Re-Live “The Play”

The series between Cal and Stanford has produced some of the most memorable finishes in college football history. Five games have been decided on the final play and many others have been in doubt late in the fourth quarter. This year is the twentieth-fourth anniversary of what many sports enthusiasts consider to be the greatest moment in college football history. “The Play” in the 1982 Big Game was an unbelievable conclusion to a fantastic game. Stanford appeared to win the game with a last-minute desperation drive led by now-NFL Hall of fame quarterback John Elway that culminated in a “game winning” field goal with only four second left. However, as Cal Coach Joe Kapp would say, “The Bear would not quit, the Bear would not die.” The resulting kickoff is world famous. Cal won the game 25-20 following the miraculous 57-yard, five-lateral kickoff return now known simply as The Play.  The Stanford band, which wandered on the field in an early celebration, provided the last few blocks helping Cal get into the end zone for the winning score.

Bear fans can relive Big Game 1982.  Click here for links to both a short version of “The Play” and an emotionally rewarding (at least for Cal fans) longer version.  Click here for a transcript of Joe Starkey’s screaming commentary, which includes the following:    

“AND THE BEARS!!! THE BEARS HAVE WON!!! THE BEARS HAVE WON!!! Oh my God, the most amazing, sensational, traumatic, heart rending . . . exciting thrilling finish in the history of college football! California has won…the Big Game…over Stanford. . . .  I have never, never seen anything like it in the history of I have ever seen any game in my life! The Bears have won it!”

KJ