35 years ago today one of the greatest finishes to a college game

Greg Richardson getting out of bounds

quote:

---

Kevin Porter was offsides. In the video, you can see the official throw the flag, which just gets picked up and never even acknowledged by the white hat

---

This is true. It is also true that with modern replay, that play never happens because Greg Richardson was down in the field of play.

There were some amazing, thrilling, heart-breaking, historical football games in that 1981-1989 stretch of the Iron Bowl.

This was more than the “...and here comesVan Tiffin...” game. It was also the “wrong way Bo” game. Never got a good explanation why Aub went for it on 4th at the ALA 20... but that inspired a great joke.

Aub at Ala 20 up by two, 1 min left, 4th and one. Aub is sending in FG team when booming voice from clouds says “go for it.”

Aub looks up and says “yes Lord” but Bo Jackson turns wrong way, play is stuffed, ball over to Ala who drives for winning field goal.

In the locker room Shug implores God asking “why Lord did you tell me go go for it?” The booming voice was heard saying “just a minute...Bear, why did we have him go for it?”

Another factoid: that day was Bo Jackson’s birthday and before the game the Aub loudspeakers had the Aub fans sing Happy Birthday to Bo... and they urged the Ala fans to join in which of course lead to a lot of cursing. But after the game the Ala fans stayed in the stands for 30 minutes singing “Happy Birthday to Bo.”

The game was in Birmingham and the Ala team came back out of the locker room half dressed 30 mins after the game and paraded in front of the still packed Ala student section. Great game.

Jacknola

Everything in that post are just more reasons why I love college football. Even when LSU is getting thrashed.

I know Auburn fans were upset about having to play in Birmingham, but my God those games in 1982, 83, 84, 85, 86 were some of the most exciting football games ever.

If you were in the stadium life stopped and it was like a dome had been placed over Legion Field, the yelling NEVER stopped. Shoot, there was a tornado warning in the 4th quarter during one of the games, and that did not stop it.

While I understand why Auburn did it, it is a shame that the younger generation can not experience it.

quote:

---

This is true. It is also true that with modern replay, that play never happens because Greg Richardson was down in the field of play.

---

You do realize that the clock stops on first downs...even back in 1985...right? Or have you literally never watched a college football game? No way that Alabama doesn't get to the line and be ready to kill the clock while the chains are being moved.

And with that "modern replay", the clock stops even longer.

You really didn't think that comment through, did you?

I didn't realize Auburn had Bama bottled up for much of that last drive. Sacked Shula, had us 4th & 4. Bama runs a reverse, Shula throws a pancake block, we pick up the first down, and the rest is history. Pretty cool.

quote:

---

No way that Alabama doesn't get to the line and be ready to kill the clock while the chains are being moved.

---

Richardson did make a first down. And you are right the clock would have stopped for that. But ‘killing the clock’ was not a thing until the 90s if memory serves.

Bama would have had to immediately run out the special team, got lined up, and snapped the ball. That’s possible, but the odds of getting it off in time, much less making it, go way, way down.

Don’t take this from me dude. That was one of the most gut wrenching losses of all time. And yeah, I watched it from the stands that day.

Is Britton Cooper the holder for Van Tiffin's FG?

quote:

---

Richardson did make a first down. And you are right the clock would have stopped for that. But ‘killing the clock’ was not a thing until the 90s if memory serves.

---

Memory doesn't serve. While spiking the ball wasn't a thing, they certainly could have just thrown it out of bounds over a receiver's head or at his feet. Teams did do that.