Doug Flutie's Hail Mary

[@eagleboston89]

In a weird way, I owe my adult life to Doug Flutie. I was 16, living in Iowa when I kept seeing these halftime reports about the amazing yardage that Doug Flutie was putting up. Back then, they would just read the score and give the stats as there were no highlights, especially for games way out East. I had never heard of Boston College. A year later, I saw a brochure in our school library for BC. I remembered that was the Flutie school and applied. A few months later, I watched the Hail Flutie pass and prayed I would be accepted. I got in, met my wife 3 years later and we have now been married 30 years! All thanks to Doug Flutie.

[@brianbrady4496]

Awesome story. Im a Boston native

[@rraguso]

The "Flutie effect" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flutie_effect

[@wrxsubaru02]

What a great story! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

[@eoinMB3949]

That's amazing

[@Dragoborn1776]

That’s mfing dope

[@nickcurran3105]

I know a guy who played against Doug in a men's baseball league in Massachusetts long after Doug retired from the NFL. He said Doug is the nicest, most down-to-earth guy you'd ever meet.

[@zman8340]

The man threw it from his 37 to the end zone . Doug will always be one of my hero’s . Class act in every way .

[@ramongonzalez2112]

65 yard pass! If he was 6ft tall, Flutie might have been the next Joe Montana 👍

[@jgringo5516]

I remember watching it on TV. I couldn’t believe he gunned it 65 yards. RPG launcher.

[@robbygaume600]

I never get tired of watching that play.

[@a-ddaigrepont3375]

goat of last sec plays

[@harveypost7799]

Well I ain't 34 years old anymore I'm 70 and past my prime time to move on from this planet don't care much for sports anymore...sports use to b enjoyable not anymore.

[@Crusader1815]

The most legendary play in football history.

[@SnoDawg]

Doug Flutie thank you for one of the “best moments in time” in the history of college football.

[@highlander49ca]

As a Canadian we got to enjoy Doug for most of his career, great person and a great HOF quarterback!!!

[@PyramidOfBubbles777]

Agreed! In 1996 I got to finally meet him, and he was a class act! Very genuine and down to earth.

[@roro5150]

One of the greatest college moments ever.

[@writer125]

I remember seeing that whole game. 11/26/84, I was 23 at the time. One of the greatest college football games I have ever seen. Both Flutie & Kosar were amazing, it turned into a shootout of the highest degree. Thanx for posting this.

[@CowSaysMooMoo]

you must have seen the delayed broadcast 3 days later

[@az0970449]

was at the legion in mass remember it also

[@EzraStyles-b6n]

it was the 23rd...a fri day after thanksgiving

[@writer125]

@@EzraStyles-b6n Okay, I was wrong. I saw the game live. But got the date wrong. Thanx again.

[@FuShengAlex]

​@@writer125 I was 9 years old this was the day after my birthday watching here in Canada. The first time i ever went bezerk over a sporting moment. 😂

[@jacobjc573]

I was privileged to see him play live on numerous occasions in Calgary for the CFL Stampeders. What a cool guy and what a tremendous athlete. Pound for pound one of them greatest football players to ever grace the field. No doubt if he had been given a real shot in his prime he would have won a Super Bowl. Oh well lucky for us in Canada we were blessed to see him win multiple championships:))

[@adamsoboleski6857]

The cable went out during that game in my house in Connecticut. I was so mad. Later, I had dinner with the family. But I left the table early to see if the cable was back on in the TV room. It was - and amazingly I saw the clock at :06, just for that last play. I saw the Hail Mary. I went screaming back to the dinning room table. I said to them "You won't believe this. They will be talking about this forever." You should have seen the looks on my family members. Been a Boston College fan since. Childhood memories.

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

Fun story! Thanks!

[@kennethbrady]

When life gets you down, study Doug Flutie and Boston College.

[@deonal]

Still remains as one of the greatest football moments of all time for me, then he came to Vancouver with his brother Darren - epic!

[@retrobrahhh]

I was a Doug Flutie fan and on this day in 1984 I was 7 and I watched part of the 1st Quarter and BC was winning big. We went to Kmart to get a replacement record needle and when we got back home Miami was winning. I got home just in time to see the ending. Amazing. Also watched Flutie play in the USFL.

[@cdelliodellio6011]

We're here for a short time.. Make memories!! This is it!! 🧡🤗

[@laraschauble]

I remember watching that famous hail mary throw!!! Everyone in the house was screaming and cheering!! 😊

[@MrElPoderozo1]

This has to be the most beautiful pass I have ever seeing. Mr. Flutie I have nothing but respect. That arm tho!😯👍🏽

[@Z-bone64]

Best college football game ever.

[@eoinMB3949]

That pass is a thing of absolute beauty. Its perfect.

