(11-12-2019 06:46 PM)heferbovine Wrote:  In October 1977, William & Mary met heavily favored East Carolina University in the Oyster Bowl (a regular season fund raising game hosted by the Shriners) at old Foreman Field in Norfolk. Late in the third quarter, William & Mary quarterback Tom Rozantz took off on an option run and appeared headed for what would become the game-winning touchdown. When Rozantz got to the 5-yard line, Jim Johnson, a portly 65-year old man, seemed to come out of nowhere and grounded Rozantz with a surgical, shoulder-first, cross-body tackle. But Johnson wasn't an ECU defender. He was a Virginia Beach resident who was walking the sidelines as a spectator. A former ECU head football coach and athletics director, he apparently could not bear the thought of the Pirates losing the game. Impulsively, he lurched onto the field, and made the tackle that was carried nationwide by the Associated Press and "The NFL Today," which showed video footage of the event. Game officials ruled the play a touchdown and William & Mary went on to win, 21–17.

It was an outstanding football game, but it is probably the "12th man tackle" that most of the 20,000 people in attendance at Foreman Field on that very, very cold Saturday afternoon remembered most about it.

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That victory over ECU was memorable for another reason if fans want to have a bit of fun and play the "comparative score" game--a notably unreliable barometer of team strength--but a lot of fun nonetheless.

Here goes: During the 1977 season, William and Mary defeated East Carolina. East Carolina defeated Duke. Duke defeated Geogia Tech. Georgia Tech defeated Mississippi. Mississippi defeated Notre Dame. At season's end Notre Dame (11-1) was ranked No. 1 in the country by the Associated Press.

(11-13-2019 12:40 PM)GoTribe70 Wrote:  

(11-12-2019 06:46 PM)heferbovine Wrote:  In October 1977, William & Mary met heavily favored East Carolina University in the Oyster Bowl (a regular season fund raising game hosted by the Shriners) at old Foreman Field in Norfolk. Late in the third quarter, William & Mary quarterback Tom Rozantz took off on an option run and appeared headed for what would become the game-winning touchdown. When Rozantz got to the 5-yard line, Jim Johnson, a portly 65-year old man, seemed to come out of nowhere and grounded Rozantz with a surgical, shoulder-first, cross-body tackle. But Johnson wasn't an ECU defender. He was a Virginia Beach resident who was walking the sidelines as a spectator. A former ECU head football coach and athletics director, he apparently could not bear the thought of the Pirates losing the game. Impulsively, he lurched onto the field, and made the tackle that was carried nationwide by the Associated Press and "The NFL Today," which showed video footage of the event. Game officials ruled the play a touchdown and William & Mary went on to win, 21–17.

It was an outstanding football game, but it is probably the "12th man tackle" that most of the 20,000 people in attendance at Foreman Field on that very, very cold Saturday afternoon remembered most about it.

======================================

That victory over ECU was memorable for another reason if fans want to have a bit of fun and play the "comparative score" game--a notably unreliable barometer of team strength--but a lot of fun nonetheless.

Here goes: During the 1977 season, William and Mary defeated East Carolina. East Carolina defeated Duke. Duke defeated Geogia Tech. Georgia Tech defeated Mississippi. Mississippi defeated Notre Dame. At season's end Notre Dame (11-1) was ranked No. 1 in the country by the Associated Press.

I was at that game and saw the play. My memory is that Tom leveled the poor guy before stepping out of bounds. My memory may be faulty, but that's what I recall.