"The Play" | 1982 Big Game - Stanford vs. Cal Golden Bears (Full Game)

[@KennethKestner]

I have watched this literally 500 times over the years

[@billbmsn]

I was there...BUT...I didn't see THE PLAY. It's sad but true. I am a1969 graduate of Cal. I lived in Ohio in 1982. I came back to northern California to visit my parents who lived about 15 miles from Cal. The morning of the BIg Game I decided to go into Berkeley to the game although I had no ticket. I was able to get a seat, but it was in the Stanford side. I still enjoyed the game but I was demoralized when Stanford went ahead with 4 seconds to go. I had parked far from the stadium and was expecting bad traffic, so I decided to leave at that moment and head back to my car, a decision I will always regret. I was just outside of the stadium when I heard the cannon go off....a signal that Cal had scored!!! WHAT??? I ran back into the stadium to witness the utter pandemonium of the Cal rooting section swarming the field and celebrating the Cal victory. Obviously I was totally stunned. Somehow, CAL HAD WON!! It was only when I got to my folk's home and turned on the TV that I saw what had happened. What many regard as the wildest college football game ending ever, and I missed it.

[@jakeweisenberg3097]

Hey Bill, I went to the game also, with no ticket,lol…I was walking around asking if anyone had an extra one, and this family did!!, lol I paid face value, and sat at the 40 yard line, pure luck, Sorry you missed the last play, that game was unreal , so many great plays, by both teams. That July I graduated Berkeley high, and was still living in Berkeley, so glad I decided to go that Saturday, I remember part of the lateral was on my side of the field , when ford lateraled to moen…Anyway glad we were both there, lol…best wishes, Jake

[@JonesDylan874]

A TRUE classic. I will always remember "OH, THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD!".

[@KennethKestner]

I have watched this literally 300 times over the years and watching that band dude get wasted, NEVER gets old

[@joesakic91]

Joe Starkey will call his final Big Game between Cal and Stanford on the 40th anniversary of 'The Play' this Saturday from Berkeley's California Memorial Stadium.

[@Lov-latte]

I still got tears in my eyes to re-watch the ending after all these years.

[@letsbereal9455]

I do too!

[@tgifhounds]

I still remember my Dad (Cal fan) going from pissed off beyond measure to the most exuberant I've ever seen him as a result of this game.

[@grandpadino4044]

Here in DC, the Cal and Stanford alumni clubs get together for a Big Game broadcast and party. The 1982 game had such lows and highs that it took days for us to come back down emotionally. And I could listen to Joe Starkey's call forever!Too bad this year's game starts so late - 10:30 pm EST. Wifey and I will be there in Arlington to watch as much as we can.Go Bears!

[@koltondoesstuff2437]

I've always wondered why the announcer says "stanford band nowhere in sigjt" when theres a miricle play until I finally figured it out

[@pinoydramaacademy]

So amazing! I can never get enough of those final seconds.

[@victoranthony9037]

Elway set it up by calling timeout with 8 seconds left. Made no sense at all.

[@jamesmmahoney]

As a Cal student (a junior) in 1982 I turned down (!) an invitation to attend this game because I had to go to work. My brother later called me at work screaming on the other end of the phone. I didn't believe what he told me, but when I got home and saw the reply, it was exactly as he described. I find it humorous that Joe Starkey when describing the play never once told listeners that a lateral had occurred despite Cal have lateralled five times. It was a perfect call for TV except he was a radio broadcaster.

[@jakeweisenberg3097]

I was at the Game!!, I remember it didn’t have a ticket , but I was asking if anyone had an extra one , this family said yes, I think I paid 11.00 face value, I was sitting on the 40 yard line, not realizing I was about to see one of the greatest college games ever, there was so many great plays, in that game by both teams…Elway -his last college game, it turned out- was freaking amazing , his 4th and 17 pass to Emile harry from his own 10 yard line was unbelievable, that set up the field goal for Stanford to go ahead, and then we all know what happened after they kicked off, Anyway I could go on and on, I just remember it was pure bedlam at the end, I was standing there, with my hands on top of my head, looking around like everyone else, did I just see what I thought I saw, lol….I will never forget it

[@alreyes1451]

How loud was it at the end with the fans?

