Failure™ Magazine

Quirkiest Football Failures III

Part three of a three-part series.

Written by Jason Zasky   Filed under Sports

Are you ready for some (more) quirky football failures? Following is part three of Failure’s three-part Quirkiest Football Failures series.

November 23, 1968: In the college football “Game of the Century,” the undefeated Harvard Crimson score 16 points on the undefeated Yale Bulldogs in the final 42 seconds and the contest ends in a tie. The miraculous rally inspires the following headline in the next edition of the Harvard Crimson: “Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29.” Afterwards, longtime Yale coach Carmen Cozza refers to this game as the “worst loss of my career.”

December 16, 2001: Arizona Cardinals placekicker Bill Gramatica, 23, jumps high in the air in celebration after converting a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter of a game against the New York Giants. He lands awkwardly, however, and tears the anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus in his right knee, an injury that requires major reconstructive surgery.

October 25, 1964: During a game against the San Francisco 49ers, defensive end Jim Marshall of the Minnesota Vikings scoops up a fumble and rumbles 66 yards into the end zone—the wrong end zone. Believing he scored a touchdown, Marshall hurls the ball into the crowd, and the 49ers are awarded two points for a safety. The Vikings go on to win anyway, 27-22. An NFL Network commercial recalls the play.

November 25, 1993: With just seconds to go in a snowy Thanksgiving Day NFL game at Texas Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys block a 41-yard field goal attempt by the Miami Dolphins, seemingly assuring a one-point victory for the Cowboys. Yet, Dallas defensive lineman Leon Lett makes the mistake of touching the ball before the whistle is blown and then fails to control the “muff,” enabling the Dolphins to take possession and attempt another field goal. The second attempt is successful and the Dolphins win 16-14.

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