Immaculate Reception Myth-Busting: What REALLY Happened

Here's the TRUTH about the Immaculate Reception. We look at the words of people who were there and separate the fact from fiction, including the recent controversy (that wasn't a controversy at the time) of whether the ball hit the ground, along with the original controversies of who touched the ball, was the 1972 double-touch rule violated, was there a clip, did the refs signal touchdown, what happened on the phone call and more.
There's some tongue-in-cheek razzing of the Raiders in this video. Just having a little fun. :)
I threw this together because recently, the original argument of "who did the ball touch" has shifted to "did the ball touch the ground?" This was never part of the original controversy because the people involved -- players and officials -- saw Franco make a clean, shin-level catch. But in more recent times, fan obsession with a lack of conclusive video (a common situation in the '70s era) has caused certain people to question something that wasn't disputed at the time. It's also a way for Raiders fans to deflect from the clear evidence that the ball hit Tatum, making it a legal play. As a result, I get daily "it hit the ground" comments from self-deceiving Raiders fans on our KZbin channel. All the evidence shows it's a bogus claim, one that even Al Davis never made.

[@ronleight9341]

The fact that this play haunts all the Raider players 50 years on, is the gift that keeps on giving!

[@mcmillenandwife]

😂🎯

[@carp68]

THE greatest play in NFL history. Period.

[@jfgjomad]

NFL Network did a more recent video on this, and Villapiano himself actually smiled and finally said that Franco had made a great catch.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Yeah, Villapiano is actually a pretty good guy (for a Raider). Funny and a good story teller, and he ended up becoming good friends with Franco.

[@geneodato6240]

I get chills and tears in my eyes everytime I see this film. We bought a case of Immaculate Reception Sauce from Franco.

[@CheetahSnowLeopard]

Raiders will be raiders.

[@mcmillenandwife]

😂🎯

[@MarkQuinn2k7]

Thank you for putting this together. I would say every Steelers fan should send this to any Raiders fan they know, but I doubt the people of Las Vegas care one way or another. Also it seems like the broadcast(s) where you got this from all let the Raiders players and staff tell their side of the story, but no one affiliated with the Steelers told theirs. Are we to take it that the official position of NFL Films is that this was a blown call?

[@mcmillenandwife]

No, there was no "official" position by NFL Films. They just let people talk. There was originally quite a bit more to the clip, but for some reason, KZbin immediately blocked it. I trimmed a bunch out and tried again and it didn't get blocked. Hard to understand why some things get blocked and some don't.

[@tsicy6731]

The 60s will always be my favorite decade for pro football. The 70s are right up there as a close 2nd. Thanks for posting these great videos! 👍

[@Bubbleb2]

I never get tired of watching the immaculate reception. Awesome video. Thank you for sharing this.

[@stephaniegormley9982]

5:58 All excellent points. Besides if the refereee wanted to check on security he need not call anyone. The guy next to him, the bald guy with the necktie was the head of all stadium operations. He'd be the guy to ask if Sweringen wanted to know about security.

[@johnleonard8681]

Thank you!

[@livetotell100]

Can I copy this to a Raiders fan? Please!?!!

[@mcmillenandwife]

Of course! Just share the link. 👍

[@livetotell100]

@@mcmillenandwife Thank You

[@jt20042]

It's so obvious that Tatum deflected the ball and that Franco caught it cleanly. The end zone angle clearly proves it. No clip on Villipiano either. End of story. 😊

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@jt20042 FACTS. 🎯🎯🎯

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

fluke. most overrated play in history.