30 Years Ago Today, ESPN's Favorite Highlight - Page 2 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

bbgun · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJJ

Whether Montana was throwing the ball away or not he put it where only Clark could make a play on it. Everything started going against the Cowboys after that.

I don't know who started that myth, other than jealous, petty Dallas fans. After the game, Walsh and Montana noted that they practiced that play (Red Right Tight - Sprint Right Option) often. It was elevated more than normal because Montana had to get the ball over the outstretched arms of Too Tall and Bethea.

Quote:

They get the ball back and White hits Drew Pearson who had a step on Eric Wright at mid field and somehow Wright was able to grab him from what appeared to be inside his jersey between his neck and shoulder pads saving what would have been a TD with little time left. Today that would have been a 15 yard horse collar that would have put the ball at around the 49ers 30 yardline.

White then fumbles a play or 2 later and game over. That may have been the most painful Cowboys loss ever for me because I thought for sure they would win. The Cowboys were favored and you could hardly find anyone who didn't think they would win that game. Under White the Cowboys reverted back to the funk they were in prior to the Staubach era unable to win big games.

Sam I Am · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

30 years ago today, Joe Montana rolled right, tried to throw the ball away, and Dwight Clark jumped high to make what has ever since been dubbed, "The Catch."

Someone should stab you in the eye for posting that.

KJJ · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I don't know who started that myth, other than jealous, petty Dallas fans. After the game, Walsh and Montana noted that they practiced that play (Red Right Tight - Sprint Right Option) often. It was elevated more than normal because Montana had to get the ball over the outstretched arms of Too Tall and Bethea.

I heard years ago that Montana made a comment to someone it may have been a former Cowboy player that he was throwing the ball away but in every interview I've seen with him discussing the play he said he wasn't throwing the ball away. His legacy was built on making the clutch play he did it over and over again throughout his career. He made sure Clark was the only one who had a chance to come down with that ball. Montana knew Clark could climb the ladder by practicing that play and if he couldn't make the play the 49ers lived to see another down.

That was a classic horse collar tackle Wright made on Pearson but perfectly legal back then. A 15 yard penalty would have put the ball at the SF 29 yardline which would have had the Cowboys in Septien's range. All these years later it still hurts watching those final moments.

DWhite Fan · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I don't know who started that myth, other than jealous, petty Dallas fans. After the game, Walsh and Montana noted that they practiced that play (Red Right Tight - Sprint Right Option) often. It was elevated more than normal because Montana had to get the ball over the outstretched arms of Too Tall and Bethea.

Two things from that last play:
1. The Cowboys Petersen absolutely got steam-rolled by the 49ers #65
2. Danny would not have fumbled today because of the "Tuck" rule

I would have loved to have seen Septien have a shot at winning that game

bbgun · 01-10-2012

I think the announcer was wrong about Drew going all the way. Dwight Hicks (#22) looked to be in position to stop him.

Heisenberg · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I think the announcer was wrong about Drew going all the way. Dwight Hicks (#22) looked to be in position to stop him.

I was just thinking the same thing watching that.

Randy White · 01-10-2012

as iconic as it is, wasn't the one that won the game. That came courtesy of Wright's one finger tackle of Drew Pearson a few plays later and the one that deserves all the credit.

Then Alvin Harper returned the favor 12 years later, same place, same play, different outcome. ( altough it was Kelvin Martin who eventually clinched it ).

KJJ · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWhite Fan

2. Danny would not have fumbled today because of the "Tuck" rule

Had the "tuck rule" been around then I don't think it would have been called on that play. White didn't appear to be in the process of "throwing" the ball then changed his mind and lost it as he was bringing the ball to his body. From the angle shown it appeared he was bringing the ball down not to throw but to brace himself from the hit and protect the ball. Once he brought the ball into his body he then fumbled. The "tuck rule" is the most ridiculous rule in football but I really don't believe had the rule been around at that time it would have been called there.

Chocolate Lab · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I think the announcer was wrong about Drew going all the way. Dwight Hicks (#22) looked to be in position to stop him.

Totally agree... I've always thought that. As clutch as Drew was, he didn't have great speed.

The restaurant where I had lunch today had ESPN on, and they showed a bunch of highlights from this game. Even in the few short clips they showed, I was impressed with both teams. I almost forgot Danny had that good an arm. Even Montana, who never had a great arm, had more zip on the ball than I remembered on several throws. Sometimes people get so caught up in saying how much bigger, faster, and stronger the players are now that they don't give those players and teams enough credit.

UVAwahoos · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I think the announcer was wrong about Drew going all the way. Dwight Hicks (#22) looked to be in position to stop him.

Agreed. Hicks was waiting on him there from the looks of it.

Excuse me while I go throw up now.

Randy White · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I think the announcer was wrong about Drew going all the way. Dwight Hicks (#22) looked to be in position to stop him.

Hicks didn't come into the picture until after Drew was tackled, so he wouldn't have been in position to tackle him. He might have caught Drew from behind, but not until Drew would have been near the goal line. Look at the :38 second mark and see where Hicks was coming from.

UVAwahoos · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy White

Hicks didn't come into the picture until after Drew was tackled, so he wouldn't have been in position to tackle him. He might have caught Drew from behind, but not until Drew would have been near the goal line.

I don't think so. If you watch at :57, you can see Hicks take an angle to cut him off. Plus, I don't recall Drew having breakaway speed. Would have put them much closer to field goal range though.

casmith07 · 01-10-2012

Pearson really rounded off his route in that video...

bbgun · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy White

Hicks didn't come into the picture until after Drew was tackled, so he wouldn't have been in position to tackle him. He might have caught Drew from behind, but not until Drew would have been near the goal line. Look at the :38 second mark and see where Hicks was coming from.

I disagree. He appeared to be at least five yards ahead of Drew when he made the catch and had an angle.

KJJ · 01-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

I think the announcer was wrong about Drew going all the way. Dwight Hicks (#22) looked to be in position to stop him.

Hicks would have still had to make up some ground but did have an angle and Pearson wasn't a speedster so he may have caught him but by the time he did the Cowboys would have been in chip shot FG range.