Video: The worst play in football history
posted at 5:45 pm on October 1, 2009 by Allahpundit
To cleanse the palate, operatic human tragedy courtesy of the hottest video on the web. Only one thing could have made my own epic athletic failure as a child burn more intensely than it did, and that’s having it preserved on YouTube for the cackling amusement of the entire country. Weep for this poor lamebrained kid.
Exit question: Is this a metaphor for ObamaCare and 2010? The GOP no longer has the strength to kick even squib field goals on policy, but if Barry’s stupid enough to try to spike the ball with a health-care bill that nobody likes, well…
Blowback
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A beta male is born.
ronsfi on October 1, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Even Leon Lett is ashamed.
lorien1973 on October 1, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Sorry, but all that can’t happen in 1.3 seconds…he couldn’t run out of the end zone that fast…the kick is in the air for 3 seconds, then the catch and run for another 3 seconds, then he is out of the end zone.
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Hilarios. Good job by the kid that took it in.
brak on October 1, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Oops!
It umm, slipped or something……
Yakko77 on October 1, 2009 at 5:52 PM
This kid could play for the Browns.
McBride on October 1, 2009 at 5:53 PM
lol
also really hate the way that everyone seemed to go to pre-split paper banners. If you can’t run through a paper banner, you really suck
Doctor Zhivago on October 1, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Uh-huh.
unwashed minion on October 1, 2009 at 5:53 PM
This poor guy can relive this for the rest of his life. Maybe he can get a second chance????
portlandon on October 1, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Actually I just re-timed from the actual hiking of the ball and it is 8 seconds before he is out of the end zone…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 5:54 PM
In a more liberal school district, they would have called for a “do over”…
JetBoy on October 1, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Being a good conservative i have nothing but compassion for that young man that made this horrible mistake.
Really.I’m being serious..
I see you all laughing
galtg on October 1, 2009 at 5:57 PM
The kid has a funny story later in life. Several decades later.
exception on October 1, 2009 at 5:58 PM
The time it takes is irrelvant. THe play started before time expired. So all is good until that play officially ends.
WashJeff on October 1, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Time to change schools…
Seven Percent Solution on October 1, 2009 at 5:58 PM
What you’re missing here is that the play only had to begin before the clock ran out. Once begun, the play is allowed to continue to conclusion.
backwoods conservative on October 1, 2009 at 5:58 PM
I do not know why this video reminded my of it, but the time some troll made a comment post one minute after AP or Ed posted a story with a video that was about 5 minutes in length complaining about how dumb the video was. Good times. I think lorien1973 called it on it.
WashJeff on October 1, 2009 at 6:00 PM
if this were a south american soccer game, he would be shot
aic4ever on October 1, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Like high school isn’t hard enough. This kid will NEVER live this down. It’ll be played at every reunion every year until he dies.
I feel for him.
milwife88 on October 1, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Confusing rules there, its an unusual situation for someone that watches pro and college and because people don’t usually spike balls unless they are in the end zone.
If a QB spikes a ball it is an incomplete pass, shouldn’t that be an illegal forward pass that was incomplete? That is the only part I don’t get, if another player cannot do that, then why can a QB spike a ball and have it count as a pass?
LevStrauss on October 1, 2009 at 6:02 PM
At least the TV station did name the kid that had the mental mistake. If they kids was a Chicago Bears fan he would remember Devin Hester returning a missed field goal for a TD a couple years ago.
WashJeff on October 1, 2009 at 6:03 PM
I can see his future…coke habit, suspended from the league (just like Leon)
Erich66 on October 1, 2009 at 6:03 PM
There’s one kid who’s gonna save on plane tickets to Chicago in 2016.
LibTired on October 1, 2009 at 6:03 PM
he’ll never live that down. they’ll be teasing him about it at their 20th reunion.
homesickamerican on October 1, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Why did the coach send players deep in the defensive field instead of having them all on the line for the block?
