With national attention and more than 80,000 in the stands, coach Elmer Layden referred to the play as a “Hail Mary” pass.Īs far as I can tell, the first time there is mention in print media is from Decemin the Daytona Beach Morning Journal under the headline, “Orange Bowl: Hoyas Put Faith in ‘Hail Mary’ Pass”. With less than a minute left of the clock, Notre Dame’s Bill Shakespeare threw a touchdown to complete the come-from-behind victory. Perhaps it’s important to note that the phrase was in full force following the conclusion of the Game of the Century which pitted Ohio St against Notre Dame. It wasn’t until a decade later when the aforementioned Crowley along with former team mate Elmer Layden (both of whom played for the fabled Four Horsemen of Notre Dame) used the term publicly as coaches. What we know is that the origins date back to 1922, however, can we claim that was the exact moment in time that the Hail Mary play entered into football vernacular? Years later, former Notre Dame h alfback Jim Crowley reflected that it was Noble Kizer, offensive guard, who convinced the team to utter the prayers in the huddle just before half-time, deep in Yellow Jacket territory. Whether they were just the better team or there were hints of divine intervention, Notre Dame left with a win. In 1922 under the tutelage of legendary college football coach Knute Rockne, Notre Dame played a game against Georgia Tech when the Irish players began saying “Hail Mary’s” before each play.

But let’s delve just a bit deeper to learn about the key figures surrounding the invention of the word (in a football sense). Much has been written on the origins of the phrase. When the hail Mary became a part of sport’s vernacular was quite easy to research. Oh, and all that with the ominous ticking of the clock. Usually the team is miles away from the end zone, the defense sitting back waiting with lips licked to swat the ball away.

The play comes with poor odds - like hitting a full house on the river while your opponent had a flush.

Doesn’t every school-aged child who loves football dream of throwing that last second miraculous pass to win the game for their team? The very nature of the play, one in which a team is behind on the scoreboard with precious little time remaining in the game (or half, I suppose), is dramatic. The mere mention invokes a feeling like no other in sport. The Hail Mary-not just any old play, but rather one that that tells a story of desperation and hope.

What is a hail mary football play