I was there. The thought crossed my mind "I can get out and push if it will help!"It never fails to amaze me that on tv/video, that play for 2 pts was in normal speed. For those of us who were there seeing it live....there is no doubt it was "live slow-motion". It seemed to take Kerwin 30 seconds to make it to the goal line.
It was a fantastic afternoon/night.Easily the most incredible game I've ever been to. The displays of drunken tomfoolery that ensued thereafter were unspeakable.
It never fails to amaze me that on tv/video, that play for 2 pts was in normal speed. For those of us who were there seeing it live....there is no doubt it was "live slow-motion". It seemed to take Kerwin 30 seconds to make it to the goal line.
Did it always seem like Percy was jogging when he was on the field even though he is separating from the CB at a very high clip??
Man he was fast and made it look so easy.
Good story. Similar to my post game experience that day. Rode down with some friends across the panhandle, one of which was president of the Jackson Co. Gator Club.(Marianna). There was a party for Bulls, Gator Club officers across the state, etc scheduled after the game at Galen Hall's house. Everyone started showing up within half hour after the game--Galen got there at least 2 hours after, maybe more. EVERYONE there looked tired, drained, and yet excited beyond words because of what happened....and everyone had the same recollection about "the play": it took forever to develop. Slow motion. Thought Kerwin would never get there. On and on....same story and same impression. When Galen finally made it home to the party, the dude had no fingernails left....had been gnawing on them all game long as he was noted for, but ramped into devour level during that 4th quarter. Galen looked totally spent when he arrived. Drained is not the right word--it was worse. He was completely worn out--happy of course, but looked exhausted.In my memory it's like a 2 minute play, my dad's expression... Not fully understanding the significance of it at the time.... the slowest 2 yard run in the history of two yard runs, i mean most of us could have walked it faster. The feeling of the metal seats on my feet, because none of us were sitting. I think each time I bring back the memory it seems like it took longer. I remember after the game I was with some donors a couple of Bulls as we were all pre/post gaming together. All telling the story of the same play, I swear by the end of all the stories it sounded like a 50 yard run.
...and now, because LITERALLY nobody has asked for it, I reproduce my classic Kerwin Bell post from the old GSMB in its entirety:Easily the most incredible game I've ever been to. The displays of drunken tomfoolery that ensued thereafter were unspeakable.
Tater would be proud.Am I the only one who noticed the original list contains not ten plays, but ELEVEN????
...and now, because LITERALLY nobody has asked for it, I reproduce my classic Kerwin Bell post from the old GSMB in its entirety:
I may be getting older, but I'll never, ever forget that Auburn game. It was, without a doubt, the greatest moment in Gator , if not American, history.
The Gator offense was inept that day. Auburn jumped out to a huge, insurmountable lead. The O&B faithful despaired. Then, a desperate Galen Hall picked up his emergency red telephone and called the ER at Shands. He gritted his teeth and simply said "Bring me Bell." To the horror of his physicians, Kerwin demanded that an ambulance immediately transport him to the stadium.
Kerwin didn't start because he was on crutches that day. You see, he had broken his leg in an earlier game giving his all for the Gators. He was in a full cast from hip all the way down to his foot. Gangrene had set in and the leg was due to be amputated later that day. It didn't matter to Kerwin. The Gators needed him, and he wasn't going to let them down.
Galen called a timeout so the hospital helicopter could land at midfield and drop Kerwin off. Florida had the ball on their own 1 foot line, with .0001 seconds left on the clock. Kerwin's positioned his wheel chair under center and called the last play of the game. He took the snap with his teeth and used both hands roll the wheelchair back. Auburn blitzed their entire defense. Bell juked two defenders, rolled over a third, then, just before being sacked for a safety, he launched a prayer of a hail mary downfield.
Alas, his WR had fallen down the ball was fluttering down, destined to fall incomplete. But, from nowhere, Bell's powerful arms drove his wheelchair toward the spot where the ball was falling. At the last second, he made a fingertip catch to keep the play alive, but the entire Auburn offense, defense, the 1972 Dolphins, and the entire Stanford band was between him and the endzone. On that day, however, Bell would not be denied. He spun the wheelchair around, juking Auburn players while kicking up a rooster tail of dirt and grass in his wake. He drove his wheelchair over and around defenders until he got to the 5 yard line. At that moment, he was stopped by Dolphins middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti and a trombone player.
Knowing there was no way to get around these last two defenders, Kerwin clutched the ball with his left hand and used his pocketknife to saw off his own broken leg. He used the leg (still encased in the cast) to hit Nick upside his head. He swung his leg back the other way and drove the trombone all the way through the poor band geek's skull until 3 feet of the instrument was sticking out of the back of his head.
With the way ahead finally cleared, Kerwin hopped up on his one good leg and completed the last five yards into the endzone. The referees consulted and decided to award the Gators 27 1/2 points for the play, giving the Gators a 1/2 point win.
Yup--so help me, that's EXACTLY the way it happened or my name isn't William Jefferson Clinton.
Alex.
Am I the only one who noticed the original list contains not ten plays, but ELEVEN????
I am not sure what the mods are doing (do we have mods here), but this lawlessness and hijinks must not continue.
Those were just some examples of possible top ten plays, not my own personal list.
For instance, for me personally I remember one play vividly where Jack Jackson caught a TD pass against the clowns in the east end of the North endzone, right in front of where I was sitting. He then did a Fred Sanford "this is the big one!" heart attack gesture celebration before heading back to the bench. That's one of my own top ten plays.