Miracle In Miami, Doug Flutie's Famous Hail Mary Pass
The 1984 Boston College Eagles were a very special team. They were led by one exceptional QB named Doug Flutie. For all the accomplishments they achieved that season, finishing with a 9-2 record, attaining #4 in the rankings, and winning the Cotton Bowl, Doug Flutie and the Eagles will always be remembered for their dramatic victory over the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes.
On November 23, 1984, the defending national champions #12 Miami Hurricanes were host to the #10 Boston College Eagles. The game featured two high-potent offenses, Miami was led by star quarterback Bernie Kosar while the Eagles were led by talented and under-appreciated quarterback Doug Flutie. The game went back and forth from the start. Boston College jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than nine minutes into the game, only to see the Hurricanes tie it up soon after. Flutie turned to his scrambling ability to regain the lead for the Eagles after he scored on a 9-yard scamper. Kosar and the Hurricanes answered right back, as he hit Warren Williams in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown pass.
Doug Flutie's Miracle In Miami
The game continued it's back and forth pace, and with 3:50 left to play the Eagles found themselves on top by the slightest of margins, 41-38. In the ensuing series, the Boston College defense had the Miami offense pinned way back in their own territory with a third-and-21 pass situation. A near safety could have preserved the victory for the Eagles, but Kosar was brilliant as he avoided it, keeping the play alive and hit his man for the first down. Miami drove down the field and scored on a 5-yard run from freshman running back Melvin Bratton, and Miami took a 45-41 lead with 28 seconds left in the game.
It set up one of the biggest plays in sports history. Boston College would start from it's own 20 yard-line with two time outs remaining and only 28 seconds remaining on the clock. It was the perfect time for Flutie to shine. He hit Troy Stradford with a quick 19-yard strike, and the clock was stopped with 20 seconds remaining. Flutie then completed a pass to tight end Scott Gieselman, who turned and ran out of bounds at the Miami 48. After a missed opportunity, just 6 seconds remained in the game and a shot at the end zone was all the Eagles could do. But Flutie was confident and never shied away from the moment. As all the receivers ran for the end zone, Flutie rolled out of the pocket and launched the ball 65 yards towards the end zone. As they jumped up for the ball, Boston College receiver Gerard Phelan got past the Miami secondary. As Phelan was falling down, the ball came right down on his chest and he made the catch in the end zone. Boston College wins 47-45.
Doug Flutie went on to win the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award in '84. Flutie played for 20 years as a professional, 15 years in the NFL and 5 years in the Canadian Football League. He made the Pro Bowl in 1998 as a member of the Buffalo Bills and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
On January 1, 2006, Doug Flutie also completed the first successful Drop Kick in the NFL since 1941, a rare feat that was made just before he retired.
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