Greatest or Luckiest catch of all time
- Thread starter kougkurt
- Start date
Getting my wife to say yes.
This one is pretty good too.
This one is pretty good too.
Well, there is the Sammy Moore catch vs. Pete Carrol's USC that got us to the 2003 Rose Bowl! Is there a greater catch/clutch play is Cougar history? It is at the 9 minute mark.
I'll never forget that evening. We were in the RV Parking Lot. It was memorable. Girls dancing on the rooftops, and it was electric. Was with my very best friend from grade school, (rest in peace Scott!).
Then, the following week, the WSU Athletic Department actually listed the winning Dru Dunning's football on an eBay auction.
It was a bidding war, and escalated up to $500. That would be like $1,500 today.
I could have pulled the trigger, but back then, paying $500 for a football, granted, the famous "Dru Dunning's kick" football, was a lot, and at the time throwing it on a credit card....I just didn't want the additional debt, as I think I had a credit card balance! Regretted not winning the auction for many, many years.
We don't beat SC often, let alone the football that got us into the Rose Bowl. Sure would've been fun to have it on display.
"Should've, Could've, Would've"...they say.
Cougsocal, thanks for posting. One of the memorable nights in Martin, the campus, and in Pullman for sure.
Last edited:
All of these are great. I have to go with the immaculate reception, for several reasons. Unbelievably lucky, aided by some great focus and hand/eye coordination.
The fact that Tatum got burned was just icing on the cake. I never could stand that guy; and if he had gone for something other than the big hit, the Raiders would have won that game. That showboat hit cost them the game.
immaculate reception (the quick version)
Immaculate reception with context
The fact that Tatum got burned was just icing on the cake. I never could stand that guy; and if he had gone for something other than the big hit, the Raiders would have won that game. That showboat hit cost them the game.
immaculate reception (the quick version)
Immaculate reception with context
Bobo sliding into the snowbank with the ball that was intended for CJ in the '92 Apple Cup?
Chris Jackson running over 2 UW DBs to get in the endzone in the '97 Apple Cup?
Sammy's TD against Notre Dame to tie it up? (great catch, even if we didn't win)
Yeah Jackson's TD catch ranks right up there.....
chris jakson 1997 apple cup - Bing video
Kevin McKenzie catch/Shawn McWashington decleater against SC is on my list with what you have here.
I thought of that one, but to me that clip is about the block more than the catch.
Also, I have to give bonus points to Gesser on the throw to Sammy. He took a shot on that play but still put it downfield where Moore could get it...and only Moore could get it.
Definitely the block, but a 1 handed downfield catch where the pass was thrown by Leaf? That's up there IMO especially given the level of importance of winning in the Coliseum and the Rose Bowl run.
OK, more for consideration:
2015, Dom Williams' catch to tie the Oregon game with 3-4 seconds left
2021, CJ's one-handed catch at the sideline against Cal
This one is more about the throw than the catch: 2012 Apple Cup, on the last TD drive in the 4th quarter, the mad scramble by Tuel, changing directions and turning his head about 3x, but still finding Myers (?) for a long first down...and taking a shot in the face in the process.
2015, Dom Williams' catch to tie the Oregon game with 3-4 seconds left
2021, CJ's one-handed catch at the sideline against Cal
This one is more about the throw than the catch: 2012 Apple Cup, on the last TD drive in the 4th quarter, the mad scramble by Tuel, changing directions and turning his head about 3x, but still finding Myers (?) for a long first down...and taking a shot in the face in the process.
I remember watching that game in my parents' living room, and I couldn't sit down. There's not very many games I've watched on TV and was that on edge.
I was lucky that way also.
As far as football catches go, Mike Bush at Cal laid out like he was doing an Olympic swimming start dive and got the ball with one hand. I often mock TV announcers when they us the term, but this one WAS unbelievable!
The difference between the USC catch and the others is, we were behind late, deep in our end, playing against a Orange Bowl bound team, us or them for the Pac-12 Championship. If that catch isn't made, no Rose Bowl. Bobo's catch was fun/exciting but it was a playing for pride game. Jackson's play while great, was all YAC off a simple catch. The Norte Dame was a loss. Great catches must have critical context, otherwise you are having to consider everything, including meaningless catches, in meaningless game.
Great great game. Knuckle ball kick sliding through the uprights, wow! Let's not forget Rein Long owning OT! People forget Moore was little use, had had only 7 catches all year, but he was fast. We aren't known for clutch plays at clutch times, but there was several in that game after we all thought Gesser had Co***d it.
Not to nitpick, but…. We were tied with USC at midfield with 4 1/2 to go. It ended up being the game winner, but it wasn’t over. And it was the 2nd game of the season, so the Rose Bowl wasn’t even a dream yet.
For your context measure…I’d say the stakes were actually higher in the AC game than they were at USC.
Jackson’s AC catch was early in the game, but set the tone (and backed up his trash talk). More importantly, that game actually did clinch the Rose, and we knew going in what the stakes were. It wasn’t a 1 handed catch, but he was well covered, and had the safety coming over to help. He created the YAC by himself…and as I recall UW had a decent secondary that year, and the safety (Parrish?) didn’t miss many tackles.
We really need the season to get here so we can talk football now, instead of rehashing plays from 25 years ago.
