Fumblerooski
Encyclopedia
In American football
, the fumblerooski is a trick play
, most famously used by the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
against the University of Miami
Hurricanes
in the 1984 Orange Bowl
. It was invented by John Heisman
.
In the fumblerooski, the quarterback
deliberately places the ball on the ground upon receiving it from the center, technically fumbling
it. The backs will run to the right, and the right guard
will pick up the ball and run to the left.
In the 1984 Orange Bowl
game, #1 ranked Nebraska
trailed Miami
17-0 after the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne called for the play, whereby Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill
effectively “fumbled” the snap from center by setting it on the turf. The ball was picked up by All-American
offensive guard Dean Steinkuhler
, who ran the ball 19 yards for a touchdown. Nebraska famously went on to lose the game 31-30 (and with it, the national championship). Although this is widely regarded as the most famous occurrence of this play, it is actually not the first time that Nebraska ran it, having first tried it in a 17-14 loss to Oklahoma
in 1979.
Coincidentally, it was used by the Oklahoma Sooners
four years later, in 1988, also against the University of Miami
Hurricanes, who fell prey to the fumblerooski in a national championship game a second time. Sooner quarterback Charles Thompson
left the ball for offensive guard Mark Hutson
, who proceeded to run for a touchdown. Oklahoma would eventually lose to Miami 20-14.
In 1990, Florida State tried to run the play against Auburn in the 4th quarter with a 7 point lead. Auburn recovered the "fumble" before FSU's guard could "recover". Auburn would score the tying touchdown on the ensuing drive, and eventually win on a last second field goal by Jim Von Wyl, marking one of the very rare occasions that the play failed.
Nebraska used the play again on Oct 31, 1992 in a 52-7 victory over the University of Colorado
. The ball was carried by offensive guard Will Shields
, who gained a first down but did not score.
Like the NFL in the 1960s, the NCAA banned the use of the fumblerooski after the 1992 season, making intentional fumbles illegal. In April 2006, the NFHS
followed suit, banning intentional fumbles, according to the Los Angeles Times
. However, longtime former NFL referee Jerry Markbreit
says the play is still legal, provided the quarterback places the ball on the ground behind himself, rather than in front (the forward fumble was banned as the result of another play, the Holy Roller
). Direct handoffs to offensive linemen are still thoroughly legal, meaning that the play can still be executed as originally devised, except the ball must be handed off instead of left on the ground to be picked up. Furthermore, since 2008, the center himself can execute the fumble and the ball will be live once the ball hits the ground.
A form of the fumblerooski was used in the 2003 Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl by the Clemson Tigers
against the Tennessee Volunteers
. The quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst
, laid the ball at the fullback's feet as he took the snap and ran a fake to the right while the fullback ran left for a touchdown.
A new variation of the fumblerooski was run by the University of Arkansas
Razorbacks
on October 7, 2006: the then-unranked Razorbacks used the trick play in their upset of the #2 ranked Auburn Tigers
. The smallest Razorback player—5’7” Reggie Fish—crouched hidden behind the line, out of sight of the Auburn defense. The QB took the snap, handed Fish the ball, and proceeded to run a fake play. This was the first time a play like this had appeared in major college football.
The University of Texas
Longhorns tried the same play against Nebraska on October 21, 2006. It failed to score, however, when Husker linebacker Bo Ruud picked up on the trick play and subsequently tackled the runner. Texas went on to win the game 22-20 after a last-minute field goal.
On December 10, 2006, the San Diego Chargers
ran a successful fumblerooski variant, known as the Bumerooski, against the Denver Broncos
that resulted in a 4-yard touchdown run for fullback Lorenzo Neal
's first touchdown of the season. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson
was lined up in the backfield with running back LaDainian Tomlinson
. The ball was snapped to quarterback Philip Rivers
, who handed the ball to Neal between his legs. After the handoff, Rivers and Tomlinson both sprinted right, with Rivers faking a handoff to Jackson faking an end-around right. At the same time, Neal faked a block, and, with the defense still unaware that he had the ball, sprinted left for the touchdown. This was technically not a fumblerooski as the ball was not set on the ground; instead this was merely a trick handoff, and might be considered a variant of the Statue of Liberty play
. The Bumarooski is named after former NFL head coach Bum Phillips
. Bum's son Wade
was the defensive coordinator for the Chargers.