[@jakeweisenberg3097]

@@alreyes1451 Hi Al Reyes, It was insane!!, and when the refs huddled , and then signaled touchdown, all hell broke loose, seems like most of the student section rushed the field, plus the cal fans…great memories…best wishes, Jake

[@garylobo348]

That Moen was great here in the interview... Smiling like crazy when saying how his guy's knee wasn't on the ground. He knew it was. Today replay would've ended the game in Stanford's favor. No matter. And the announcer never used the word 'lateral' during that whole crazyyyy sequence.. until the play was over. That's all there were, were nutty laterals! 1:29:37

[@GregoryGioia]

By today's rules, they couldn't overturn it. There is no clear shot at all of his knee, let alone incontrovertible evidence. To the naked eye it appears the ball is already out before his knee touches the ground. As long as the ball has began to come loose, it's out. It doesn't have to be completely out of his hands, and it certainly looks like it's already coming out before the knee touches the ground.

[@yetz2291]

Greatest Pac-12 game of all time. Coming from a CO fan.

[@WillMuny]

What is a Pac12?

[@wifi-YT]

Last lateral was clearly an illegal forward lateral! Slow down video to 0.25x speed. See the ball released outside the 27 yard line, and caught at the 25 yard line. It’s NOT a close call. 1:26:49 Here’s the highest resolution video available (watch from the 16-19 second time stamp): kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnjCkpmnhJWZeZY

[@peepeepoopoo3614]

I agree completely, but there is no way for a ref to make that call while there is a ridiculous amount of people on the field.

[@wifi-YT]

@@peepeepoopoo3614Not blaming refs, as it was hard to see in real time. Just noting for the record that the last lateral was indisputably an illegal Cal forward pass, that should have offset penalty on Stanford for extra players on field. That would mean a redo of the kickoff. Thus, correct result is a redo, and a likely Stanford win!

[@jeffallen55]

@@wifi-YT Not indisputable in the least. If you watch rugby at all, you'll be familiar with this, but the ball has forward momentum. It's moving forward at the same speed as the Cal player. When released backward, it briefly continues to move forward at the same speed until it's slowed by air friction. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKDbYWuipp6sosk for a good explanation of this. Basically, the ball moves forward relative to the ground, but backward relative to the players. It's still a backwards (or lateral) pass.

[@wifi-YT]

@@jeffallen55 But the rule in football is that forward movement of the ball relative to the ground makes it an illegal forward pass! It is entirely irrelevant that the ball moves backwards relative to the players! Thus, your correct observation about the ball’s forward motion relative to the field proves the last toss was an ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS!

[@ShunyamNiketana]

Moral of the story: don't come prematurely.

[@Collegefootballproductions]

Pause

[@allanr1515]

Let's get one thing straight. The sax was the first instrument to go down after Moen crosses the goal line. The sax was first THEN the trombone. Why is it no one talks to the sax player? One of college football's biggest oversights. Not even Joe Starkey caught that one.

[@hbdragon88]

IMO the reason why the trombone is so remembered is because of Robert Stinnett's photos showing Tyrrell getting hit. And I'm sure Scott DeBarger (whose sax was the one who got hit) is just fine being overshadowed by Tyrrell and his trombone. 😂

[@ideniseb]

That's true...he was a TENOR SAX player and tenor is the only one that gets respect! The way things are now,somebody would try to file some kind of lawsuit for some crazy reason! This is perhaps the play for all the ages and in 2014 they probably would spend eight hours trying to review this!

[@stonesinmyblood27]

Best ending ever in football history

[@warplanner8852]

The ultimate irony is that the Leland Stanford *JUNIOR UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND* deserves the game ball for helping Cal win.

[@higgy04]

1:27:50 - 'Best ending to an 82 foot College Football game I have ever seen.' Randy or Jason Sklar on Cheap Seats

[@higgy04]

22:37 - 'College Football 82 Feet. Great work graphics department' - Sklar Brothers on Cheap Seats

[@KennethKestner]

I have watched this literally 500 times over the years and watching that band dude🎷get wasted it never gets old

[@goldeneve]

“THE BEARS THE BEARS HAVE WON”-Joe Starkley

[@lenamorita8855]

Can you believe that it’s been 40 years??!! FORTY!!!!!🎉

[@joesakic91]

And it will be Joe Starkey's final call of the Big Game in his broadcasting career.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

Joe Starkey's announcing this game is legendary. What is terrible is when you listen to the Stanford home announcer. Absolutely horrible. How he got that job, I will never know.