[@franciscocortez2926]

The most underrated qb, never underestimate a person because of their size l

[@renpilak6048]

Jan. 2021, and I’m still watching this! I have never heard of Boston College until the 1985 Cotton Bowl; I was new to college football then! Now, I live in the south where BC people are rare, but, when I occasionally see a BC sticker, I think of Doug Flutie and puts a smile on my face!

[@joshmartins560]

I vividly remember sitting on my aunt's living room floor as a 10 year old and watched this play live ....amazing !!!

[@bodyimager]

Saw it live. I’m 55 and remember it like it was yesterday.

[@paulmatulavich7321]

If you don't get chills watching that replay, you're not a football fan. Great plays never grow old.

[@Crusader1815]

Best football game ever played.

[@scituguy2538]

If Doug Flutie came along today, the way the game is played in today's NFL, and was allowed to play in his prime which he was never given that chance, he'd be a superstar. He was a better Russell Wilson before there was a Russell Wilson. He was the most elusive, back breaking, exciting, most prolific passing QB that college football had ever seen to that point. No one had thrown for more yards in college football history at that point. First to throw for over 10,000 yards in college football history in an era where passing offenses were not even close to as big as they are today. Such a shame he was never given that chance. All at 5'-9"(wink, wink). It was a gift to have witnessed his entire career.

[@A1Authority]

I had always thought that Doug was a miniature Brett Farve

[@Crusader1815]

The thing was, Fran Tarkenton was short and a scrambler too, and held all the records at the point when Doug was entering the pros. I think Doug was a better QB all around than Tarkenton, and those retards in the NFL were all like "Durr, he's not 6''5, so he must suck."

[@shempshempleton4746]

@@A1Authority He was a WAY smarter QB than Brett.

[@jays1752]

He was blacklisted from day one for crossing the picket line. The NFL never forgave him. He dominated in the CFL and likely would have been a hall of famer in the NFL. Wasn't meant to be. But those BC years were some of the most exciting years football has ever seen.

[@writer125]

He was actually 5'8". Small QBs can make it in the NFL today, look at Drew Brees.

[@ibodevelopment3187]

One of the greatest college games

[@davehansen9124]

That's over 60 yards in the air. Big throw for a little guy.

[@rodnstaff33]

+Dave Hansen Totally, dude. How many passes did he throw before having to heave that one. Just incredible.

[@davehansen2255]

+kyle m Flutie passed for 472 yards and Bernie Kosar 447, for over 900 yards combined passing. Wikipedia claims he threw that 63 yard pass into 30 mph winds, but I seriously doubt that. Ever try to throw football into a strong wind ? It doesn't go very far !

[@davehansen2255]

+kyle m According to Wikipedia, both of Doug Flutie's parents died yesterday of heart attacks - one hour apart !

[@rodnstaff33]

+Dave Hansen Yeah, Dave. Saw that. It's what brought me here. I left a post on the news article regarding his parents' passings. Left my condolences to the guy and that he's the type of role model I will introduce to my 1.5 year old to. And that his parents probably had a big part in who he became as a man. Feel for the guy.

[@bobmcgahey1280]

+Dave Hansen rip

[@Airman241]

As a Miami Hurricanes fan still have nightmares of this moment

[@gullybop1695]

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee.....blessed art thou....and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.....

[@PInk77W1]

Nice

[@windtested5597]

Dan Davis's radio call is spine tingling. Check out the full clip elsewhere on You Tube. One of the best calls ever. He's beside himself, as was pretty much everyone in the room.

[@MrNati1Sun]

Nearly promised Doug Flutie, that I’d watch this again, Saturday at the Heisman Trophy Awards inside the JAZZ-Lincoln Center!!)

[@Will-Parr]

Still amazing.

[@skipbellon2755]

I never really watched a lot of college football. But I followed college ball, and I was a big Illinois fan (being from Illinois). However, I did watch this game and I am very glad I did... it may be the best college game ever. I went on to be a big Flutie and Kozar fan as they progressed through the NFL. Loved it when Ditka gave Flutie a chance with the Bears.

[@WalkmanAssassin]

Cmon Dawg, Mayne cMon Mayne !!! This is culture and Doug ! Everytime I revisit this moment. I feel, like I committed the greatest act of kindness by knowing this day. I wasn't even but 5 years old. Didn't see the game, researched my era when it came. This play ! Alongside that Cal kickoff return ! Always if you're ever having a bad day. Hit this video up ! Watch Doug. Watch em ! SD I represent. When he came to the Chargers. We started to win. We did. I just don't think the Chargers will ever do this kinda kindness for us. This was the play that made you all believe in yourselves. Plays like these man !!! The embrace us.

[@rickkoehnlein4629]

Awesome

[@wfqsfg]

Being small like Flutie and a good football player makes me a Flutie fan. Plus from what I've seen he is a down to earth guy. Pretty grounded.

