Statue of Liberty play
Encyclopedia
The Statue of Liberty is a trick play
in American football
, occasionally seen in high school football
, college football
and the NFL.
taking the snap from the center, dropping back, and gripping the ball with two hands as if he were to throw. He then takes his non-throwing hand and uses it to place the ball behind his back while pump faking a throw to one side of the field. While his arm is still in motion during the fake throw, he hands the ball off behind his back to a running back
or a wide receiver
in motion, who runs the football to the opposite side of the field. The play is contingent upon the defense being tricked out of position by the pump fake, and then being unable to catch up with the runner as he runs in the opposite direction of the fake.
The play is named after the positioning of the quarterback as he hands the ball off. If done correctly, he should have one hand in the air and the other at his side, resembling the pose of the Statue of Liberty
. When executed properly, the Statue of Liberty is a very deceptive and high-yardage play. However, because of the difficult coordination of motions it is often very challenging to properly execute the play, and this may lead to a fumble, sack, or lost yardage. Additionally, disciplined defenses will be more likely to pick up on the fake and will not be tricked by the play.
was the first to call the play, and Stagg credited Clarence Herschberger
with being the first player to run the play. The play was made popular by Fielding H. Yost during his tenure as head coach of the football team
at the University of Michigan
.
The Northwestern Wildcats
employed a version of this play in the 1949 Rose Bowl
to run for a 45-yard touchdown in the final minutes of the game, defeating the heavily favored California Golden Bears
20–14.
The Baltimore Colts ran a version of the play in December, 1970. Led by 37-year-old quarterback Johnny Unitas
, the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders in the 1970 AFC Championship game 27–17
.
This play was also a part of the offensive repertoire of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams teams of the mid-1970s under coach Chuck Knox
.
The most famous use in recent years was by Jared Zabransky
and Ian Johnson
in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
between the undefeated Boise State Broncos
and the Oklahoma Sooners
. The play, known as "Statue Left" by the Broncos, clinched Boise State a two-point conversion for the overtime victory. The game between the two teams is referred to as one of the closest and most exciting college football games of all time, due in part to the do-or-die nature of this play. It is run in the trips shotgun
set. The Sooners saw another Statue of Liberty play in their September 6, 2008, game against the Cincinnati Bearcats
. Bearcats quarterback Dustin Grutza handed off to John Goebel, but the Sooners stopped Goebel for only a short gain.
In a regular season matchup against the Michigan Wolverines
in 2007, Oregon Ducks
quarterback Dennis Dixon
faked a Statue of Liberty to running back Jonathan Stewart
and then ran for a crucial touchdown almost unseen.
The New England Patriots
employed an unusual variant of the play in their 2007 NFL divisional playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars
. Strictly speaking, the play, which the Patriots called "Double Pop," was actually a reverse Statue of Liberty play, in that the run, not the pass, was the fake element. Center Dan Koppen
faked a direct snap to Patriots running back Kevin Faulk
, causing the defense to move to stop the run; meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady
, who received the football, faked an over-the-head snap, and held the Statue of Liberty pose with his back to the defense before turning around and throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Wes Welker
in the back of the end zone.
Trick play
A trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...
in American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, occasionally seen in high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and the NFL.
Execution of the play
Although many variations of the play exist, the most common involves the quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
taking the snap from the center, dropping back, and gripping the ball with two hands as if he were to throw. He then takes his non-throwing hand and uses it to place the ball behind his back while pump faking a throw to one side of the field. While his arm is still in motion during the fake throw, he hands the ball off behind his back to a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
or a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in motion, who runs the football to the opposite side of the field. The play is contingent upon the defense being tricked out of position by the pump fake, and then being unable to catch up with the runner as he runs in the opposite direction of the fake.
The play is named after the positioning of the quarterback as he hands the ball off. If done correctly, he should have one hand in the air and the other at his side, resembling the pose of the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
. When executed properly, the Statue of Liberty is a very deceptive and high-yardage play. However, because of the difficult coordination of motions it is often very challenging to properly execute the play, and this may lead to a fumble, sack, or lost yardage. Additionally, disciplined defenses will be more likely to pick up on the fake and will not be tricked by the play.
History of the play
Amos Alonzo StaggAmos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
was the first to call the play, and Stagg credited Clarence Herschberger
Clarence Herschberger
Clarence B. "Herschie" Herschberger was an American football fullback, punter and placekicker. He played for the University of Chicago from 1896–1898 and became the first western player to be selected as a first-team All-American in 1898...
with being the first player to run the play. The play was made popular by Fielding H. Yost during his tenure as head coach of the football team
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
The Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
employed a version of this play in the 1949 Rose Bowl
1949 Rose Bowl
The 1949 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game. It was the 35th Rose Bowl Game, and the third since the Big Nine Conference and Pacific Coast Conference agreed to an exclusive agreement to match their conference champions. The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the California Golden Bears 20-14...
to run for a 45-yard touchdown in the final minutes of the game, defeating the heavily favored California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
20–14.