That kid should have never been in position to field that ball.
redshirt on October 1, 2009 at 6:04 PM
He spiked the ball backwards. In any case, that’s irrelevant. He should have just let the ball hit the ground.
aic4ever on October 1, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Allahpundit: Don’t worry, some day you will score a pass and make a touchdown.
Loxodonta on October 1, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Nevermind, it was sort of a backhanded drop versus a spike, kind of like the one Deshawn Jackson, the best wide receiver in the NFL did once.
LevStrauss on October 1, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Someone doesn’t know football.
Free Constitution on October 1, 2009 at 6:05 PM
The rule at play here is the the opposing team can catch a missed field goal try if the catch is made in play. The ball remains live until he is tackled. THis kid was tackled. He purposefully dropped the ball.
WashJeff on October 1, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Oh well, at least he didn’t return the kick 99 yards and then have it knocked out of his hand while he was showboating by a hard-charging, 45 yr old Don Beebe.
Proud Rino on October 1, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Now that is a GOOD point. What the heck was he doing back there?
WashJeff on October 1, 2009 at 6:06 PM
You watch a lot of football, don’t you?
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:07 PM
I hereby award that young man the Barack Obama award for Excellence in Competitive Sports.
turfmann on October 1, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Ouch. Seriously.
Abby Adams on October 1, 2009 at 6:07 PM
If I said the kid who spiked the ball was stupid, would I be a racist?
notagool on October 1, 2009 at 6:08 PM
His new nickname: “take-a-knee.” That or “spike.”
Mallard T. Drake on October 1, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Someone watches a lot of… hockey?
Abby Adams on October 1, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Since he arm is going forward, I´m thinking forward pass, incomplete or ….
What if the guy had thrown a pass to one of his players down field and it was not completed. Fumble or forward pass?
If he just let the kicked ball hit the ground, isn`t it still in play?
albill on October 1, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I don’t care about any of what went on in that video.
foucaultsvac on October 1, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Forty years from now that kid will still be pissing and moaning about that play, and some poor sods drinking beer with him will say to themselves, “Not again.”
Bishop on October 1, 2009 at 6:10 PM
He will be ribbed about this, but as redshirt pointed out, the coach that put him in the endzone is the real stupid one.
WashJeff on October 1, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Of course my error…now comes beating with wet noodles.
I deserve all that I get…that is what you get from a water polo player, land sports confuse me…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Gotta have at least one player back in case the try a fake play and pass or run for the TD. He was there “just in case.”
Mallard T. Drake on October 1, 2009 at 6:10 PM
So many football experts here. Wow!
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:10 PM
There’s no such thing as a forward pass in this situation, though.
Who knew we had so many football neophytes here at HotAir???
Abby Adams on October 1, 2009 at 6:11 PM
If no one on the defense touches it, it’s a dead ball – game over.
Mallard T. Drake on October 1, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Probably playing deep in case of a fake, looked like the kick was way outside his range. Nonetheless coach should have told them not to touch it if it is kicked, period. I don’t think he’ll have to for future games.
LevStrauss on October 1, 2009 at 6:12 PM
This is not the Sunday morning “NFL Thread” crowd. :-)
Mallard T. Drake on October 1, 2009 at 6:12 PM
They’ll probably play that at every high school reunion.
rollthedice on October 1, 2009 at 6:13 PM
DeSean Jackson – Celebratus Interruptus
Christien on October 1, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Not that far back. I can see maybe a few yards back to harass any offensive players going downfield, but they were in the end zone.
redshirt on October 1, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Yeah, take your beating. I agree with you most of the time.
By the way. All the guy had to do that fielded the missed field goal was take a knee and the game would have been over. His team wins. Period
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Oh, Spike…definitely Spike…till the day he dies.
While I ain’t right2bright here…with only 1.3 seconds left on the clock, a kick would really be their only option, I don’t think any QB could get a pass off in 1.3 seconds.
Rogue on October 1, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Dang, that’s worse than my last soccer game my senior year.
