On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS (Special Edition) November 8, 2015 Up next…“The Kick”
After further review…Forty-five years ago today – November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey, the place kicker for the New Orleans Saints set the record for the longest field goal in NFL history — 63 yards — in Tulane University Stadium. Today there seems to be records broken on a regular basis, but back then, not many. However, every game played is a part of NFL history. I was privileged to be the Referee in that historic game. That 63-yarder has now been tied, but back then it was special, because Dempsey was a special kicker.
Dempsey played football at Palomar Junior College (California) and was told he would never make it in the pros. Dempsey had a deformed foot and a withered arm. His kicking foot – the right one – ended about where his arch was, Dempsey had his shoe altered so that it was flat across the front with a piece of leather over the stub of that foot. An aside story: I also refereed a game in Texas Stadium where the visiting Saints were playing the Cowboys. Tex Schramm, the Cowboys general manager, approached me while the two teams were warming up and said: “Jim, Dempsey can’t wear that shoe, the rule book (at that time) calls for a regular shoe for all players.” Schramm was on the Competition Committee that governs the NFL rules, so he knew what he was talking about. Schramm continued, “Dempsey has to wear a regular shoe.” I said, “Well, Tex, he can’t wear a regular shoe, ‘because he doesn’t have a regular foot.” He agreed.
But, back to that historic field goal – November 8, 1970. The Detroit Lions had just scored and were leading 16-14 with about a minute to play. The Saints returned the kickoff to their 20-yard line. Quarterback Billy Kilmer threw a sideline pass to Danny Abramowicz, who stepped out-of-bounds stopping the clock with 13 seconds left. Kilmer to Abramowicz again with, now, six-seconds left. At that point, I heard, coming from the Saints bench, “Field goal team!”. Everyone looked stunned! Head Coach J.D. North, this his first game since Tom Fears, the previous head coach, had been fired the week before, was sending Tom Dempsey in to try a 63-yard field goal.
I had seen some great NFL kickers in my time – Lou Groza, George Blanda, Jan Stenerud, and 40-yards was exceptional, with the record at about 54 yards. What also made it exceptional was that Dempsey, like many before him, was a straight-on kicker. The place kickers today are soccer-style kickers, aka “side-winders!” As the Saints set up for their 63-yard field goal—the ball was on their own 37-yard line with the goal post on the goal line – Alex Karras, the Lions defensive tackle asked me. “What’s he doing?” I said, “The Saints are going to try a field goal.” “You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me, he said, didn’t you tell ‘em they’re in their own territory?” I said, “Alex, I don’t make these decisions, get back on your own side of the line.”
Dempsey looked as surprised as the rest of us, but trotted onto the field with full confidence. The snap was perfect! Kilmer set it down right on the mark, and Dempsey took his normal one-step and booted it. Straight as it could be, split the uprights, and just cleared the bar as the clock went to zero – Saints 17, Lions 16! The New Orleans Times-Picayune played it up the next day as “Dempsey-Tunney, Dempsey kicks a wonder, Tunney calls it good!” with a picture of Dempsey just finishing his kick and my touchdown signal behind him. What an honor to be part of that historic event!
This story is told in detail in Jim’s book “Impartial Judgment” which may be obtained via email.
To contact Jim go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
