30-yr Anniversary of Red Right 88
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Red Right 88: Looking back 30 years later at the play that changed Browns history
Published: Wednesday, January 05, 2011, 10:35 AM Updated: Wednesday, January 05, 2011, 10:40 AM
By Branson Wright, The Plain Dealer
Mike Davis paused seconds after he boarded his plane in Phoenix bound for Oakland three years ago.
The flight originated from Cleveland. That should have given Davis his first clue.
"I was on my way to Oakland to see the Raiders against the Browns," Davis said Tuesday in an interview with Starting Blocks.
"So I get on the plane, and about three-fourths of the plane is filled with Browns fans, all wearing their Browns gear. And before I could sit down, someone recognizes me and they ask the flight attendants to throw me off the plane."
Davis is responsible for a play that Browns fans will never forget. It remains painful.
Tuesday was the 30-year-anniversary of Red Right 88. It's the play still second-guessed by the Browns' faithful.
The 1980 Browns were called the Kardiac Kids because of their penchant for winning games in the final moments. The Browns finished 11-5, and won their first division title in nine years.
The Browns hosted the wild-card Raiders on Jan. 4, 1981 before over 77,000 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The winner would advance to the AFC Championship game against the San Diego Chargers.
The temperature was 1 degree at kickoff and got considerably colder by the end of the game.
The Browns led, 12-7, in the fourth quarter. That changed with less than six minutes left when the Raiders scored for a 14-12 lead following an 80-yard drive.
But it wasn't over, just yet. Quarterback Brian Sipe got one final drive. He got the Browns to the Raiders' 14 in eight plays. With less than a minute left, on second-and-9 from the 13, the Browns had to decide between setting up for a field goal or going for the touchdown.
Kicker Don Crockroft had missed two field goals and one extra point earlier, but the decision not to kick still generates debate.
"The decision not to kick a field goal, and go for it is something they did all season," Davis said. "It's a shame that guys got demoted, fired and criticized for that decision when they had such a good season."
Sipe dropped back to pass. The play, Red Right 88, was designed with Dave Logan as the intended receiver. Logan ran underneath in front of the linebackers. Sipe also had the option to throw to Ozzie Newsome or Reggie Rucker.
But the pass was a little behind Newsome in the back of the end zone, which gave Davis just enough room to make the interception.
"It just came down to their best against our best at the end, and I came away with the ball," Davis said.
Davis, now retired in Arizona, preserves the game ball in a glass case.
"One of the fans on the plane asked if he could buy the ball from me," Davis said. "I told him it wasn't for sale. He said I made a good choice because he planned to auction the ball off, and the winner would have to blow it up."
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Do we really need a freeking reminder Stan? Sadist!
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you know growing up past the bad fortunes of the 80's (i'm an 1989 baby), i'm torn between whether I'm happy or sad I missed this decade. On the one hand, the browns were actually good for an extended period of time, but with all that happened, I also feel like i'm glad I missed it.
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What a heartbreak. Loved the run by Pruitt. He knocked the snot out of Owens (44)
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You guys really need to stop doing this to yourselves, remembering the bad memories isn't healthy
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