Precedents
Similar events had occurred in college football prior to Colorado's Fifth Down. Until 1990, the phrase "Fifth Down Game" described the Dartmouth-Cornell game of 1940, which is the first occurrence of a fifth down in college football. That game and its aftermath are described as the only time in the history of football that a game was decided off the field.
During a 1968 National Football League game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams, the reverse of a fifth down situation happened. The Rams were penalized for holding during a last-minute drive, and the officiating crew not only assessed the yardage, but also advanced the down marker from first to second. Nobody in the press box or on the field noticed, and the Rams turned the ball over on downs, their last possession in a 17-16 loss.
In 1972, Miami was the beneficiary of a "fifth down" in its game against Tulane. Officials mistakenly called the Miami offense back on the field for another down after it had turned the ball over on downs. Miami scored a touchdown on the next play to win the game, 24–21.
Fifth downs have occurred at least one other time as well, without changing the outcome of the game.
Read more about this topic: Fifth Down Game (1990)
Famous quotes containing the word precedents:
“The Crucifixion and other historical precedents notwithstanding, many of us still believe that outstanding goodness is a kind of armor, that virtue, seen plain and bare, gives pause to criminality. But perhaps it is the other way around.”
—Mary McCarthy (1912–1989)