The Baltimore Colts ran a version of the play in December, 1970. Led by 37-year-old quarterback Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas
John Constantine Unitas , known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football...
, the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders in the 1970 AFC Championship game 27–17
NFL playoffs, 1970-71
The NFL playoffs following the 1970 NFL season led up to Super Bowl V.This was the first playoff tournament after the AFL-NFL Merger. An eight-team playoff tournament was designed, with four clubs from each conference qualifying...
.
This play was also a part of the offensive repertoire of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams teams of the mid-1970s under coach Chuck Knox
Chuck Knox
Charles Robert "Chuck" Knox is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with...
.
The most famous use in recent years was by Jared Zabransky
Jared Zabransky
Jared Zabransky is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Houston Texans of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2007, and played two seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 2009 and 2010...
and Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (American football)
-Minnesota Vikings:He ran the fastest 40 yard dash time for a running back at the 2009 NFL Combine with a 4.46. He was signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 4 of the Preseason Johnson ran for 2 touchdowns in 17 carries against the Dallas Cowboys...
in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
2007 Fiesta Bowl
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played as part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
between the undefeated Boise State Broncos
2006 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2006 college football season. The Broncos won the Western Athletic Conference championship with an undefeated 12–0 regular-season record , their second unbeaten regular season in the past three years...
and the Oklahoma Sooners
2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2006-2007, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship...
. The play, known as "Statue Left" by the Broncos, clinched Boise State a two-point conversion for the overtime victory. The game between the two teams is referred to as one of the closest and most exciting college football games of all time, due in part to the do-or-die nature of this play. It is run in the trips shotgun
Shotgun formation
The shotgun formation is a formation used by the offensive team in American and Canadian football. This formation is used mainly for passing plays, although some teams use it as their base formation. In the shotgun, instead of the quarterback receiving the snap from center at the line of scrimmage,...
set. The Sooners saw another Statue of Liberty play in their September 6, 2008, game against the Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
. Bearcats quarterback Dustin Grutza handed off to John Goebel, but the Sooners stopped Goebel for only a short gain.
In a regular season matchup against the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
in 2007, Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
quarterback Dennis Dixon
Dennis Dixon
Dennis Lee Dixon, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
faked a Statue of Liberty to running back Jonathan Stewart
Jonathan Stewart
Jonathan Creon Stewart is an American football running back for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. He was selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Oregon.-High school career:Stewart is the career leading rusher in...
and then ran for a crucial touchdown almost unseen.
The New England Patriots
2007 New England Patriots season
The 2007 New England Patriots season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League and 48th season overall. They finished with a perfect 16–0 regular season record but lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII....
employed an unusual variant of the play in their 2007 NFL divisional playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars
2007 Jacksonville Jaguars season
-Final roster:-Schedule:The Jacksonville Jaguars pre-season schedule was announced on April 11, 2007.-Schedule:-Week 1: vs. Tennessee Titans:-Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons:-Week 3: at Denver Broncos:-Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs:...
. Strictly speaking, the play, which the Patriots called "Double Pop," was actually a reverse Statue of Liberty play, in that the run, not the pass, was the fake element. Center Dan Koppen
Dan Koppen
Daniel Koppen is an American football center for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
faked a direct snap to Patriots running back Kevin Faulk
Kevin Faulk
Kevin Troy Faulk is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU.As of 2010, Faulk is the longest-tenured current member of the Patriots,...
, causing the defense to move to stop the run; meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
, who received the football, faked an over-the-head snap, and held the Statue of Liberty pose with his back to the defense before turning around and throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Wes Welker
Wes Welker
-San Diego Chargers :Welker, who was not drafted during the 2004 NFL Draft, signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. Welker made the Chargers out of training camp, but was released after the first game of the season.-2004 season:...
in the back of the end zone.
See also
- Football strategyAmerican football strategyAmerican football strategy concerns the deployment of offensive, defensive, and special teams players in American football.-Offensive strategy:The goal of offensive strategy is to score points...
- Flea flickerFlea flicker (American football)A flea flicker is an unorthodox play in American football designed to fool the defensive team into thinking that a play is a run instead of a pass...
- FumblerooskiFumblerooskiIn American football, the fumblerooski is a trick play, most famously used by the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the 1984 Orange Bowl. It was invented by John Heisman....
- Hook and lateral
- Trick playTrick playA trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...
- 2007 Fiesta Bowl2007 Fiesta BowlThe 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played as part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...