Flutie’s 64-Yard TD Pass Named Performance of Year

The Pass sailed in a high arc through the rainy twilight of the Orange Bowl, over the fingertips of University of Miami defenders and into the legend of college football. “It was just a once in a lifetime thing,” Doug Flutie said of the last-second heave that traveled 64 yards and gave Boston College a 47-45 victory over Miami on the day after Thanksgiving. It also was chosen as the Sports Performance of the Year for 1984 in balloting by The Associated Press. Sports writers and broadcasters from across the nation were asked to pick the single best performance, either one event or one play, that stood out in ther past year. Flutie’s pass to Gerard Phelan was named on 45 ballots. Second, with 22 votes, was Mary Lou Retton’s gold medal-winning “10” in the vault during Olympic gymnastics competition. Two other scenes from the Summer Games were second and third--Carl Lewis winning four gold medals in track and field, which got 13 votes, and Joan Benoit winning the first Olympic women’s marathon, with 11. “I’m flattered,” Flutie, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, said in an interview in Tokyo, where he was preparing to play in today’s Japan Bowl all-star game. “It was as big a thrill for those who saw the game.” Flutie’s pass to Phelan, his roommate at BC, created a sensation and practically guaranteed Flutie the Heisman. Phelan, who will play with Flutie on the Japan Bowl’s East team, said:”The great honor to receive the award adds to the very special moment for myself personally and to those that made the play possible.” What made the play spectacular was that the lead had changed many times with two great teams competing and two great quarterbacks--Flutie and Miami’s Bernie Kosar--having a big day, Phelan said. “I think that that play will be one of the most memorable in the history of college football,” said Flutie’s father, Richard, also here for the Japan Bowl. “The fact that The Associated Press singled out that split second in time is indicative of how much of a ‘happening’ it was. “College football fans will long remember the play. I know I will . . . It was very special to the Flutie family.”