Biggest plays in MSU history

[AFCAT]

Bunch of young punks posting here. The greatest play ever was Paul Schafer's 58th carry in the 1968 Cat-Griz game with 12 seconds left. Look it up. See what that team did on November 2, 1968.

I’m not old enough to remember Schafers play and I’m not sure if I’m a punk, but I can’t see how any play against the griz can beat Joe Roberts interception for greatest plays in Bobcat history. Roberts interception occurred when the Cats were, in all likelihood, going down to defeat. Joe’s improbable interception and return won the playoff game and put the Cats in the national championship.
Without having seen Schafers play, I will give you number two on the list though.

Sometime in the third quarter of the 68 game, the staples they used to keep Paul's dislocated shoulder somewhat in place began coming out...and that was the 58th carry by Paul in that one game. Even though the next tackle saved the lead as the clock ran out, I stiil maintain that one yard run as the best ever.

I was about 50 ft from it. I was seated in the south endzone at the old off campus stadium they used. Paul got the hand off did a short side step, waited for the block, and dove into the endzone.

Did you think they'd be able to come back in that game? Back then running the Houston Veer still, that kind of comeback was unheard of and I thought they were toast. Erickson and our Bain were unworldly. Wish I had video of some of the catches Bain made and Stiff did pretty good too.

I too was in the end zone when Paul Shafer scored. Since (if not true) it seems most of the MSU fans - at least the students - were in that end zone, when Shafer scored, the place went nuts!! Whether or not that play was one of the biggest in MSU history or not, I think Shafer's effort that day has to top the list. He was one tough dude!! I doubt they'd even let a kid play today in the kind of shape he played much of the season. I'd like to be able to see that game again.

No, he would not have played today. I mean, come on, they stapled his freaken dislocated shoulder and the staples were coming out! Haas played a game where they had to tape one arm to his chest. But I don't mean to get off topic. Those two plays in that 68 game had to have been the best plays ever by Bobcat football player(s).

Guess you had to have been there to understand how far behind they were and how gutty those guys were to understand.

Every time you post in this thread I think you’re going to reveal who tackled Ron Baines. I’m beginning to wonder if you know.

According to an interview with Dennis Erickson it was defensive back Terry Brown who just got enough of Baines at the ten yard line to take him out-of-bounds.

Thanks! I’ve been wondering who it was for at least 10 years. Does anyone have any other info about Brown? Hometown. Year in school when he made that play.

Terry Brown was from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and was a JC transfer in 1967 from Coffeyville, Kansas. He played Defensive back and was also a punter. He probably graduated in 1969.

[CatBlitz]

Not football, but this was pretty exciting to watch today!

You used the words hockey and exciting in the same sentence. Must be a first.

I'd watch hockey over anything but college football every day.

Playoff hockey is among the best in all of sports!

A correct take to have.

[BobcatDel]

I have been gone so I’m catching up on some of the BN reading. Kind of late to the party. Some great plays and videos!! Thanks for sharing.

So I don’t know how to classify this “non-game-winning” play. Maybe I call it the “least-most exciting biggest play” in MSU history. How to classify Stenerud’s 59 yard field goal In the 1965 Cat-Griz game (Cats win 24-7). At the time it was the longest field goal in football history at either the NCAA or NFL level. Should deserve at least a footnote in football lore!

I am sure everyone is jumping out of their chairs shouting “hell yeah” at being reminded about that one! But if that didn’t excite you.... maybe you can ask one of us old timers about the time Sweeney had him attempt the +100 yarder!!! Just for a little light hearted trivia.

[Mr Lisle]

I have been gone so I’m catching up on some of the BN reading. Kind of late to the party. Some great plays and videos!! Thanks for sharing.

So I don’t know how to classify this “non-game-winning” play. Maybe I call it the “least-most exciting biggest play” in MSU history. How to classify Stenerud’s 59 yard field goal In the 1965 Cat-Griz game (Cats win 24-7). At the time it was the longest field goal in football history at either the NCAA or NFL level. Should deserve at least a footnote in football lore!

I am sure everyone is jumping out of their chairs shouting “hell yeah” at being reminded about that one! But if that didn’t excite you.... maybe you can ask one of us old timers about the time Sweeney had him attempt the +100 yarder!!! Just for a little light hearted trivia.

Okay...here's an old timer that saw them both. Senerud's 59er....When the Cats lined up for the field goal the crowd sort of quieted down. Obviously, no one had ever seen anything like this, but there was maybe an expectation this might happen for two reason. 1. We had never seen anything like Jan, so maybe anything was possible and 2. The wind was gusting to about 35 mph from directly behind him. It was a really smart move by Sweeney. The late Joe Tiller's late little brother Marvin was the holder.
The snap and hold were perfect and the ball exploded off the kicking tee...which was in use then. What's the cross bar...maybe 10 feet high? Well the ball never got higher than 15 feet and shot between the uprights. The crowd exploded! We thought it was a record for sure, but that wasn't confirmed until later on.
The other kick...it may have been against Weber and wasn't 100 like so many have heard..."only" about 75 and Sweeney actually used it as a field position tactic. The best part was...Jan was still so new to football he thought he was supposed to make it and went out there as serious as a heart attack. I looked at the defense and they were looking at each other like "what the.....???" Anyway they expected a fake and doubled down on the receivers. And then....Jan kicked the ball. But, like other things you try to do too hard...it was a horrible kick. It sort of pancaked out, barely got past the safety, but then rolled and rolled. As long as it stayed on the field it was a live ball and a Bobcat dived on it about 50 yards down field possibly making it one of the longest "field-punts" in history. That there last part is the real story about #2.