Seeing as the Minnesota Vikings are hosting the San Francisco 49ers this weekend I figured that it would be a fine time to mention a memorable event in this rivalry. On October 25, 1964 at old Kezar Stadium, Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall snatched up a Billy Kilmer fumble and took off running. The only problem, for the Vikings, was that Marshall ran 66 yards in the wrong direction. He ended up in his own end zone. Thinking that he'd just scored a touchdown for his team he tossed the ball away in celebration. Instead of six points for the good guys Marshall handed the 49ers a safety and two points. Fortunately the Vikings still won the game 27-22 with the final margin of victory provided by a Carl Eller touchdown return of a fumble caused by a Marshall sack. Some consider this wrong way run to be one of the most embarrassing moments in all of professional sports. Personally I've always felt that too much has been made of this mistake. That could be simply a coping mechanism. Marshall later received a letter from former Cal football player Roy Riegels, infamous for a wrong way run in the 1929 Rose Bowl, stating, "Welcome to the club."
As for this coming Sunday I hope that all Vikings runs are the right way and the 49ers end zone is easily and frequently found.
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