I played full back (defense) and our coach said if the ball went to the goal, rush to the center to help block up the other team. Unfortunately, when I did that the ball got kicked out, just as my lead leg planted and bounced right off my shin and straight into the goal and a win for the other team. Arrgggh!
aikidoka on October 1, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Any forward pass that happens beyond the line of scrimmage is by definition illegal. The fact that there is no such thing as a forward pass in this situation is what would make it an illegal forward pass.
SittingDeadRed on October 1, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Allah, your beta-maleness is on full display for all us ex-football players. There is no such thing as a squib field goal. You only squib the kickoff. Just remember that when you are trying to do your best alpha-male impersonation.
GrammarPolice on October 1, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Heart-ache. That is just crushing. Life goes on. He shouldn’t be defined but one mistake.
conservative pilgrim on October 1, 2009 at 6:19 PM
*by*
conservative pilgrim on October 1, 2009 at 6:19 PM
You deserve the noodles as well.
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:19 PM
That was you?!!!!!
portlandon on October 1, 2009 at 6:20 PM
I got carried away, the best is to let it bounce and don’t touch it…if he tries to catch it and fumbles it, same thing perhaps.
We have all seen a bouncing ball nick a defensive player and the ensuing scramble.
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Thanks, you just bailed me out with that post…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:21 PM
*shrugs* So be it…I was always under the impression that if the QB was holding it when time expired then game over.
Rogue on October 1, 2009 at 6:21 PM
happy to help
Rogue on October 1, 2009 at 6:22 PM
I watch football…I play hockey and baseball.
Rogue on October 1, 2009 at 6:23 PM
I love tight football pants.
txag92 on October 1, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Beta Males dont get passes or past midfeild.
William Amos on October 1, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Actually the reason the player was back there in the first place is to retrieve a short kick. Just like what happened. The ball is live and if the kicking team retrieves it before a defender touches the ball it would be the kicking teams ball and in this case it would have been a touchdown. Had the ball gone out of bounds, game over. Had the player that caught the kick taken a knee at anytime, game over.
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:25 PM
I gave up on water polo when I turned 50, tennis and swimming…I dread the day I end up playing golf because I can’t compete on the tennis court anymore…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Ha! I used to live and recruit in that area
JasonG on October 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM
The family will move to another state quietly and change their names.
Sapwolf on October 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM
I didn’t watch the play, but obviously the kid who picked up the ball and scored the winning touchdown acted stupidly.
LibTired on October 1, 2009 at 6:27 PM
There’s no such thing as a squib field goal. You’re thinking of “chip shot.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squib_kick
TallDave on October 1, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Correct.
The proper play is to catch it short of the posts and take a knee.
Catching it was OK. He didn’t know that taking the knee is what makes the play end.
Sapwolf on October 1, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Sports, where hubris goes to die. Reminds me of that fool that pranced to the end zone in a Super Bowl years ago, only to have the kicker strip the ball from him before he got there.
Here’s hoping the kid learns his lesson and redeems himself quickly enough that his enevitable nickname does become a badge of shame.
spmat on October 1, 2009 at 6:29 PM
I’d have the same problem with hockey rules. Icing?
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Bad coaching. A reminder is in order in those situations.
Of course, I’m paranoid like that.
Sapwolf on October 1, 2009 at 6:29 PM
No, he was back there to guard against a fake play, and if he doesn’t touch the ball, the game is over. That’s all there is to it.
Mallard T. Drake on October 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Rogue on October 1, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Hey, R2B did herself proud with her ‘mea culpa’.
Dusty on October 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Nope. Ball is live until the play itself is completed. The clock doesn’t start until the snap of the ball. At that point, the sky’s the limit, within the rules.
nukemhill on October 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
But more important, does he have a chance to beat Obama after such a gaffe?
Huh AP? Huh?
Sapwolf on October 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
But the question would be, did he tag third base before crossing the goal line? And would the infield fly rule be in effect if it was a short kick…but then that would depend if he was behind the popping crease (not on, but behind), …if he was caught, bowled, LBW, or stumped, then he would be out…but only if there was a leg bye. But that is not the responsibility of the fine leg, maybe the deep backward square leg.
