The "Alabama Pass"?

BigAlBama

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Jan 10, 2005
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I know the little under-handed pass to the running back is the shuffle/shovel pass (I've heard it called both), was originally called the Utah pass. I haven't heard the term used in a while, probably not since the late 70s/early 80s, but I have heard of a play referred to as the "Alabama pass". I'm thinking this when the QB hands off to the RB and he throws back to the QB. If this is not it what is the Alabama pass?
 

mikeua69

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Apr 16, 2002
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BigAlBama said:
I know the little under-handed pass to the running back is the shuffle/shovel pass (I've heard it called both), was originally called the Utah pass. I haven't heard the term used in a while, probably not since the late 70s/early 80s, but I have heard of a play referred to as the "Alabama pass". I'm thinking this when the QB hands off to the RB and he throws back to the QB. If this is not it what is the Alabama pass?
You're thinking of the "Flea Flicker." I'm not sure what the "Alabama Pass" is.
 

BigTex

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BigAlBama said:
I know the little under-handed pass to the running back is the shuffle/shovel pass (I've heard it called both), was originally called the Utah pass. I haven't heard the term used in a while, probably not since the late 70s/early 80s, but I have heard of a play referred to as the "Alabama pass". I'm thinking this when the QB hands off to the RB and he throws back to the QB. If this is not it what is the Alabama pass?

Sorry........ :frown: .......I couldnt resist

Is that when Joe Willie has had a few too many and starts talking to eye candy on the side lines ?
 

TommyMac

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mikeua69 said:
You're thinking of the "Flea Flicker." I'm not sure what the "Alabama Pass" is.
He's right, it is a pass back to the QB. The flea flicker usually goes to a WR going deep. If my old memory bank is serving me right, we first used the Alabama Pass against Notre Dame in the 73 Sugar Bowl. Went to Richard Todd for a TD as I recall. Don't remember who threw it.
 

Ramah Jamah

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Never heard the term. I googled "alabama pass" and couldn't find anything. The first I remember of a hand off to the RB with a pass back to the QB was in a pro game. Don't know which one it was.
 

FitToBeTide

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Aug 19, 2001
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I think Coach Bryant and others (no. 12 in my avatar on the left) referred as the "Woopie Pass"(sp).

:biga2:
 
Last edited:

drsmithofga

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TommyMac said:
He's right, it is a pass back to the QB. The flea flicker usually goes to a WR going deep. If my old memory bank is serving me right, we first used the Alabama Pass against Notre Dame in the 73 Sugar Bowl. Went to Richard Todd for a TD as I recall. Don't remember who threw it.
Halfback Mike Stock threw a 25 yard pass to Richard Todd for the score. Bill Davis missed the extra point which ended up costing the game. (Sorry, had to throw that in)
 

TexasBama

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Jan 15, 2000
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1FitToBeTide said:
I think Coach Bryant and others (no. 12 in my avatar on the left) referred as the "Woopie Pass"(sp).

:biga2:
Hadn't heard that in a long time. :)

What they called the Whoppie Pass is the Utah Pass. It was used a lot back in the 50's by the Utah coach (Jack Curtice).
 

deliveryman35

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TexasBama said:
Hadn't heard that in a long time. :)

What they called the Whoppie Pass is the Utah Pass. It was used a lot back in the 50's by the Utah coach (Jack Curtice).
I also remember Coach Bryant calling this the "whoopie" pass....
 

Spot Dailey

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If you're talking about what used to be called the "Utah Pass", you're talking about the shovel pass to the halfback coming back up the middle. Coach Bryant borrowed the play and added a little "whoopie" to it and he always called it "The Whoopie Pass". I see it used occasionally as a situation play. Spurrier used to use it at UF and did it successfully against us when they beat us in one of the SEC Champoinship games.
 
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TommyMac said:
He's right, it is a pass back to the QB. The flea flicker usually goes to a WR going deep. If my old memory bank is serving me right, we first used the Alabama Pass against Notre Dame in the 73 Sugar Bowl. Went to Richard Todd for a TD as I recall. Don't remember who threw it.
Musso threw one to Scott Hunter in the 1970 Bluebonnet Bowl.
 

TommyMac

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PattheCatinSaudi said:
Musso threw one to Scott Hunter in the 1970 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Good stuff Pat. About the only memory of that game I still have is Richard Ciemny missing that chip shot FG at the end that would've won it for us.
 

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