Five Laterals and a Trombone: Cal, Stanford, and the Wildest Ending in College Football History

by Tyler Bridges

In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of The Play—a thrilling and nuanced chronicle of college football's most unforgettable ending

The wildest finish ever to a college football game occurred when five laterals on the final kickoff ended with a sprint through the opposing team’s marching band—prematurely in celebration on the field—for the winning touchdown. It was 21 seconds of action so unfathomable it has become known simply as The Play.

Five Laterals and a Trombone captures the madcap story as it developed in November 1982, tracing the ups and downs, mood swings and hijinks surrounding the 85th Big Game between the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University.

Journalist Tyler Bridges has deftly reconstructed the pivotal moments and resulting lore thanks to hundreds of interviews with all the key figures on both sides of the rivalry, including players, coaches, referees, and stadium personnel. Among the memorable characters are Stanford star quarterback John Elway, Cal linebacker Ron Rivera, the final lateral receiver Kevin Moen, and the immortalized Cardinal trombone player Gary Tyrrell.

The Play was not televised live. There was no instant replay—let alone a viral video. In 1982, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, who had founded Apple Computer Company in a garage only 10 miles from the Stanford campus, were just developing the first personal computers. It took hours for news of the rivalry game's outcome to spread across the country, yet football fans would remain enthralled by the bizarre sequence for decades to come.

Readers will be transported onto the field and inside the huddle in this definitive history of college football's ultimate oddity.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Football

264 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2022

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I played in the Stanford Band just a few years after the events of this book, and consider several of the involved parties as friends. (Don’t know the author at all though. 🤣)

As familiar as I am with the story of the Play, and the histories of the Big Game, Stanford and Cal football, and the two bands, I never felt like I had been there myself until I read this book. I could see the games leading up to the Play, and the ‘82 Big Game itself in my mind’s eye, down to the roar of the crowd at Memorial Stadium and the view from the end zone as the final moments of the game unspooled. It helps to have been there for other Big Games with other characters (what, no mention of the 1990 “Revenge of the Play”? 😃) but any fan of college football or sports in general should be able to appreciate the drama and wackiness of the most (in)famous play in college football history.

[Tom Gase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, a great book that is on...yeah just one play. But man, what an odd play. Bridges does a great researching job and then takes the reader into what it was like to be at that game at that time. He builds up the rivalry, key players (Ron Rivera, John Elway, etc) and describes the seasons for both teams briefly. He even talks about both bands coming into the game. What were they known for? And then the game is described in great detail, but with excellent writing. Near the end of the book, even knowing what happens, I couldn't put it down and read 100 pages in a night. There is so much that went into this game and last play of it. I highly recommend and any college football fan will love. Well, maybe not one team. But even that team, or at least the school's journalism department, gets a nice last laugh at the end. One of the better books I will read in 2022.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book about a play that I had seen hundreds of times prior to reading this book. Full of history of the Big Game between Cal and Stanford as well as the people involved from both schools, football teams, and bands to bring the story to life. Well written and researched with almost all the key players being interviewed for this book (some of who I had no idea were involved) the author drew me into this story of this annual game and the wild ending of the 1982 edition. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

[Ashley Hite · Rating 4 out of 5]

With one of the wildest finishes ever this game became legend amongst football fans. Tyler Bridges brings the drama and history to life in his new book. It is great for football fans but also enjoyable to those of us who might not be as familiar with the game. He brings the history to life. I picked up a copy for my dad and he is super excited to read about a game he very much remembers.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining look at the game of football, the players and the coaches.

It is an easy to read book from a writer who has experience in the stands!