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Water polo kicks football’s azz anyday.
RushBaby on October 1, 2009 at 6:37 PM
HIS. HIS…how many 50 year old woman played water polo…and no I will not answer how we kept the ponies from drowning…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:37 PM
He was only spreading the wealth. In socialism there are no losers…
Dino64 on October 1, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Can I say my boy runs Cross Country?
There’s only two rules I can see.
1. run
2. run some more
CBarker on October 1, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Reminds me of when Jim Marshall returned a fumble to his own endzone for a safety.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3bnMv3ULes&feature=related
Ted Torgerson on October 1, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Mr Duck, you sir would be incorrect. Devin Hester and Nathan Vasher of the Chicago Bears both returned missed field goals for 108 yard touchdowns. They are back there to prevent the kicking team from picking up a missed field goal that hasn’t been tipped or gone out of bounds. The ball is live once it has been kicked and goes across the line of scrimmage
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Err bad link. This is wrong way Jim Marshall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IBkQoXNvbA
Ted Torgerson on October 1, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Depends
CTSherman on October 1, 2009 at 6:42 PM
We practiced the same months, and we would get the football players in the pool once or twice a year for fun and just beat them silly…then they would get us out on the field, and play “cross country” football, kind of a no contact style…and we would run them to death. We ran a couple of miles a day and swam a couple of miles a day.
I wouldn’t want to line up against them, but conditioning wise, no contest. But then I was 6’1″ and weighed about 190, so I wasn’t too small.
They came and watched most all of our games…they loved the game, and it pumped them up, we were pretty good, and we had their respect.
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:42 PM
You don’t watch very much football, do you? The final play of the game can last as long as it takes. It’s not like hoops where a final buzzer goes off.
I’ll give the kid who spiked the ball the coveted Joe Pisarcik Award for excellence in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
DrW on October 1, 2009 at 6:43 PM
The coach and defensive captain should just as embarrassed as the player.
dedalus on October 1, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Just a few things.
The two guys were deep in case the field goal attempt was a fake, and given how short the attempt was that was good strategy.
Someone said there is no such thing as a forward pass in that situation. There is no such thing as a legal forward pass. Had the kid spiked the ball forward it would have drawn a penalty flag but the kicking team would still have been able to advance the ball.
This is a classic instance of:
1. Not knowing the rules
2. Showboating
3. Acting rather than thinking
I feel for the kid but stupid incidents like this happen every year. A few years ago in a Div II or III NCAA game a defensive lineman picked up a blocked extra point and was running the length of the field for the winning points. He couldn’t resist showboating and did the swan dive into the end zone. Unfortunately he mistook the five yard line for the end zone and so the game went on to the next overtime in which his team lost.
Nosli W. Nevets on October 1, 2009 at 6:43 PM
[spmat on October 1, 2009 at 6:29 PM]
You talking about Don Beebe taking it from Leon Lett?
Dusty on October 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Great answer, I pulled those names off the web under Cricket, man those names are really strange, I have no idea what they mean…it is what they call a diversion to make you forget my foolish post…look a shiny object…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Wow, looks like we’ve got a future Detroit Lion right there. (I keed, I keed. But if this was still the Morningweg/Millen era…)
Blacksmith on October 1, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Hey, I don’t mind the beating, but be original…I expect better then you just repeating some other poster. If I am going to be “beaten down” do it in style.
Notice the syntax and the dripping sarcasm of CT’s post…an expert at dissing…short, sweet, cutting, to the point…the kind of post you make, then sit back a tack a sip of a cold one, because their is no way to respond or defend.
I expect better from you…
A classic dig…
right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:50 PM
HIS. HIS…how many 50 year old woman played water polo …
[right2bright on October 1, 2009 at 6:37 PM]
Dammit, sorry.
Dusty on October 1, 2009 at 6:51 PM
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