The NCAA saw another variation of the fumblerooski on September 22, 2007 when Michigan State Spartans
' quarterback Brian Hoyer
pretended to fumble the ball and then passed to tight end Kellen Davis for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
. In reality, Hoyer never let go of the ball and instead simply waved it near the ground. However, the "Hoyer-rooski" worked to perfection and the Notre Dame linebackers bought the trick play, allowing Hoyer to find an open Davis in the endzone. The play was so well executed that Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio
had difficulty convincing the press that it was a called play. The Spartans went on to win 31-14.
In the 2009 Pro Bowl
, Le'Ron McClain
scored a touchdown on a modified fumblerooski. Although it is against the rules, it was ruled a touchdown.
Nebraska
completed this against Oklahoma
in the 1982 NCAA season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X7phZvI-jM
During their first game of the 2010 NCAA season, Wake Forest
fell to the bounce rooski by Presbyterian College
. Immediately after the snap, P.C. quarterback Brandon Miley threw what appeared to be an incomplete short pass to the side, to WR Derrick Overholt. The ball bounced off the ground but into the hands of Overholt, who then feigned disappointment. The Wake Forest defenders fell for Overholt's incomplete-pass theatrics, not realizing the pass was to the QB's back, making it a fumble. Overholt then threw the ball down-field to waiting WR Michael Ruff who was wide open and subsequently ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
to bring the prisoners within one point of the officers on the last play of the game (other than the two-point conversion).
The fumblerooski is featured as a play setting up the climax of the 1994 film Little Giants
, in which the Little Giants score on the game's final play. In the film, the play was called "The Annexation of Puerto Rico", though the opposing coach played by Ed O'Neill
correctly identifies the play, shouting "Fumblerooski! Fumblerooski!"
It was also featured in the 2008 film The Longshots
, starring Ice Cube
, as well as Any Given Sunday
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, the fumblerooski is a trick play
Trick play
A trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...
, most famously used by the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
against the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in the 1984 Orange Bowl
1984 Orange Bowl
The 1984 Orange Bowl was the 50th annual Orange Bowl Classic, played on January 2, 1984, between the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers and the once-beaten Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship. After leading 31-17 in the fourth quarter, Miami held on for a 31-30 victory...
. It was invented by John Heisman
John Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
.
In the fumblerooski, the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
deliberately places the ball on the ground upon receiving it from the center, technically fumbling
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
it. The backs will run to the right, and the right guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
will pick up the ball and run to the left.
Uses
The first documented use of the fumblerooski was in 1933 at Greenville High School during the 1933 Texas High School Championship.In the 1984 Orange Bowl
1984 Orange Bowl
The 1984 Orange Bowl was the 50th annual Orange Bowl Classic, played on January 2, 1984, between the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers and the once-beaten Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship. After leading 31-17 in the fourth quarter, Miami held on for a 31-30 victory...
game, #1 ranked Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
trailed Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
17-0 after the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne called for the play, whereby Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...
effectively “fumbled” the snap from center by setting it on the turf. The ball was picked up by All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
offensive guard Dean Steinkuhler
Dean Steinkuhler
-College career:Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983. This marked the third consecutive time a Cornhusker had won the award as Dave Rimington had won back to back Outland Trophies in 1981 and 1982...
, who ran the ball 19 yards for a touchdown. Nebraska famously went on to lose the game 31-30 (and with it, the national championship). Although this is widely regarded as the most famous occurrence of this play, it is actually not the first time that Nebraska ran it, having first tried it in a 17-14 loss to Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in 1979.
Coincidentally, it was used by the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
four years later, in 1988, also against the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Hurricanes, who fell prey to the fumblerooski in a national championship game a second time. Sooner quarterback Charles Thompson
Charles Thompson (football)
Charles Thompson is an American businessman, motivational speaker, and former football player, best known for his tenure and spectacular downfall as the quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners.-Rise with the Sooners:...
left the ball for offensive guard Mark Hutson
Mark Hutson
Mark Hutson is an American football college coach and a former All-America offensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1980s and among the top players in school history.-Playing career:...
, who proceeded to run for a touchdown. Oklahoma would eventually lose to Miami 20-14.