[@samgriswold4512]

I remember watching this game when I was seven years old what a game what a pass Doug Flutie

[@SKF358]

One of my favorite, you remember where you were when it happened experiences.

[@grumpyoldgraymetalhead2441]

Saw this game on tv, but that radio call by Dan Davis and Gino Cappelletti was one for the ages!

[@jays1752]

I watched this game while visiting my grandparents for Thanksgiving week. The most exciting football game I've ever seen. When Phelan caught that pass I lost my mind with euphoric excitement. Flutie was special player. Embodied all of those who have been underestimated. Still get chills watching that play.

[@keithbramstedt4511]

This game was the day after Thanksgiving, I watched it live. The Saturday eight days after that I was in Worcester, Mass. where I went to college. I was in a car near the Holy Cross campus where BC was playing Holy Cross in their final regular season game. It was late afternoon and a limo with a police escort went by, I figured it was Doug Flutie being taken to the airport to fly to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation which was a few hours away.

[@gskessingerable]

One of the greatest moments in sports history.

[@lancewadethomas8709]

I remember that day, watching that game...was routing for Boston College and I went crazy jumping up and down when that ball was cAught. My God, unbelievable!

[@elfhighmage8240]

I was waiting and waiting for the radio portion of the play. Those talented broadcasters know how to do their jobs. The excitement in their voices.

[@saveriosalemme5366]

To this day watching this still gives me goosebumps

[@bitte12pouce]

I never get tired of it.

[@texasrailer]

Definitely one of the greats! I remember watching that game on TV when I was 10. I’ll never forget that one, that’s for sure!

[@GatCat]

Doug Flutie is one of the most beloved sports figure we have ever seen. And for good reason.

[@kameronoverton6227]

This guy is awesome

[@Lehmann108]

Flute had a fucking cannon for an arm. 64 yards in the air after throwing 33 of 45 for 408 yards.

[@jimmy1154]

What a magical way to end your college career. One of the greatest moments in college football history.

[@davidlafleche1142]

Flutie was the best QB that was never given a fair chance. Any coach should have just given him the job, and said to the backups, "You'll have to kill him to get him out of the game."

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

We have him a chance in Canada. He did pretty well up here. . .

[@ellibarasch2997]

I blame Trump, the USFL, and the idiotic New Jersey Generals.

[@edradil3438]

Gerard Phelan was the guest speaker at my Pop Warner banquet in 1985 in Billerica MA. Very cool.

[@PInk77W1]

“Let’s be honest, you’re not a college QB.” Remember, Tom Brady finished last of Every QB who ever went to Bill Walsh’s QB camp

[@mrkreepers1489]

Listening to the live broadcast still gives me goosebumps.

[@twillis449]

The little man would be a 1st round draft choice in the modern NFL.

[@lucasgalvan9737]

Seeing this 2020. Enjoy it very much. Not a big football d9a. But this was amazing.

[@slyguythreeonetwonine3172]

That last 30-45 seconds.... 😭❤❤❤

[@larrynewman5286]

What a Cinderella story

[@pokeypoet]

I don't believe in prayer, but this one Hail Mary was answered. Still exciting and unbelievable 35 years later.

[@34Packardphaeton]

No football play will ever top this one!

[@winstonwilliams8100]

Absolutely wonderful

[@gordongoodman8342]

I vividly remember not watching this game.

[@09Youba]

My favorite QB of all time period.

[@danjsy]

guardian.co.uk sent me here, great story and fantastic radio commentary at the end !

[@fire12731]

Best play

[@DKoolbj7dl]

Magic Flutie=Legend.

[@afmartin2734]

The Dan Davis radio call is just spinetingling.

[@davidphillips3058]

it inspired everyone, what an influence!

[@marshalltsien]

dats one hell of a hail mary..... like no other #DougFlutie

[@TheDude4077]

Doug Flutie was a QB who was all intangibles, and he certainly proved how that can often be the most important trait

[@jcoats150]

Awesome!!

[@denisebabski6076]

Too bad the bills started mother f*%king Rob Johnson instead of Flutie in the playoff game against the titans. Superbowl chance for Flutie lost because of it

[@DavidSilva-fq7nt]

I totally agree with you Denise. Wasn't that Wade Phillips who did that?

[@23thebull]

You're so right Denise

[@ziggysmalls9329]

Yeah that was the Bills worst decision ever

[@cmvhon]

@@DavidSilva-fq7nt I thought I remember hearing it was the front office from A Football Life. If Flutie plays though, I don't think the Titans win and I don't think that miracle play happens.

