Al LoCosale was an executive with the Oakland Raiders in the early 70's and he had the story about the Immaculate Reception that involved the officials and the 'controversial ending' to the game.

The Raiders were leading and the Steelers called a pass play that bounced off the intended receiver and into the arms of some guy name Franco Harris who ran in in for a touchdown. The rules of the time said that if a ball that was deflected by an offensive player, it could not be advanced and was a dead ball.

The officials delayed in making the call and the stadium, filled with crazed Steeler fans, would have erupted had the refs ruled against Pittsburgh.


The story AL told was that after the play the officials went into the dugout - the game was played at Three Rivers Stadium - and called up to the press box and asked "how many police can you send down to escort us out of here?"

When the person on the other end didn't give him a satisfactory answer, the ref simply said, "TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!"

----------------------------

Whenever I see a 'controversial play' that is ruled in favor of the home team, I laugh and scream "TOUCHDOWN STEELERS".....

-----------------------

I wonder if Molina did an interview with Telemundo or one of the other Spanish outlets?