Today is special to college football fans as it’s been exactly 25 years since arguably the most famous play in the sport’s history: Doug Flutie’s 48-yard Hail Mary – a.k.a “Hail Flutie” – to Gerard Phelan to beat Miami, 47-45.
On its silver anniversary, we check in to see where the play’s key figures are now:
Doug Flutie (Boston College QB): The 1984 Heisman winner played in the CFL and NFL until 2005, then becoming an analyst for ABC/ESPN. His contract was not renewed after last season and he is currently an analyst for the UFL. He still resides in Boston.
Gerard Phelan (Boston College WR): The recipient of Flutie’s pass, Phelan was a finance major at BC and is senior vice president of the financial printing company, Bowne and Co. He’s worked there over 20 years and resides 30 minutes outside Boston.
Darren Flutie (Boston College WR): Doug’s brother featured in an infamous picture from this game also went on to a great CFL career. He now lives in Natick, MA and is a partner in a Boston orthopedic supply distribution company. He also plays guitar in the Flutie Brothers Band.
Steve Trapilo (Boston College G): The lineman clutching Flutie in the other legendary picture, Trapilo played six years in the NFL but died of a heart attack in 2004 at age 39.
Jack Bicknell (Boston College head coach): The Eagles’ coach coached at BC until 1990. He coached in NFL Europe as recently as 2007, retiring due to health concerns.
Jack Bicknell Jr. (Boston College C): The coach’s son was Flutie’s center and served as Louisiana Tech head coach from 1999-2006. He coached the O-line at BC in 2007 and ‘08, bolting for the same job with the New York Giants this January.
Jerome Brown (Miami DE): The Miami defender who originally pressured Flutie out of the pocket, Brown went on to an All-Pro career with the Philadelphia Eagles before he was tragically killed in a 1992 Florida car accident.
Willie Lee Broughton (Miami LB): Crushing Flutie after he left go of the pass, Broughton went on to a nine year NFL career as a defensive tackle. He now resides in Mesquite, TX.
Darrell Fullington (Miami DB): The Miami defender who whiffed on the ball – also one of the goats for Maryland’s historic comeback two weeks earlier – Fullington resides in Hollywood, FL and is an account manager for the medical lab company Quest Diagnostics.
Jimmy Johnson (Miami head coach): Johnson turned out OK. He won the 1987 national championship with the ‘Canes and two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. He is now a pre-game analyst for Fox and resides in the Florida Keys.
Bill Trout (Miami defensive coordinator): Things didn’t work out as well for Trout. Johnson accused him of riding the elevator down from the press box during the play, prompting Trout to quit. His reaction years later: “Johnson is full of (expletive). You can quote me on that.” As of 2006, Trout worked for the DiMare tomato company near Tampa.