[@johnmanning4097]

Denise Babski AGREED that use to make me so mad. Flutie was a way better QB.But because Rob Johnson was Supposedly how a NFL QB should look 6-3 or 6-4 instead of Doug Flutie 5-10 they went with him and it cost them being in the Super Bowl 🏈

[@erwinbenally8027]

Hell of a pass!

[@82ghall]

saw this live on TV, couldn't believe he threw the ball that far

[@CjsGaming-by7vn]

the guy who doug flutie jumped into was my uncle

[@slim.9766]

Really

[@CjsGaming-by7vn]

M.M.B. ENT yeah

[@lmbscriptsharcs2044]

Steve Trapilo, right?

[@Crusader1815]

@@lmbscriptsharcs2044 I just looked him up. You hear him in this video at 0:35. Shocked that Steve Trapilo died of a heart attack in 2004, only 39 years old. RIP Steve.

[@drfroglegs]

Chills

[@davidscott7626]

Flutie was a phenom at Boston College. Given the opportunity, he would have been a superstar in the N.F.L.

[@u.s.paratroops4633]

Everybody loves the underdog but, esp. when they pulls out an amazing win....

[@robkeel100]

I’m the worlds biggest Browns fan. Therefore, I’m a huge Kosar guy. He was Payton Manning before Payton Manning. He just played in the wrong era. Anyways, when Baltimore stole the Browns I didn’t have a team to root for. So, I got on the Flutie bandwagon in 1998 when he had that magical season with Buffalo. I’m naturally conflicted with the Hail Flutie play. There’s a clip of Kosar stoically walking off the field after the TD. Much like he had to walk off the field in defeat after the Drive and the Fumble. It breaks my heart. But the Flutie fan in me still gets a chill every time I see this play.

[@bentorrey12]

Inch for inch, the best all around quarterback out there

[@Billy11179]

That was the perfect ending to an after sCo0L special, let me tell you! I even shed a tear at the end! Happy ending clichè

[@hvymettle]

64 yards in the air is a big time heave.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

And that is why College Football is the greatest sport in the World.

[@Emikadepark]

After the job he did getting Buffalo into the playoffs I knew he was a tremendous player. Their starter Johnson, couldn't produce and then got hurt. When Flutie was benched on Johnson's return they subsequently shit the bed in the playoffs. That classless, bone head decision ensured I will never cheer for the Bills again.

[@saveriosalemme5366]

Jason Jamieson I feel the same way. I was a Bill's fan growing up in Rochester but I couldn't take the numerous small minded suicidal mistakes that the Bill's repeatedly made.

[@twillis449]

I've disliked Wade Phillips ever since.

[@danielstack4158]

​@twillis449 it wasn't Wade's fault. The executives above him demanded Johnson to start.

[@scottchambers7087]

I saw a G. I've seen it all. Dope describes my rhymes, making all you emcees cold drop like dimes. You know MCSC is back again, and battling me on the microphone is like committing a sin. Scott the Illinois Seer MCSC the Chicago Seer

[@jimlascola]

Glory!

[@luisbarros8527]

Best game ever flutie kossar

[@ichromium2055]

awesome!

[@dingusmcphee5751]

Man, 22’s a dope number, especially for a QB.

[@r.b.somers2052]

There's nothing that can replace a winning attitude.

[@robbmoody4857]

Doug hell of a player.

[@bondi-e2s]

I remember Doug going up to Bicknell when Miami was on its way to score, & telling Jack to "CALL TIME OUT." i knew then, BC was going to have a chance to win it. When Doug was a Soph. a gang of friends came to the PSU game, ( i lived in Boston at the time, a PA native). I said, "Watch #22 he's going to win the Heisman when he's a senior." - "Aw Bondola you don't know what your talking about." Doug threw for 520 yards that game ." But BC, had 5 turnovers & lost 52-17. Need I say who won the Heisman in 1984?

[@September2004]

“Let then score quicker.” I don’t watch football much but this is the first time I’ve ever heard of that strategy.

[@s0meguy0001]

@1:24 Jimmy Johnson's classic limp wristed running style

[@ac378]

s g bahahaha

[@uhhhWhatdatmean]

what a cannon of an arm he had.

[@johnbondola3246]

I KNEW Doug would win that game when he started badgering Bicknell to call time outs when Miami had the ball with under 2 min.'s to play. For the time. Watching Doug since he was a soph. Went to the 1982 PSU "blowout" win when Doug was int.'d 4 X's. I said to a bunch of old friends from Pennsylvania, "see that little #22/ He's gonna win the Heisman when he is a senior. "You're full of sh** Bondola," they said. Well.

[@stophatin84]

I'm claustrophobic lol at the bottom of that pile I'm like gettt offf I can't breathhh lol

[@stevegaudreau67]

John Madden once said, "Inch for inch, Flutie in his prime was the best QB of his generation."

[@michaelglucksman147]

One for the little guys!