[@Dallasstuff1]

The Stanford announcers were students from the student-run radio station and I've listened to their call. Under the circumstances and for students, they did a pretty good job prior to, during and after the play. Not much precedent for calling such a play in the Big Game.

[@kidneymcsecrets8402]

Don't know why....all three of my favourite All Time Golden Bears have suffered in ways that leaves me both sorrowful and wondering.Tuggle, Ford and thanks God to a much lesser degree, Rivera.

[@seanbarnes1151]

The important thing to remember is that this made John elway cry for years to come. Waaaaahhh stupid refs ruined my last game at Stanford.

[@markschlesinger]

Cal coach Joe Kapp lost the 1969 Super Bowl with the Vikings, also coached tn the CFL and Arena Football. He is the only QB to play in the Super Bowl, Gray Cup, and the Rose Bowl. He is presently battling Alzheimer's disease.

[@randomtees]

He also got into a fight with former pro wrestler/football player Angelo Mosca at a CFL charity banquet. Kapp offered him a dinky flower he'd picked from the ground, Mosca told him to F himself, Kapp gave him a little slap on the arm, Mosca hit him in the face with his cane, Kapp popped him in the face sending Mosca off the stage and onto the ground. Then Kapp randomly yelled, "SPORTSMANSHIP!"

[@jingerjar1365]

I was there!

[@spencerstewart2172]

at 1:25:12. "Only a miracle can save the Bears"- Joe Starkey

[@goldeneve]

Spencer Stewart “THE BEARS THE BEARS HAVE WON”

[@KabarkadaTV681]

COMMENTATORS: BARRY TOMPKINS JOHN BEASLEY TV NETWORK: USA NETWORK DATE: 20 NOVEMBER 1982

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Gale Gilbert was a heck of a QB! Then you had Ron Rivera and Gary Plummer who both played pro football, as did Gilbert!

[@jimgahn9188]

Ron Rivera now the head coach of the Washington Commanders.

[@MrDkirksey23]

Cal football team had some future NFL players in this game as well

[@deonhamner6533]

The game was on USA Network... lol

[@jackdavis8596]

How many future NFL players are in this game? Five come to mind: Elway, Veris, Plummer, Rivera, Camp.

[@team4lls]

If not for the blocking that was provided by the Stanford Band, the last two laterals would have been broken up.

[@GregoryGioia]

Later in the radio broadcast Joe Starkey said something to that effect, that he wished he knew the name of the band member who threw the key block so he could credit him for the win!

[@augustuslandrum]

1:23:30 that was what allowed the play to happen if stanford called the timeout at :4 seconds the game would have been over after they kicked

[@StFidjnr]

@ 1:27:34 AND THE BEARS THE BEARS HAVE WON THE BEARS HAVE WON

[@JonesDylan874]

OH, MY GOD! THE MOST AMAZING, SENSATIONAL, DRAMATIC, HEART-RENDING... EXCITING, THRILLING FINISH IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

[@casualgamefreak]

+Allan Radman, D.C. It's probably because Moen plowed right into the trombone guy, but only clipped the sax player.

[@BroadcastJohn]

I could see the saxophone player remain upright as his saxophone was knocked to the ground whereas the trombone player was knocked to the ground along with his trombone.

[@agustinmanyari]

Best part of the game: when Bear smash the ball 🏈 in rascal trombone!!! Hahaha

[@Robert-we9pf]

Stanford can have the next 1,000 wins in the Big Game. To me, however, the 1982 Big Game is the only one that matters.

[@markneff1143]

Squib kick was a bad idea. Boot it or kick it out of bounds. That 15 yard penalty changed the distance in which a squib is effective.

[@warplanner8852]

Hindsight is 20/20, isn't it it?

[@hbdragon88]

The funny thing is that one of the Stanford players (Briehl) did notice that Cal had their hands team out and called out that Harmon should kick it deep. However, Harmon said the coach told him to squib it.

[@millionminimagicmice]

From 1:24:42 on is the best part.

[@stephaniegormley9982]

I live in the mid-west but I think rivalries from less competitive teams are actually better. Because for them, this game is IT! The winner of Auburn/Alabama, Ohio/Michigan or even USC/UCLA often have a bigger game after it (Bowl game, conference championship, playoff etc) Cal/Stanford or Lehigh /Lafayette are better because this last game is their season.

