From the Executive Editor: The Biggest Play of All Time

On Feb. 7, 2010 the New Orleans Saints returned to the field for the second half of the Super bowl being played in Miami. Back in Louisiana, folks were riveted at viewing parties as the long lovable but frequently losable Saints were actually in the big game.

As the players approached the field, they seemed calm; some talking to coaches, others taking a swig of Gatorade. Since the Saints had won the coin toss at the beginning of the game, they had received the opening kickoff. With the second half starting, they took to the field with the daunting challenge of kicking the ball to a team piloted by the Indianapolis Colts’ (and a native of New Orleans) superstar Peyton Manning.

Tension built as rookie punter Thomas Morstead approached the ball and then swung his leg. But more on that later…

Since there is a football theme in this issue, I thought it might be fun to speculate on what the biggest play of all time by a Louisiana-based football team might be.

An easy choice would be Halloween night in 1959 when LSU and Ole Miss, both at the top of the national rankings, battled it out in Tiger Stadium. Ole Miss was leading 3-0 until the final minutes of the fourth quarter, when their punt was fielded by Tiger halfback Billy Cannon and, in a moment, still replayed on worn radio tapes each Halloween, run 89 yards for a touchdown.

The Tigers won, and for another week at least, would maintain their ranking as number one in the land.

Back to the 2010 Super Bowl. Nobody was expecting anything unusual as Thomas Morstead launched his kick. But then, as practiced, it took an unusual bounce.

For a kickoff, a ball must go at least ten yards — then it is anybody’s grab. Since that is where the opposing team is lined up, it generally goes in their hands. The ball, however, took a weird bounce. It was an onside kick, which are usually seen late in a game when a team desperately needs the ball. As the shocked TV announcers yelled, no one opens a half with an onside kick. It was totally unexpected, especially by the Colts. Chris Reis, a little-known Saint’s safety, was suddenly hugging the ball while at the bottom of the pile with 21 hunky NFL bodies piled on top of him.

Saints ball! With Peyton Manning denied an opportunity, the Saints were able to mount a comeback and then, miraculously, took a knee to win the game, 31-17.

Weeks later, members of the team were flown to Washington where they were honored by the president. Barack Obama had watched the game and told Head Coach Sean Payton that while he, as president, has had to make many difficult decisions, the onside call was one of the gutsiest he has seen.

Sometimes there are other factors behind big plays. In 2020, ESPN The Magazine published an article on the 10th anniversary of the Super Bowl onside kick. Staff writer Mike Triplett interviewed players and coaches who were there that day. Many recalled the apprehension they felt at halftime in the clubhouse when Sean Payton called for the play. And then, as they left for the field, the players were instructed not to tip off the Colts that something unusual was about to happen. They were told to be calm, talk to the coaches and drink Gatorade to seem totally nonchalant about the opening of a second half that would possibly be part of NFL history. It worked!

Fooling the Colts to win the Super Bowl! That was the biggest play of all time. And they did it with Gatorade.

Errol Laborde
Executive Editor
Errol@Louisianalife.com

Louisiana Insider

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