55 years ago today. Can't say I remember the play but we've never stopped talking about it.
In this week's installment of "Wayback Wednesday," Tracy Briggs shares the story of a Minnesota Vikings player who became famous for running to the wrong end zone after recovering a fumble.
How would you like it if your entire career was judged by your worst day at the office?
In a way, that happened to NFL great Jim Marshall, who 55 years ago this week ran into the wrong end zone in what has been called one of the NFL's biggest blunders of all time.
On Oct. 25, 1964, Minnesota Viking Jim Marshall recovered a fumble from San Francisco 49ers running back Billy Kilmer. But instead of running into the opposing end zone for a touchdown, he ran the other way, resulting in a two-point safety for the 49ers.
Instead, the Vikings beat the 49ers that day 27-22. Marshall went on to have an illustrious career as one of the Purple People Eaters of the 1960s and '70s. He says he tires of talking about it (wouldn't you?), but remains a pretty good sport. He even had a nice conversation with Kilmer (who ended up switching from 49ers running back to Washington Redskins quarterback later in his career) when the two men were playing in the same charity golf tournament.
Even after stopping him, California lost to Georgia Tech that day. Riegels was given the nickname "Wrong Way" and ended up sending Marshall a note in '64 that simply said, "Welcome to the club."
And apparently "wrong way" syndrome isn't going anywhere. Just last week, a high school player was tackled on the 10-yard line by his own teammate when he ran the wrong way after an interception.
Some fans speculate Marshall's blunder might be one of the reasons Marshall isn't in the Hall of Fame, despite lobbying to get him there. After all, he is one of the all-time Vikings sack leaders and played in an incredible 270 consecutive games, second all-time behind Brett Favre.
It just might prove that human nature, or at least football fans, are more likely to remember the wrong than the right.
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