Pyramid Play

The Pyramid Play is a defensive play in American football, where a defensive player is hoisted up by two other players in an effort to block a place kick attempt by the opposing team. The play was created and implemented by the 1933 Oregon Agricultural College (now known as Oregon State University) football team.cite web|url=http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives/exhibits/sampler/h2516.html|title=Football Play - The Pyramid, 1933|publisher=osulibrary.oregonstate.edu|accessdate=2007-12-26]

Origin

The play originated as a playful prank during an OAC practice session. While the offense was practicing a place kick, the pranksters decided to give it a shot. Amazingly enough, their prank was actually successful at blocking the kick. This success did not go without notice. OAC's head coach, Lon Stiner, decided that maybe his boys had discovered something and decided to add the play to the team's repertoire.

Implementation

The Pyramid Play was first used in a game on November 10, 1933, against the University of Oregon during the annual Civil War game at Multnomah Stadium, now PGE Park. The Beavers had a 6'5" center named Clyde Devine and two 6'2" tackles named Harry Fields and Ade Schwammel. The two tackles hoisted Devine upon their shoulders. With the combination of their height and Devine's long arm span, they were able to successfully block Oregon's kick.cite web|url=http://alumni.oregonstate.edu/eclips/carry/july11_2003.html|title=70 years ago: “The Pyramid Play”|publisher=alumni.oregonstate.edu|accessdate=2007-12-26] The play is "probably the most notorious on-field shenanigan" in the history of the Civil War game.cite news
url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/1122/sport/stories/1122civilwar.htm
title=Anything can happen in the Civil War: History shows that when the Ducks and Beavers meet, things are unpredictable
author=Anne M. Peterson
date=November 22 2006
publisher=Mail Tribune
accessdate=2008-01-02]

Oregon State used the play against at least one other team during the 1933 football season.

Publicity

"Oregon Journal" staff photographer Ralph Vincent happened to be at the right place at the right time and managed to capture the first use of the play in 1933 with his Graflex camera. Instantly, Vincent, his photo, and the OAC Beavers were thrust into national attention. The photo quickly appeared in the "Saturday Evening Post" and other eastern newspapers. Discussion of the play heated up quickly with sportswriters arguing whether the play was good or not for the game of football. Some simply labeled the play a 'sports trick'.

During World War II, it was reported that Nazi Germany distributed copies of the image around Europe as an example of the “brutality of American sports.”

After effects

The NCAA decided to ban the use of the play upon the conclusion of the 1933 season. That ruling is still in effect.

References

External links

* [http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives/exhibits/sampler/h2516.html Ralph Vincent's photograph of the play] - from the OSU archives