Hail Flutie

For the 2018 NFL football play, see Miracle in Miami.
Hail Flutie
Boston College Eagles Miami Hurricanes
(7–2) (8–3)
Independent Independent
47 45
Head coach: 
Jack Bicknell		 Head coach: 
Jimmy Johnson
APCoaches
1010
APCoaches
1212
1234 Total
Boston College 1414316 47
Miami 7141014 45
DateNovember 23, 1984
Season1984
StadiumOrange Bowl
LocationMiami, Florida
FavoriteMiami by 6 points[1]
RefereePaul Schmitt (Southern Independent)
Attendance30,235
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersBrent Musburger,
Ara Parseghian,
Pat Haden

The Hail Flutie game, also known as the Miracle in Miami, is a college football game in 1984 that took place between the Boston College Eagles and the Miami Hurricanes on November 23.[2][3][4] It has been regarded by FOX Sports writer Kevin Hench as among the most memorable moments in sports.[5]

The game is remembered for its last-second Hail Mary pass from quarterback Doug Flutie to wide receiver Gerard Phelan to give Boston College the win with a walk-off touchdown.

At the time, both teams were Independents. Miami was the defending national champion and entered the game with an 8–3 record, ranked twelfth in the nation. Boston College was ranked tenth with a record of 7–2 and had already accepted an invitation to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. The game was played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, and televised nationally by CBS, with Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, and Pat Haden commentating.

Records and achievements of the game included:

  • The Hurricanes' quarterback Bernie Kosar passed for a school-record 447 yards, with two touchdowns.
  • Miami running back Melvin Bratton ran for four touchdowns.
  • Flutie passed for 472 yards and three touchdowns to become the first major college quarterback to surpass 10,000 yards passing in a career.[6]
  • Phelan caught 11 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
  1. ^ "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 23, 1984. p. 21.
  2. ^ "'Hail Mary' decides it, 47-45". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 24, 1984. p. 3C.
  3. ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (November 24, 1984). "Last-gasp pass defeats Miami". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). (New York Times). p. D5.
  4. ^ Underwood, John (December 3, 1984). "It wasn't a fluke. It was a Flutie". Sports Illustrated. p. 22.
  5. ^ FOX Sports: Ten Best Damn unforgettable sports moments
  6. ^ "BC wins on miracle pass". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). wire service reports. November 24, 1984. p. 3D.