I have watched the replay of the whole game. I was not able to watch it live when it happened. I did not get the sense that it changed the whole momentum of the game. In fact, my recollection of that play is that Steve Young and Jay Monsen (I think those were the ones commentating) were not even freaking out about the play. It was sort of an "oh wow, that was a nice play by Morrell" but they did not go on and on about it (and I do think the play deserved to be talked about more than it was at the moment). In any event, I think BYU would still go down and retake the lead with their TD whether that was punched in for a TD by Hawaii, or they were held to a FG like they were.

I do not remember specifically how much time was left in the game after that play by Morrell, but I am leaning towards maybe 10 or so minutes left in the 4th. So there was plenty of time for a couple more drives by BYU. Even if they only had time for one, BYU marched down and scored a TD. My point is that, contrary to the title of your post, when the play happened during the game, Cougar nation was not collectively holding their breath and exclaiming that play saved the season as it was only game four of the season. It is only due to hindsight that people exclaim that that play saved the undefeated/National Championship season. How many were seriously thinking or expecting to go undefeated and win the National Championship at that point?

No doubt it was a phenomenal play that deserves, IMO, maybe a top 10 or top 20 play in BYU history. But it is only mainly to hindsight that the play gets romanticized into more than it was, IMO. If the play never happened, BYU still likely wins that game and goes on the win the NC.

I am sorry for even putting my original post on this thread in here, as in 'hindsight' it was bad form as the thread was mainly about Kyle's ALS, which is a heart breaking thing. If I wanted to talk about the play, I should have started a new thread just for that, as I did not intend to detract from his struggles in this thread but it turned out that I may have. I am sorry about that. With the additional discussion about the play after my original comments, I thought it appropriate to make these comments.

Please do not interpret me as being a Morrell hater or as anything other than wishing him and his family the best. I was just sharing what I think is pretty apparent regarding the hindsight romanticizing of that play that takes place. I am guessing that a majority of Cougar fans have never watched the whole game, either live or on replay, and they just assume what they constantly hear, that the play saved the national championship season. I am guessing that that majority making those assumptions have no understanding of how early in the season it was, of how early in the 4th quarter it was, and how BYU likely wins the game even if that play was never made. I wonder if many just assume that the play was a goalline stand in the final minute of the game. It was not.