchander the refs gave the game to the Buffs because it was better than having ND win two years in a row and of course the Sal Aunese BS
MrQuarterpd 1 year ago
No block in the back of #17 for Colorado. Watch him cover the punt. ND's cover man blocks him to the edge, but loses him. He recovers to then chip his back side shoulder and knock him out of the potential tackle. There is no way that the referee should've called that in any situation, let alone a National Title Orange Bowl
jvanirish 1 year ago
:41 at the 33 yard line was that a block in the back?
natedagr808 1 year ago
I'm amazed something similar to that of bottlegate didn't erupt at the Orange Bowl when this happened. 1990 will always be rememered as a season filled with controversy.
TideatMileHigh 1 year ago
One of the worst calls in the history of college football. Colorado benefitted from this AND the 5th down play vs Missouri in the same season. Talk about a "joke" national title.
dabomb2045 1 year ago
I don't watch college football, so here's an unbiased breakdown on this play.
There is NO block in the back, anywhere prior to the final block. Now, the referee calls "clipping", on the final block.
Definition of "clipping", a block below the waist from behind. Does it look like a block below the waist, let alone from behind? Not even close...
Jikk 1 year ago