Pete Carroll's play call is not the worst in Super Bowl history
Two weeks have passed. The second down goal line game ending pass from Seattle QB Russell Wilson is still bewildering. The cover up by Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll in saying "he made the play call" and not offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is still unbelievable, but very impressive.
New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick did not use his remaining timeout to stop the clock with one minute remaining in Super Bowl XLIX. The end result was extraordinary, but the call is still questionable.
In the Greatest Game Ever Played, while not a Super Bowl contest, it was for the 1958 world title. In overtime, Baltimore Colts' QB Johnny Unitas threw a six yard pass to tight end Jim Mutscheller from the New York Giants' seven yard line. The Colts' RB Alan Ameche scored on a third down one yard touchdown run to win the game, 23–17. The pass was a strange call because Baltimore had a solid field goal kicker in Steve Myrha. The fact that the point spread was Baltimore favored by 5 1/2 may be signicant.
1. January 27, 1997 Green Bay 35 New England 21 Super Bowl XXXI
Fourth quarter
New England (3:56) - remaining
(New England takes over at spot of field–goal attempt)
NE 37 1st & 10 QB Drew Bledsoe pass to WR Vincent Brisby left underthrown, incomplete.
NE 37 2nd & 10 QB Drew Bledsoe 2 yard swing pass to RB Dave Meggett right (S Leroy Butler).
NE 39 3rd & 8 QB Drew Bledsoe sacked, loss of 7 yards(DE Santana Dotson).
NE 32 4th & 15 P Tom Tupa 37 yard punt, KR Desmond Howard 5 yd. return (TE Mike Bartrum). Green Bay penalized 10 yards for holding (CB Tramon Williams).
Georgetown's Fred Brown passed the ball to James Worthy of the University of North Carolina in the 1982 NCAA basketball finals. Chris Webber of the University of Michigan called a timeout against the University of North Carolina when his team did not have one to call in 1993. Championships were decided on those errors in judgment.
Fred Brown would have to wait only two years to win a title in Georgetown's win over the University of Houston in 1984. Michigan's Chris Webber would have his career numbers vacated due to University of Michigan and NCAA sanctions related to the University of Michigan basketball scandal. Chris called a timeout in a game that was never played.
Nobody has ever called out head coach Bill Parcells for his waving the white flag in his final game as the New England Patriots' head coach.
This week, ESPNClassic has rerun the most exciting games in the history of legendary basketball coach, University of North Carolina's Dean Smith. On February 2, 1995, North Carolina led archrival Duke, 95-87 with 28 seconds remaining at Cameron Indoor Stadium. North Carolina was at the free throw line shooting the second of two free throws. Following the missed free throw, Duke rebounded the ball and scored a two point field goal by Guard Trajan Langdon. The review showed his right foot to be on the three point line, 95-89.
Duke was able to grab the rebound of a missed North Carolina shot with 10 seconds remaining. Guard Ricky Price drove to the basket, scored and was fouled on the play. After completing the three point play, only five seconds remained in the first overtime. Duke trailed, 95-92. North Carolina Center Serge Zwikker was fouled on the inbounds play for two free throws with four seconds left. A missed free throw followed by a second one gave Duke a chance. Center Cherokee Parks(Chief) gets the rebound and hands off to Guard Jeff Capel. A 35 foot one handed set shot by Capel at the buzzer, 95-95.
Andrew Carter, TheState:
For one night, though, one of UNC's best teams, and one of Duke's worst, were equals. Or nearly equals. After Jeff Capel's shot completed a Blue Devils rally in which they erased a eight-point deficit in the first overtime, UNC prevailed in the second overtime with a 102-100 victory.
26 seconds remained in Super Bowl XLIX when the Seattle Seahawks threw on second down into the waiting arms of Patriots' CB Malcolm Butler. In Super Bowl XXXI, Bill Parcells was packing for his trip to New York long before the clock showed .00.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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