Are You Not Entertained?

In the 2000 film Gladiator, the main character nicknamed “Spaniard” is kidnapped and thrown into the fighting pits. As he must fight for his freedom and his life, he must also fight for the favor of the fans.

In his day, gladiator fighting pits were a popular form of entertainment. Some liken them to todays football players. A tough, hard fought battle with men giving everything they have, often ending up injured, just to entertain a crowd and earn their payday. Back then, freedom. Today, millions of dollars.

”Spaniard” is criticized while in the fighting pits, and warned that he does not fight the correct way. He finishes his enemy too quickly, and fans don’t like it. If he is to earn his payday—or freedom—he must win the crowd.

”Spaniard” heads this warning with caution, and vows to “give them something they have never seen before.” Upon his next match in the pits, he annihilates six opponents all on his own in dramatic fashion. Overcoming all odds, he looks to the fans packed into the stadium and screams to the crowd:

”Are you not entertained?!”

In his journey for payday, “Spaniard” holds true to his word and indeed gives those gathered in attendance something remarkable. Something they had never seen. As todays gladiators, I give you three moments in football where the competitors on one side performed like “Spaniard” did, and gave us something we had never seen before. I simply ask you this:

𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜?

#GoldenHawks

One of the most iconic plays for kids everywhere growing up loving football. Perhaps the greatest middle school trick play to ever break the internet. Driscoll Middle School’s iconic trick play.

As the Driscoll Middle School team takes to the line, their coach yells from the sideline that they deserve a 5-yard penalty. On cue, the center reaches the ball over his shoulder and hands it to the quarterback (which is perfectly legal), who then proceeds to take five big steps as if he’s counting out five yards before bolting for the endzone.

The defense stands confused, wondering what is happening before realizing the quarterback is through the first and second levels. The lone safety couldn’t make the play.

While this is middle school, this play still stands out as one of the greatest trick plays the game of football has ever seen. Any fan is sure to be entertained watching this, possibly why it’s garnered over 10 million views on YouTube.

With only 29 seconds left in the first half, Alabama trailed Southern Mississippi 21-10. It was 4th and 12 and the Crimson Tide looked to lessen the gap heading into the second half.

With three wide receivers, the play was a 989, meaning the two outside receivers run go routes and the slot runs a post to the middle of the field. That slot man was Tyrone Prothro. As the play flashed, the safeties scooted outside covering the deep go routes, and Prothro bolted inside where he was covered 1-on-1. The quarterback saw this, and launched a to Prothro that he miraculously caught off the defenders back.

The play went under review, coincidentally the year replay was introduced to college football (2005). The catch stood, but down at the one. Crimson Tide punched the ball into the endzone and the play sparked a comeback that ended 30-21, Alabama wins. Jaws rolled across the floor of every household viewing this crazy catch.

The play lives on in legendary fashion for Alabama fans, and posters or paintings can be found all over Tuscaloosa of this legendary moment known to ‘Bama fans as “The Catch.”

In 2015, The Michigan Wolverines had hired new coach Jim Harbaugh to pull them out of the sinking ship that was Michigan football; but no one expected them to be so good so fast.

As the 5-1 Wolverines packed The Big House for the visiting undefeated Spartans, hype swirled throughout the state of Michigan, as well as the college football world. MSU was ranked 7th, and Michigan 12th in the nation. Michigan was coming off three straight blowouts, including 22nd ranked BYU and 13th ranked Northwestern, but Michigan State was said to be the true test. If Michigan could beat them they should establish themselves as one of the top four teams in football and expect a college football playoff appearance.

That simply didn’t happen. As Michigan led by two with ten seconds left in the game, they lined up at Michigan State’s 47-yard line ready to punt the ball into victory. Unfortunately for them, the punter fumbled the snap, then just about everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong.

The snap was low. The punter fumbled. As the punter recovered his own fumble, he was met by a swarm of Spartans by which point he tried to attempt a bicycle kick style punt. Before he could kick the ball, his arm was swiped by a defender and the ball popped loose once again. A Spartan defender grabbed the ball out of the air and bolted towards the endzone 53-yards away with a slew of blockers around him. He bumbled and rumbled through few Wolverine opponents as he scored a game winning touchdown with zero seconds on the clock.

All 112,000 fans in attendance were absolutely stunned, as well as the hundreds of thousands more watching at home. The sophomore who recovered the loose ball, Jalen Watts Jackson, may as well have held his arms in the air and screamed to the fans in his triumph.

”Are you not entertained?!”

As the prominent football fans I know you all are, help me decide. Which if these moments screams “Yes! I am entertained!” Which mind-blowing moment wins over the fans and gets “Spaniard” his payday?

𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜?