As Drew Willy scampered for what looked to be the game-tying touchdown, the whistle blew and the game was over. Willy, who picked up a fumble by Steven King on fourth-and-one, had a clear path to the end zone. However, a little known rule came into play that left the Bulls' sideline in confusion.
The NCAA rule, which came into existence in 1992, states that on a fourth down play any offensive player except for the man who fumbled the ball cannot advance a fumble. Thus, when Willy advanced the ball, the play was correctly called dead.
This rule is to prevent another "immaculate deception," a play in 1978 in a National Football League game between the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders, who were down six, purposely fumbled the football, which rolled into the end zone where receiver Dave Casper recovered the ball in the end zone, resulting in an Oakland victory.
If the Bulls' fourth down play had happened in the NFL, Willy would have been able to advance the ball, since the league considers an intentional fumble as only a ball fumbled forward, while Steven King fumbled the ball backwards.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
