Pyramid Play
Encyclopedia
The Pyramid Play is a defensive play in American football
, where a defensive player is hoisted up by two other players in an effort to block a place kick
attempt by the opposing team. The play was created and implemented by the 1933 Oregon State Agricultural College (now known as Oregon State University
) football team.
, decided that maybe his boys had discovered something and decided to add the play to the team's repertoire.
without much fanfare. The play was used again on November 11, 1933, against the University of Oregon
during the annual Civil War
game at Multnomah Stadium, now PGE Park
. The Beavers had a 6'5" center named Clyde Devine and two 6'2" tackles named Harry Fields and Ade Schwammel
. The two tackles hoisted Devine upon their shoulders. With the combination of their height and Devine's long arm span, they were able to successfully block one of Oregon's two kicks. The play is "probably the most notorious on-field shenanigan" in the history of the Civil War game.
Oregon State also successfully used the play against to help defeat the Fordham Rams 9-6 on November 18, 1933, at the Polo Grounds.
camera. Instantly, Vincent, his photo, and the OAC Beavers were thrust into national attention. The photo quickly appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and other eastern newspapers. Discussion of the play heated up quickly with sportswriters arguing whether the play was good or not for the game of football. Some simply labeled the play a 'sports trick'.
During World War II
, it was reported that Nazi Germany
distributed copies of the image around Europe
as an example of the “brutality of American
sports.”
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, where a defensive player is hoisted up by two other players in an effort to block a place kick
Place kick
The place kick is a kicking style commonly used in rugby league and rugby union. It is also seen in Association football, American football and Canadian football.-American and Canadian football:...
attempt by the opposing team. The play was created and implemented by the 1933 Oregon State Agricultural College (now known as Oregon State University
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
) football team.
Origin
The play originated as a playful prank during an OSAC practice session. While the offense was practicing a place kick, the pranksters decided to give it a shot. Amazingly enough, their prank was actually successful at blocking the kick. This success did not go without notice. OSAC's head coach, Lon StinerLon Stiner
Alonzo "Lon" Stiner was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Oregon State University from 1933 to 1948, compiling a record of 74–49–17.-Coaching career:...
, decided that maybe his boys had discovered something and decided to add the play to the team's repertoire.
Implementation
The Pyramid Play was first used unsuccessfully in a game on October 28, 1933, against Washington State UniversityWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
without much fanfare. The play was used again on November 11, 1933, against the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
during the annual Civil War
Civil War (college football game)
The Civil War is the colloquial name for an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Oregon Ducks football team of the University of Oregon and the Oregon State Beavers football team of the Oregon State University...
game at Multnomah Stadium, now PGE Park
PGE Park
Jeld-Wen Field is an outdoor sports stadium located in Portland, Oregon, United States that is used primarily for soccer and American football...
. The Beavers had a 6'5" center named Clyde Devine and two 6'2" tackles named Harry Fields and Ade Schwammel
Ade Schwammel
Adolphe "Ade" John Schwammel was an American football offensive tackle who played five seasons in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers.-High school career:...
. The two tackles hoisted Devine upon their shoulders. With the combination of their height and Devine's long arm span, they were able to successfully block one of Oregon's two kicks. The play is "probably the most notorious on-field shenanigan" in the history of the Civil War game.
Oregon State also successfully used the play against to help defeat the Fordham Rams 9-6 on November 18, 1933, at the Polo Grounds.
Publicity
Oregon Journal staff photographer Ralph Vincent managed to capture the first use of the play in 1933 with his GraflexGraflex
Graflex was a manufacturer, a brand name and several models of cameras. William F. Folmer, an inventor, built the first Graflex camera in 1898, when his company was called The Folmer and Schwing Manufacturing Company, founded originally in New York as a gas lamp company...
camera. Instantly, Vincent, his photo, and the OAC Beavers were thrust into national attention. The photo quickly appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and other eastern newspapers. Discussion of the play heated up quickly with sportswriters arguing whether the play was good or not for the game of football. Some simply labeled the play a 'sports trick'.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was reported that Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
distributed copies of the image around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as an example of the “brutality of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports.”
After effects
The NCAA decided to ban the use of the play upon the conclusion of the 1933 season. That ruling is still in effect.External links
- Ralph Vincent's photograph of the play - from the OSU archives