Holy Roller (American football)
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In American football, the Holy Roller (known as the Immaculate Deception by San Diego Chargers fans) was an infamous, controversial game-winning play executed by the Oakland Raiders against the Chargers on September 10, 1978 (see 1978 in sports). The game was played at the Chargers' home field, Jack Murphy Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium).
What some believe should have been called an incomplete pass (and possibly intentional grounding) was seen as a fumble and the rest of the play involved illegal batting of the ball. The officials did not think the illegal actions were obvious enough to call a penalty so the play ended in a touchdown.
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[edit] The play
With 10 seconds left in the game, the Raiders had possession of the ball at the Chargers 14-yard line, trailing 20-14. Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler took the snap and found himself about to be sacked by Chargers linebacker Woody Lowe on the 24-yard line. Stabler lost the ball, and it rolled forward towards the San Diego goal line. Running back Pete Banaszak tried to recover the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing, and the ball was pushed even closer to the end zone. Raiders tight end Dave Casper was the next player to reach the ball but he also could not get a handle on it. He batted and kicked the ball into the end zone, where he fell on it for the game-tying touchdown as time ran out. With the ensuing extra point by placekicker Errol Mann, the Raiders won, 21-20.
During the play, the game officials ruled that Banaszak and Casper's actions were legal because it was impossible to determine if they intentionally batted the ball forward, which would have been ruled a penalty. The National Football League (NFL) also backed up referee Jerry Markbreit's call that Stabler fumbled the ball instead of throwing a forward pass.[1]
However, when asked after the game by radio announcer Bill King if he intentionally fumbled, Stabler said, "You bet your ass I did."[2] Banaszak and Casper also admitted that they deliberately batted the ball towards the end zone.
[edit] Reaction
The Chargers and their fans were furious. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts said the officials blew the call. After the game, Chargers fans began wearing T-shirts depicting a fat, blindfolded referee signaling a touchdown. Under the referee were the words "IMMACULATE DECEPTION." The nickname refers to the Immaculate Reception, another history-making play that involved the Raiders. That time, in a 1972 playoff game, it was the Pittsburgh Steelers who turned a routine defensive play by the Raiders into a controversial game-winning touchdown.
Before the 1979 season, the NFL passed new rules restricting fumble recoveries by the offense. A fumble in the final two minutes of a game, or on fourth down at any time in the game, now may not be advanced by the offense beyond the spot of the fumble unless the player who fumbled recovers the ball. If another player recovers, the ball is placed at the spot of the fumble. In such situations, the defense can recover and advance a fumble as always. In later years the NCAA passed a similar fourth-down fumble rule for college football, though without the provision for the last two minutes of a game (college football does not have the two-minute warning).
For Chargers head coach Tommy Prothro, the game hastened his departure from the team and the NFL. Two weeks later, after San Diego lost 24-3 to the Green Bay Packers to fall to 1-3, Prothro resigned.
[edit] The play-by-play call
The radio call of the Holy Roller, broadcast on KGO-AM of San Francisco, has become nearly as memorable as the play itself. The broadcasters were Bill King and Monty Stickles.
BILL KING: Ten seconds left, (Fred) Biletnikoff out, (Morris) Bradshaw in, the ball on the 14, Oakland trails 20 to 14. The crowd takes up a chant of "Defense!" (Terry) Robiskie and Banaszak are the backs. Slot right, (Cliff) Branch inside Bradshaw.
Stabler back. Here comes the rush. He sidesteps. Can he throw? He can't! The ball, flipped forward, is loose! A wild scramble! Two seconds on the clock. Casper grabbing the ball. It is ruled a fumble. Casper has recovered in the end zone! The Oakland Raiders have scored on the most zany, unbelievable, absolutely impossible dream of a play!!
Stabler, while being hit, the ball squirted forward. (Raiders coach John) Madden is on the field; he wants to know if it's real. They said yes, get your big butt out of here! He does!
The ball went wildly, bounding inside the 10. (Chargers coach Tommy) Prothro is on the field. Stabler, it is ruled, has been hit and fumbled. Banaszak knocked the ball forward, it bounded crazily. I'm looking at a replay now. Ultimately, Casper fell on it in the end zone. On the replay you see Banaszak go after it, it's knocked away as he shovels it forward. It's bounding inside the 5, Casper flips it with the fingers and falls on it.
And I have to tell you, I think Kenny Stabler threw the ball away, belt-high with a little flip and got away with it.
MONTY STICKLES: I'll tell you what, I think Kenny threw the ball away and got away with it. I think Banaszak fumbled it forward. But on all of that, Casper still has the presence of mind to get it in the end zone.
BILL KING: There it is, the kick by Mann is up - IT'S GOOD! THERE'S NO TIME LEFT!
There's nothing real in the world anymore! The Raiders have won the football game! Fifty-two thousand people, minus a few lonely Raider fans, are stunned! The Chargers are standing, looking at each other, looking at the sky. They don't believe it! Nobody believes it! I don't know if the Raiders believe it!
It's not real! A man would be a fool to ever try and write a drama and make you believe it. And now, this one will be relived - forever! Bitterly here in San Diego, joyfully in Oakland. Final score: Oakland 21, San Diego 20!
[edit] Sequence of events
 Ken Stabler is almost sacked |
 Stabler "throws" the football |
 Pete Banaszak shoves the football goalward |
 Dave Casper attempts to recover the football at the 2-yard line |
 Casper recovers the football in the end zone |
[edit] See also
- NFL lore - Famous and infamous moments in NFL history
[edit] References
- ^ Markbreit, Jerry; & Steinberg, Alan (1999). Last Call: Memoirs of an NFL Referee, pp 183-186. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-58382-030-2.
- ^ NFL Features: Inside the 'Holy Roller' play
[edit] Sources
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
- Audio of the Holy Roller radio play-by-play by Bill King
