Boston College v. Miami, 1984
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The Boston College v. University of Miami college football game that took place on November 23, 1984, is considered among the greatest games of all time[1]. It is most notable for a last-second Hail Mary pass from quarterback Doug Flutie to wide receiver Gerard Phelan, to give Boston College the win. Miami was the defending national champion, and entered the game ranked 12th in the nation. Boston College was ranked 10th with a record of 8-2. The game was nationally televised, and played in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The game capped a Heisman Trophy season for Flutie.
[edit] The Game
Boston College jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, before quarterback Bernie Kosar and Miami stormed back to tie. The two quarterbacks played phenomenal games, combining for 59-84, for 919 yards, and 5 touchdowns. With 28 seconds remaining, Boston College trailed 45-41. Three quick plays took the Eagles from their own 20 yard line to the Hurricanes' 48 yard line.
Flutie called the "55 Flood Tip" play, in which the receivers were to run straight routes to the end zone. Then they were to tip the football to another receiver. Flutie scrambled to his right, narrowly averting a sack. He threw the football from his own 37-yard line, requiring the 5' 9" quarterback to throw the ball at least 63 yards after already having thrown it 45 times throughout the course of the game. The Miami defensive backs doubted Flutie's ability to throw the ball into the end zone, so they paid no attention to Phelan as he ran behind them. The ball came straight down over the mass of players, untouched, into Phelan's arms for the 47-45 win for the Eagles.
The final play was shown repeatedly in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Rich Hall as Flutie and Eddie Murphy as the Bishop Desmond Tutu.
