OT: Question about the Immaculate Reception

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Hi - all this Frenchy talk (Toussaint) made me look up Frenchy Fuqua, and I read that "if he had touched the ball first, Franco's reception would not have been valid, it would have been called incomplete".

If they were both RBs, why would that be? Or was Frenchy somehow an ineligible receiver on that play?

Thanks for anyone who might know!

[birtikidis]

Hi - all this Frenchy talk (Toussaint) made me look up Frenchy Fuqua, and I read that "if he had touched the ball first, Franco's reception would not have been valid, it would have been called incomplete".

If they were both RBs, why would that be? Or was Frenchy somehow an ineligible receiver on that play?

Thanks for anyone who might know!

Back in the olden days an offensive player couldn't catch the ball off a deflected pass from another offensive player. The defender had to be the one to deflect it.

[Slapstick]

Yep! The infraction was "double touching" and John Madden still swears to this day that Fuqua touched the ball first...

Back in 2004, the PG ran some science nerd articles detailing what the evidence shows:

[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2004/10/04/Pigskin-physics-and-the-Immaculate-Reception/stories/200410040160[/URL]

[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2004/10/18/The-physics-of-the-matter-say-the-Immaculate-Reception-ball-hit-Tatum/stories/200410180144[/URL]

Also, this dude does some slo-mo and some description on YouTube:

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Back in the olden days an offensive player couldn't catch the ball off a deflected pass from another offensive player. The defender had to be the one to deflect it.

YUP.. essentially, no "touch passes"... so, it hit Tatum and that's that!

[Oviedo]

YUP.. essentially, no "touch passes"... so, it hit Tatum and that's that!

Since it was ruled a catch by Harris don't know why there is any doubt plus Madden is a senile fart anyway so what does he really remember.

[Starlifter]

madden continues to be a blowhard on this issue. the simple truth is this. he was a perfect coach for a thug franchise and jack tatum was madden's kind of player. not just tough - but willing to hurt the opposition. in this play jack tatum was trying to take frenchy's head off. a smart player on a disciplined team would simply go for a textbook tackle, wrap him up so if he did catch the ball - end the play there. but no, tatum went for the kill. he hit the ball first and franco picked it off his shoelaces.

but madden doesn't see it that way.

i can't tell you how much it thrills me that madden's last broadcast was another steeler superbowl victory. that's good karma for steeler fans!

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Since it was ruled a catch by Harris don't know why there is any doubt plus Madden is a senile fart anyway so what does he really remember.

it was ruled a catch by Harris after a long discussion and officials who had no access to instant replay and no clue. most of the raiders are chaffed by the play. i've seen a number of angles and honestly, when i take off my black and gold glasses, i have no clue who touched it first... even with replays, that play would stand as called because there is no irrefutable evidence to overturn.

[Ghost]

Best story I heard about this was one of the refs turning to one of the nearby security guys and asking, "how many policemen are here to walk us out?" Security guy says, "Six". Head ref turns to the others and says, "In that case... That's 6 for the Steelers" (raises hands giving the TD signal)

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Bradshaw's poem about the Immaculate Reception:

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5XMwKj6cbw[/url]

[SteelCrazy]

madden continues to be a blowhard on this issue. the simple truth is this. he was a perfect coach for a thug franchise and jack tatum was madden's kind of player. not just tough - but willing to hurt the opposition. in this play jack tatum was trying to take frenchy's head off. a smart player on a disciplined team would simply go for a textbook tackle, wrap him up so if he did catch the ball - end the play there. but no, tatum went for the kill. he hit the ball first and franco picked it off his shoelaces.



but madden doesn't see it that way.

i can't tell you how much it thrills me that madden's last broadcast was another steeler superbowl victory. that's good karma for steeler fans!

I'm sure Jack Lambert would agree on form tackling and not hurting the opposition

[Starlifter]

I'm sure Jack Lambert would agree on form tackling and not hurting the opposition

interesting point and a fair observation. but i don't think lambert enjoyed the reputation of a dirty player As I recall, tatum did. didn't tatum also paralyze a guy? it's been 40 some years and my memory might be off. I also think by and large the raiders enjoyed and embraced their reputation of outlaws and dirty - and it was enabled and encouraged by madden in my opinion.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Thanks for the info and history, guys!

[RuthlessBurgher]

didn't tatum also paralyze a guy?

Darryl Stingley. In a preseason game.