[@warplanner8852]

Traditionally, UCLA/USC WA then lasr game for UCLA unless the high-minded USC had a Notre Dame at the Colesium. Now, for some reason, Cal is last on the Bruins' schedule. Dunno why; the Gears have stunk of late.

[@THECLARENCES]

The greatest! Go Bears! xoxo The Clarences (robert, erin & leslie)

[@braddvaughn6076]

Possible by rule the ref could have called an interference penalty on stanford Then awarded the touchdown to cal, if he had fallen down short of the goal line!

[@THECLARENCES]

The greatest! Go Cal! xoxo The Clarences

[@jonathanc4166]

Why wasn't there a penalty for the band being on the field.?

[@basilisk555]

Didn't Stanford get a 15 yard penalty for early celebration? It's weird that the band didn't get off the field after that.

[@GregoryGioia]

There was, but it was of course declined. When the refs met to discuss the play, the ref from the far side told the others that it was going to be a tough call for Stanford, but because the band came out, they were going to have to award Cal a touchdown. The ref from the other said said "don't worry, he actually got into the endzone!"

[@jonirving5606]

Did Kevin Moen keep that ball? If so, how much is it worth?

[@GregoryGioia]

Forget the ball, I want the trombone!

[@brujx4u799]

Standford so petty lol. All that money and not a drop of class. Change the score to make them the winner when they have the axe lmao

[@michaelheintzelman1903]

His knee was not down. Multiple forensic examinations have proven so. The referee made it official. And that's the name of that tune....sans trombone.

[@cyberandrew2.038]

35 yard kick to win it......

[@fakereality96]

Pepperidge Farm remembers the West Coast offense. 🙂

[@rentslave]

They miss a lot of calls in that stadium;In 1999,they missed a holding call against Deltha O'Neill -it happened right in front of me-breaking open Cal's game against Rutgers when the Scarlet Knights were about to gain the upper hand.

[@GetBenched2010]

1:26:27 This is why you're here.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

College Football is the greatest sport in the United States.

[@kevinwilkin1427]

I can imagine how the turnover of the Stanford Axe went. Maybe the Stanford students should have lateraled it around to keep it from Cal.

[@kacebox174]

"College Football Eighty-Two Feet."

[@higgy04]

Great work graphics department!

[@stonesinmyblood27]

Whatever happened to the football 🏈?

[@dhondupgyatso7603]

👍

[@liduck52]

The players tried to take the field The marching band refused to yield

[@rawbhurtgoodheart9442]

The guy knee was down on the 3rd lateral.That play would of been called back if there was instant replay in todays game.But it was a great finish.You would have to have balls to call that play back ,back then.

[@localboy333]

Final "Set in Old Memorial Stadium Concrete Forever" 1982 Big Game Score: CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS 25, leland stanfurd junior college BAND 20.... enuf said all you stanfurd crybabes!!!... LOL....GO BEARS!!!...Beat stanfurd again.... Reply ·

[@victoranthony9037]

Why would Elway call timeout with 8 seconds left? You call timeout with 3-4 seconds left so the FG is the final play of the game. If Stanford players and coaches had average football IQs the great play would've never happened.

[@peepeepoopoo3614]

You can see him look disappointed immediately after doing it too. He just forgot.

[@SS-th9wz]

Dummy Cal play by play announcer Joe Starkey asks "Why didn't Stanford let clock run down to 4 seconds before kicking...why did they stop it at 8?" Is this guy serious? Stanford did this because kick was to take place on 3rd down and if there was a botched snap....they would have another down and time to re-kick FG. Where do they find these dopes?

[@buayabuaya3847]

Stanford used their last time out to setup the field goal attempt. So there are two big dummies. You (thinking in 1982 a placeholder somehow can stop the clock in case there was a botched snap) and the Stanford coach. Two big dummies. And don't even say the placeholder would throw it away to stop the clock because that's just fantasyland...big dummy.

[@kaizerkaufman9750]

Literally the biggest shit show ever 😅😅😅

[@stevemann2282]

The Socialist Bowl

[@ScrollsofSombra]

Ok Trumptard latino. Have fun with the NEXT 4 YEARS OF LOSING.

[@THECLARENCES]

The greatest! Go Cal! xoxo The Clarences