Gerard Phelan
Encyclopedia
Gerard Phelan is a former college football
player, who lined up at wide receiver
for Boston College
.
, and graduated in 1981.
for a showdown against the University of Miami
. In that game, often cited among the greatest college football
games of all time, Phelan caught 11 of quarterback
Doug Flutie
's 46 pass attempts for an astounding 226 receiving yards.
Even with those numbers, Phelan is best remembered for his final reception - officially a 48-yard game-winning Hail Mary
touchdown that cemented Phelan as a legend in Boston College lore. With possession on the Miami 48-yard line, Boston College trailed Miami 45-41 with just 6 seconds left, which allowed time for one final shot. A desperation play known as "55 Flood Tip" was signaled, which called for receivers to run toward the end zone
and attempt to tip a jump ball to an open receiver. During the play, Miami's defensive backs stopped before the goal line
and allowed Phelan to get behind them - most likely because they did not believe Flutie could throw the ball that far. As the game clock expired, Flutie eluded a Miami pass-rusher, scrambled to his right to his own 37-yard line and launched the ball. It traveled an impressive 63 yards, over the Miami defenders and into the arms of an untouched Phelan in the end zone. The catch gave Boston College a 47-45 victory. To this day, it is considered one of the greatest offensive plays in college football history.
in the fourth round (108th overall pick) in the 1985 NFL Draft
. A knee injury prematurely cut short his pro career.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player, who lined up at wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
Early years
Phelan played football for Archbishop John Carroll Catholic High School in Radnor, PennsylvaniaRadnor, Pennsylvania
Radnor is a wealthy Main Line township. It is an unincorporated community in Radnor Township of Delaware County and Tredyffrin Township of Chester County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It lies near the communities of Villanova and St...
, and graduated in 1981.
College Football Career
Phelan is fondly remembered for his efforts on November 23, 1984, in which his Eagles traveled to the Orange BowlMiami Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team...
for a showdown against the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. In that game, often cited among the greatest college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
games of all time, Phelan caught 11 of quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
's 46 pass attempts for an astounding 226 receiving yards.
Even with those numbers, Phelan is best remembered for his final reception - officially a 48-yard game-winning Hail Mary
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
touchdown that cemented Phelan as a legend in Boston College lore. With possession on the Miami 48-yard line, Boston College trailed Miami 45-41 with just 6 seconds left, which allowed time for one final shot. A desperation play known as "55 Flood Tip" was signaled, which called for receivers to run toward the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
and attempt to tip a jump ball to an open receiver. During the play, Miami's defensive backs stopped before the goal line
Goal line
The goal line is the chalked or painted line dividing the end zone from the field of play in American football and Canadian football. It is the line that must be crossed in order to score a touchdown...
and allowed Phelan to get behind them - most likely because they did not believe Flutie could throw the ball that far. As the game clock expired, Flutie eluded a Miami pass-rusher, scrambled to his right to his own 37-yard line and launched the ball. It traveled an impressive 63 yards, over the Miami defenders and into the arms of an untouched Phelan in the end zone. The catch gave Boston College a 47-45 victory. To this day, it is considered one of the greatest offensive plays in college football history.
Professional career
Phelan was drafted by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the fourth round (108th overall pick) in the 1985 NFL Draft
1985 NFL Draft
The 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
. A knee injury prematurely cut short his pro career.
Personal life
- Phelan is the cousin of New England RevolutionNew England RevolutionThe New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
soccer player Pat Phelan. - Phelan currently works in several business ventures in the Boston area and remains a Boston College fan.