Fog Bowl -December 31st, 1988

December 31st, 1988 - The FOG BOWL - Soldier Field- This has to be one my earliest and most memorable NFL moments from being a youngster. Coach Buddy Ryan was back in Chicago to take on his arch nemesis Mike Ditka & the Bears in an NFC Divisional Playoff Game. An eerie fog began to roll in right before halftime, with the Bears ahead 17-6. The Fog was so thick the coaches couldn’t even see what was happening from the sidelines. Verne & Terry in the CBS press box couldn’t see 10 ft in front of them! The Bears ended up holding on for a 20-12 victory. They hosted the 49ers in the NFC Championship the next weekend, but were routed 28-3 by Montana & Co. Imagine all the Talking Heads if they had the Internet back then. Happy New Years Dudes!!

Trick Plays - The Puntrooskie

Before he was leaping in Lambeau for the Green Bay Packers, Leroy Butler is most well known in Florida State lore for a trick play he was a part of back in 1988 on a sloppy field in September. The 10th ranked Seminoles were at Memorial Stadium aka ‘Death Valley’ taking on the 3rd ranked Clemson Tigers. It was the first game in Death Valley history where the Tigers & their opponent were both ranked in the top ten. With the score 21-21 & just 1:33 left in the game, Coach Bobby Bowden dug deep into his playbook and pulled out the aptly titled ‘Puntrooskie.’ A top secret play the Noles had been working on. Backed up at their own 21 yard line, facing a 4th & 4, FSU lined up to punt it away. Wink wink. Instead, the ball was snapped to upback Dayne Williams who then took a step forward and handed the ball off between Leroy Butler’s legs. Butler stayed still for a second, allowing the defenders to follow the fake, and then suddenly he was taking off down the left side of the field, finally being run out of bounds at the four yard line. FSU converted a field goal, to pull out the victory 24-21. Who fakes a punt at their own 21??

View fullsize

View fullsize