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Statue of Liberty play
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Statue of Liberty is a trick play in American football, often used in late game or comeback situations. Although it is rarely seen at any level of football, it is seen more frequently at the high school or college level than in the NFL.
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Although there are many variations of the play, most common involves the quarterback taking the snap from the center, dropping back, and gripping the ball with two hands as if he were to throw. He then takes his non-throwing hand and uses it to place the ball behind his back while pump faking a throw to one side of the field. While his arm is still in motion during the fake throw, he hands the ball off behind his back to a running back or a wide receiver in motion, who runs the football to the opposite side of the field. The play is contingent upon the defense being tricked out of position by the pump fake, and then being unable to catch up with the runner as he runs in the opposite direction of the fake.
The play is named after the positioning of the quarterback as he hands the ball off. If done correctly, he should have one hand in the air and the other at his side, resembling the pose of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. When executed properly, the Statue of Liberty is a very deceptive and high yardage play. However, because of the difficult coordination of motions it is often very challenging to properly execute the play, and this may lead to a fumble, interception, sack, or lost yardage. Additionally, disciplined defenses will be more likely to pickup on the fake and will not be tricked by the play.
Although it is unknown who first used the play, it became popular by Fielding H. Yost during his tenure as head coach of the football team at the University of Michigan [1].
It was perhaps used most famously by Jared Zabransky and Ian Johnson in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl [2] between the undefeated Boise State Broncos and the Oklahoma Sooners. The play clinched Boise State a two-point conversion for the overtime victory, and surprised the Oklahoma defense as well as many television viewers who had never seen a Statue of Liberty play before. The game between the two teams is referred to as one of the closest and most exciting college football games of all-time [3], due in part to the do-or-die nature of this play.
The Statue of Liberty play was a staple of football games in Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoons. In these cartoons, the main character would quickly dress up as the Statue of Liberty, then majestically walk the ball to the end zone for a touchdown. The other team would be unable to interfere because, of course, they were required to stand at attention and salute the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty play was referenced in the Brady Bunch television series of the 1970s.
The phrase "Statue of Liberty play" has come to represent any bit of desperate trickery or misdirection outside of sports.
- ^ Popik, Barry (2004-07-19). Statue of Liberty Play. The Big Apple. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ Staff and Wire Reports (2007-01-02). Boise State shocks Oklahoma with dramatic play calls in OT at Fiesta Bowl. USA Today. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ Forde, Pat (2007-01-02). Broncos earn respect with improbable victory. ESPN.com. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.