Well, you are forgetting that 2002 was our "dream season." It wasn't 1997, where we came out of the blue. We were picked to win the conference going in, with USC picked to be the runner up. We were ranking all season. So the Rose Bowl was on everyone's mind from day one -- ours to lose as favorite. Also you are misremembering. We were ahead by 3, when USC took the lead with 4:10 to go by 3 on the 55 yard pass play to Mike Williams (failed kick), following Gessers deflation Int.. We got the ball back on our 20, facing the nation's #1 defense, holding teams to 204 yards per game. Both us and USC finished the season in the top 10, both playing in BCS Bowl games. Biggest regular season game in school history since the 1981 Apple Cup. This wasn't beating a grossly overrated Oregon, who would then fade into mediocrity. USC won 8 straight after us, finishing #3.
USC chosen to win Pac-12 in preseason media poll
Media members picked the USC Trojans to win the 2015 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, as announced Thursday at the 2015 Pac-12 Football Media Days in Burbank, California.
(see 2002 in poll history)
The 1997 Apple Cup was big, for us. The UW was hoping to play spoiler after losing two straight, elimination them from the Rose Bowl race. The game was tied 7-7 in the second quarter at the time of the Jackson play. Great play, one of the greatest in school play, but not because of the catch, but because of him shrugging off two defenders and refusing to go down.
Sorry, I thought you were referencing ‘97 USC. I put Jackson’ AC catch above McKenzie’s USC catch that year.Well, you are forgetting that 2002 was our "dream season." It wasn't 1997, where we came out of the blue. We were picked to win the conference going in, with USC picked to be the runner up. We were ranking all season. So the Rose Bowl was on everyone's mind from day one -- ours to lose as favorite. Also you are misremembering. We were ahead by 3, when USC took the lead with 4:10 to go by 3 on the 55 yard pass play to Mike Williams (failed kick), following Gessers deflation Int.. We got the ball back on our 20, facing the nation's #1 defense, holding teams to 204 yards per game. Both us and USC finished the season in the top 10, both playing in BCS Bowl games. Biggest regular season game in school history since the 1981 Apple Cup. This wasn't beating a grossly overrated Oregon, who would then fade into mediocrity. USC won 8 straight after us, finishing #3.
USC chosen to win Pac-12 in preseason media poll
Media members picked the USC Trojans to win the 2015 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, as announced Thursday at the 2015 Pac-12 Football Media Days in Burbank, California.pac-12.com
(see 2002 in poll history)
The 1997 Apple Cup was big, for us. The UW was hoping to play spoiler after losing two straight, elimination them from the Rose Bowl race. The game was tied 7-7 in the second quarter at the time of the Jackson play. Great play, one of the greatest in school play, but not because of the catch, but because of him shrugging off two defenders and refusing to go down.
Sammy’s was a key catch in the 2002 game, and in retrospect was huge for the season. But even though I was there, I don’t really remember it. Greenie’s long run and Long taking over SC backfield on the last couple possessions are the ones that stand out to me.
Great link here. Apple Cup highlights, then Drew Bledsoe, then Mike Leach interview.
drew bledsoe 1992 apple cup - Bing video
I gotta go with the USC catch...not because of the difficulty, but what it meant. It shows the game is of inches. In 1996 they ran that exact same play against USC. It was late in the game and we were down by less than a score with maybe three minutes left. Leaf his McKenzie on that same play, and instead of taking it straight up field, shortest distance between two points is a straight line, he drifted to the sideline and allowed the angle to be shortened. He made it to USC's 12 I think. A play of two later Matt Kennelly hit Ryan Leaf and he fumbled the ball, I think on second down.Well, you are forgetting that 2002 was our "dream season." It wasn't 1997, where we came out of the blue. We were picked to win the conference going in, with USC picked to be the runner up. We were ranking all season. So the Rose Bowl was on everyone's mind from day one -- ours to lose as favorite. Also you are misremembering. We were ahead by 3, when USC took the lead with 4:10 to go by 3 on the 55 yard pass play to Mike Williams (failed kick), following Gessers deflation Int.. We got the ball back on our 20, facing the nation's #1 defense, holding teams to 204 yards per game. Both us and USC finished the season in the top 10, both playing in BCS Bowl games. Biggest regular season game in school history since the 1981 Apple Cup. This wasn't beating a grossly overrated Oregon, who would then fade into mediocrity. USC won 8 straight after us, finishing #3.
USC chosen to win Pac-12 in preseason media poll
Media members picked the USC Trojans to win the 2015 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, as announced Thursday at the 2015 Pac-12 Football Media Days in Burbank, California.
(see 2002 in poll history)
The 1997 Apple Cup was big, for us. The UW was hoping to play spoiler after losing two straight, elimination them from the Rose Bowl race. The game was tied 7-7 in the second quarter at the time of the Jackson play. Great play, one of the greatest in school play, but not because of the catch, but because of him shrugging off two defenders and refusing to go down.
The play in 97 did three things. One, put both LA schools behind us, essentially giving us a two game lead over each one. Second, we burst all the horrors of the LA coliseum, and three we won two games late against the LA schools. One on defense, the goal line stand against the Bruins, and the second on offense against the Trojans.
Going to the Rose Bowl allowed all the success of 01-03. The 97 team is the team that beat the doors down of history. 66 years without a Rose Bowl appearance.