In 1990, Florida State tried to run the play against Auburn in the 4th quarter with a 7 point lead. Auburn recovered the "fumble" before FSU's guard could "recover". Auburn would score the tying touchdown on the ensuing drive, and eventually win on a last second field goal by Jim Von Wyl, marking one of the very rare occasions that the play failed.
Nebraska used the play again on Oct 31, 1992 in a 52-7 victory over the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. The ball was carried by offensive guard Will Shields
Will Shields
Will Herthie Shields is a former American football offensive guard. He attended the University of Nebraska and played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his 14 seasons in the NFL, Shields never missed a game...
, who gained a first down but did not score.
Like the NFL in the 1960s, the NCAA banned the use of the fumblerooski after the 1992 season, making intentional fumbles illegal. In April 2006, the NFHS
National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
followed suit, banning intentional fumbles, according to the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. However, longtime former NFL referee Jerry Markbreit
Jerry Markbreit
Jerry Markbreit is a former American football referee in the National Football League for 23 seasons and became one of the most recognizable referees in the game. Markbreit officiated football games for 43 seasons. From 1965 to 1975, Markbreit officiated college football games in the Big Ten...
says the play is still legal, provided the quarterback places the ball on the ground behind himself, rather than in front (the forward fumble was banned as the result of another play, the Holy Roller
Holy Roller (American football)
In American football, "the Holy Roller" is the nickname given to a controversial game-winning play by the Oakland Raiders against the San Diego Chargers on September 10, 1978. The game was played at the Chargers' home field, Jack Murphy or San Diego Stadium...
). Direct handoffs to offensive linemen are still thoroughly legal, meaning that the play can still be executed as originally devised, except the ball must be handed off instead of left on the ground to be picked up. Furthermore, since 2008, the center himself can execute the fumble and the ball will be live once the ball hits the ground.
A form of the fumblerooski was used in the 2003 Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl by the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
against the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
. The quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst
Charlie Whitehurst
Charles David Whitehurst is an American football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, laid the ball at the fullback's feet as he took the snap and ran a fake to the right while the fullback ran left for a touchdown.
A new variation of the fumblerooski was run by the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
on October 7, 2006: the then-unranked Razorbacks used the trick play in their upset of the #2 ranked Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
. The smallest Razorback player—5’7” Reggie Fish—crouched hidden behind the line, out of sight of the Auburn defense. The QB took the snap, handed Fish the ball, and proceeded to run a fake play. This was the first time a play like this had appeared in major college football.
The University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
Longhorns tried the same play against Nebraska on October 21, 2006. It failed to score, however, when Husker linebacker Bo Ruud picked up on the trick play and subsequently tackled the runner. Texas went on to win the game 22-20 after a last-minute field goal.
On December 10, 2006, the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
ran a successful fumblerooski variant, known as the Bumerooski, against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
that resulted in a 4-yard touchdown run for fullback Lorenzo Neal
Lorenzo Neal
Lorenzo LaVonne Neal is an American football fullback who played in the NFL from 1993–2009. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft...
's first touchdown of the season. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson , nicknamed "Action Jackson", is an American football wide receiver who currently plays in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers....
was lined up in the backfield with running back LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
. The ball was snapped to quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
, who handed the ball to Neal between his legs. After the handoff, Rivers and Tomlinson both sprinted right, with Rivers faking a handoff to Jackson faking an end-around right. At the same time, Neal faked a block, and, with the defense still unaware that he had the ball, sprinted left for the touchdown. This was technically not a fumblerooski as the ball was not set on the ground; instead this was merely a trick handoff, and might be considered a variant of the Statue of Liberty play
Statue of Liberty play
The Statue of Liberty is a trick play in American football, occasionally seen in high school football, college football and the NFL.-Execution of the play:...
. The Bumarooski is named after former NFL head coach Bum Phillips
Bum Phillips
Oail Andrew "Bum" Phillips is a retired American football coach and the father of Wade Phillips, the Defensive Coordinator for the Houston Texans...
. Bum's son Wade
Wade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
was the defensive coordinator for the Chargers.
