Statue of Liberty play
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In American football, the Statue of Liberty play is a trick play that is rarely used anymore in professional or collegiate football and is found more often in high school or peewee leagues.
There are several variations on the play, but the most common involves the quarterback handing off to a running back who then pretends to pass, but instead another back comes behind and snatches the ball in the middle of the passing motion (which is where the moniker comes from - the passing back is in the same position as the Statue of Liberty). The trick is in the fact that the play shifts from a run to a pass and then back to the run again. Ideally, the defense is confused enough that the run play is successful. This is why the play is rarely used in the professional ranks, because a professional player is much more likely to read the trick play.
The phrase "Statue of Liberty play" has also come to represent any bit of desperate trickery or misdirection outside of sports.
[edit] In Pop Culture
The Statue of Liberty play was a staple of football games in Warner Bros Looney Toons cartoons. In these cartoons, the main character would quickly dress up as the Statue of Liberty, then majestically walk the ball to the endzone for a touchdown. This play was successful because of course good Americans always stand at attention and salute the Statue of Liberty, and are therefore unable to interfere with the play.
