OT: The Year of the Hail Mary

Submitted by SaigonBlue on

Having just watched the Hail Mary TD by Miss St. at the end of the half in the Orange Bowl, I am amazed yet again at how many have been successful this year. What is even more mind-boggling is how many of these are actually the result of a successfully executed offensive play AND a major defensive break down, versus just a "throw it up and hope for the best" type of play.

Not that it is any consolation for us, but the execution and the sheer numbers of the Hail Marys this year make that one that happened in 1994...I am searching for the right words....less historic (?). Perhaps we can at least hope that it will mean it won't be the ESPN "Hail-Mary-viewing-of-choice" in the future.....

Here is the Wikipedia page, that I see has already been updated for tonight's play:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hail_Mary_passes_in_American_footb…

 

 

WolverineHistorian

December 31st, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^

Of all the hail mary's in college football history, our game against Colorado was the only game where both teams were ranked in the top 5.  Boo. 

I think Doug Flutie's will always be considered the "biggest," but it never got rerun as much on ESPN Classic as the "Miracle at Michigan."  Again, boo. 

almog123

January 1st, 2015 at 7:28 AM ^

Well, it would be when Jim took two swallows and said he didn't have a list or know the details that it was from the heart, the best thing for his family, he needs to update his status soon enough, haha.

Larry Appleton

January 1st, 2015 at 8:27 AM ^

I think it's amazing that both Arizona and Arizona State won conference games on hail marys within weeks of each other.  I watched the ASU/USC game; it was the first game-winning hail mary I'd ever watched live.

Muttley

January 1st, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^

I was watching in a Pittsburgh bar, about ready to celebrate, when Stewart lauched that infamous play.  A Colorado fan at the table next to me rose up laughing.  In a not-so-great moment, I told him to Fuck Off before my future wife sat me down.

Muttley

January 1st, 2015 at 11:38 AM ^

into the regular offense.

I know there's a risk of an INT, but might some risk-taking coach look at the numbers and think that a, say 33% chance of a TD on a single play from your own 45 produces a better expected point scoring than trying to go the 55 yards in a conventional drive?

I doubt it would be sustainable once defensive coaches saw it, but it might be worthwhile against an unsuspecting defense.

pallaviyadav186

March 27th, 2017 at 5:34 AM ^

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