The NCAA saw another variation of the fumblerooski on September 22, 2007 when Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
' quarterback Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
pretended to fumble the ball and then passed to tight end Kellen Davis for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
. In reality, Hoyer never let go of the ball and instead simply waved it near the ground. However, the "Hoyer-rooski" worked to perfection and the Notre Dame linebackers bought the trick play, allowing Hoyer to find an open Davis in the endzone. The play was so well executed that Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. He is credited for winning the 2010 Big Ten Championship and his 4 game win streak over arch-rival Michigan...
had difficulty convincing the press that it was a called play. The Spartans went on to win 31-14.
In the 2009 Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, Le'Ron McClain
Le'Ron McClain
- Baltimore Ravens :McClain signed with the Ravens on July 27, 2007. He scored his first career touchdown on a Kyle Boller pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 25, 2007...
scored a touchdown on a modified fumblerooski. Although it is against the rules, it was ruled a touchdown.
Bounce rooski
A variant of the fumblerooski is the "bounce rooski", in which the quarterback throws a pass behind him that bounces along the ground and to a wide receiver, attempting to fool the defense into thinking it was an incomplete pass. Once the defense is relaxed, the wide receiver can then simply throw it to a player downfield, since a backwards incomplete pass counts as a fumble, and not an incomplete pass.Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
completed this against Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
in the 1982 NCAA season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X7phZvI-jM
During their first game of the 2010 NCAA season, Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
fell to the bounce rooski by Presbyterian College
Presbyterian College
Presbyterian College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, South Carolina, USA. Presbyterian College, or PC, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA. PC was founded in 1880 by William Plumer Jacobs, a prominent Presbyterian minister who also founded the nearby Thornwell Home and...
. Immediately after the snap, P.C. quarterback Brandon Miley threw what appeared to be an incomplete short pass to the side, to WR Derrick Overholt. The ball bounced off the ground but into the hands of Overholt, who then feigned disappointment. The Wake Forest defenders fell for Overholt's incomplete-pass theatrics, not realizing the pass was to the QB's back, making it a fumble. Overholt then threw the ball down-field to waiting WR Michael Ruff who was wide open and subsequently ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
Popular culture
The fumblerooski was used in the 2005 remake of The Longest YardThe Longest Yard (2005 film)
The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film remake of the 1974 film of the same name. Adam Sandler plays the protagonist, Paul Crewe, a disgraced former professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, who is coerced to form a team from the prison inmates to play...
to bring the prisoners within one point of the officers on the last play of the game (other than the two-point conversion).
The fumblerooski is featured as a play setting up the climax of the 1994 film Little Giants
Little Giants
Little Giants is a 1994 family comedy film, starring Rick Moranis and Ed O'Neill as brothers in a small Ohio town, coaching rival Pee-Wee Football teams.-Synopsis:...
, in which the Little Giants score on the game's final play. In the film, the play was called "The Annexation of Puerto Rico", though the opposing coach played by Ed O'Neill
Ed O'Neill
Edward Phillip "Ed" O'Neill, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the main character, Al Bundy, on the Fox Network sitcom Married... with Children, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes...
correctly identifies the play, shouting "Fumblerooski! Fumblerooski!"
It was also featured in the 2008 film The Longshots
The Longshots
The Longshots is a 2008 biopic family comedy-drama film sports movie based on the real life events of Jasmine Plummer, the first female to participate in the Pop Warner football tournament....
, starring Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
, as well as Any Given Sunday
Any Given Sunday
Any Given Sunday is a 1999 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. The film features an ensemble cast, consisting of Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods, LL Cool J, Matthew Modine, John C...
See also
- American football strategyAmerican football strategyAmerican football strategy concerns the deployment of offensive, defensive, and special teams players in American football.-Offensive strategy:The goal of offensive strategy is to score points...
- Flea flicker (American football)Flea flicker (American football)A flea flicker is an unorthodox play in American football designed to fool the defensive team into thinking that a play is a run instead of a pass...
- Holy Roller (American football)Holy Roller (American football)In American football, "the Holy Roller" is the nickname given to a controversial game-winning play by the Oakland Raiders against the San Diego Chargers on September 10, 1978. The game was played at the Chargers' home field, Jack Murphy or San Diego Stadium...
- Statue of Liberty playStatue of Liberty playThe Statue of Liberty is a trick play in American football, occasionally seen in high school football, college football and the NFL.-Execution of the play:...
- Trick playTrick playA trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...