Hail Mary (famous play)

In American football, The Hail Mary refers to a play that resulted in the winning score in the between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, played on December 28, 1975 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. Since this event, any similar last-second desperation pass is now commonly called a "Hail Mary".

The Play

The Dallas Cowboys started with the ball on their own 15-yard line, losing 14-10, with one minute and fifty-one seconds left in the fourth quarter. Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach managed a nine play drive to midfield against the Minnesota Vikings defense. From midfield, with 24 seconds now remaining, Staubach lined up in the shotgun formation, took the snap, pump-faked left, then turned to his right and threw a desperation pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson, who was being covered by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Nate Wright. As the ball decended downward, Pearson caught the ball by trapping it against his right hip at the 5-yard line and ran into the end zone to make the score 16-14 in favor of Dallas, and what would eventually be the winning touchdown.In a later interview with Pearson, he stated that he thought he dropped the ball only to find it against his hip and then just waltzed right into the endzone. Many Viking fans (and players) felt Wright was unable to defend the pass, as he had been pushed to the ground by Pearson's free hand. Pearson has vehemently denied those claims and replay footage is inconclusive.

Reactions

As Pearson strode into the end zone for the score, free safety Paul Krause complained to field judge Armen Terzian that an interference penalty on Pearson should had been called. An orange, thrown by a spectator in the stands, whizzed by Pearson at the goal line. The orange is visible on NFL Films footage of the play and was initially confused by some as a penalty flag. More debris was thrown from the stands by angry Vikings fans, enraged that no penalty was called on Dallas.

Defensive tackle Alan Page argued with officials and was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the ensuing kickoff. On Minnesota's next possession with 14 seconds left to play, a whiskey bottle was thrown by a spectator, striking Armen Terzian in the head at Minnesota's own 10-yard line, creating a large forehead gash and rendering him unconscious. Terzian had to wear a bandage, later requiring 11 stitches, as he walked off the field and was replaced by substitute official Charley Musser for the final two plays.

A popular misconception among Viking fans is that Armen Terzian was solely responsible for judging the legality of the Hail Mary play. Head linesman Jerry Bergman was actually the responsible official on the play and ruled the play legal. Terzian was standing about 15 yards away from the catch, and agreed with Bergman's non-interference call, saying, "Both men were going for the ball. It's just one of those plays."

Aftermath

The term "Hail Mary pass" is believed to been used for the first time by Roger Staubach following the game in a post-game interview. Previous to this play, a last-second desperation pass had been called several names, most notably the "Alley-Oop". As Staubach, who had been hit immediately after throwing the ball and didn't see its ending, was asked about the play and he said, "You mean [Pearson] caught the ball and ran in for the touchdown? It was just a Hail Mary pass; a very, very lucky play." Staubach told reporters that he closed his eyes, threw the ball as hard as he could, and said a Hail Mary prayer.

Shortly after the game concluded, Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton was informed that his father, Dallas Tarkenton, had died of a heart attack during the third quarter while watching the game on television at his Savannah, Georgia home. It was a disappointing end to a spectacular season for the Vikings, but a blessing for the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings finished the season with an NFC best 12-2 record and quarterback Fran Tarkenton won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award, while Foreman amassed 1,761 total yards and 22 touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboys went on to become NFC Champions, defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game and advancing to Super Bowl X, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-17.

ee also

*National Football League lore
*List of Hail Marys in American football
*NFL playoffs, 1975-76

References

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