Armen Terzian: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American-Armenian football official (1915–1989)}} |
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'''Armen Terzian''' ([[1915]]—[[1989]]) was an [[American football official]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from [[1961]] to [[1981]]. He was a field judge and wore the uniform number 23. He officiated [[Super Bowl XI]], but Terzian is most remembered from an NFC Divisional Playoff game in [[1975]] at [[Metropolitan Stadium]] between the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and the [[Dallas Cowboys]], in which he didn't call an apparent offensive pass interference penalty against Cowboy wide receiver [[Drew Pearson (American football)|Drew Pearson]] on Viking cornerback [[Nate Wright]] after Pearson scored the winning touchdown in the last seconds. Then some angry fan hit Terzian with a whiskey bottle in the back of the head and was knocked out in the ground for several minutes. He did not require stitches, but had to wear a large white bandage around his forehead for the final few seconds remaining in the game. According to Jerry Bergman, one of the officials working the game, said "The substitute official came in after the kickoff and got $5,500 for working 11 seconds." [http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=202145&r=10] |
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'''Armen Terzian''' (1915–1989) was an American-Armenian [[American football]] [[Official (American football)|official]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from {{nfly|1961}} to {{nfly|1981}}. He was a [[Official (American football)#Field judge|field judge]] and wore uniform number 23. |
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==Career== |
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Terzian also became infamous by an NFL Films video that highlighted the league's best-ever coaches in 1981. During a segment that features coaches wired for sound, [[Marv Levy]], then coaching the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], screams, "Hey Armen! Hey you over officious jerk!" at Terzian during a game against the [[Buffalo Bills]] in 1978. The game was played at [[Ralph Wilson Stadium|Rich Stadium]], the same stadium where Levy would go on to a [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] career as the Bills' coach from 1986-97, leading the once woebegone Bills to four consecutive (losing) Super Bowl appearances. |
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Armen was the field judge for the [[New Orleans Saints]]' first regular season game vs. the [[Los Angeles Rams]] on September 17, 1967 at [[Tulane Stadium]]. Terzian signaled the Saints' first touchdown when [[John Gilliam]] returned the opening kickoff 94 yards. |
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Terzian officiated an [[1975–76 NFL playoffs|NFC Divisional Playoff game]] in December {{nfly|1975}} at [[Metropolitan Stadium]] between the [[1975 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] and the visiting [[1975 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]].<ref name=sidjjwng>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1976/01/05/557885/in-on-a-wing-and-a-prayer |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Jenkins |first=Dan |authorlink=Dan Jenkins |title=In on a wing and a prayer |date=January 5, 1976 |page=8}}</ref> Following a late [[Hail Mary pass|Hail Mary]] touchdown pass by the Cowboys—that could have been called off for [[Pass Interference]]—to take the lead, an angry fan threw a [[whiskey]] bottle that hit Terzian in the forehead. He was momentarily unconscious,<ref name=bgoffh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I4FIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4166%2C4168957 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=Bottle gashes officials forehead |date=December 29, 1975 |page=18 }}</ref> though Armen did not require stitches. Terzian wore a large white bandage around his forehead and exited the game on foot during the final few seconds.<ref name=ctcmbv>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1975/12/29/page/70/article/nfl-official-struck-on-head-by-bottle |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |agency=UPI |title=NFL official struck on head by bottle |date=December 29, 1975 |page=2, sec. 4}}</ref><ref name=cgtmir>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lqY0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=QOADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3891%2C1922257 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Cowboys get their miracle|date=December 29, 1975 |page=1C }}</ref> |
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Another non-call ended Armen Terzian's career in the NFL, this time as a replay booth official in a [[1988]] game between the [[New York Giants]] and Dallas Cowboys. Terzian failed to review a play where the on-field officials had erroneously awarded a safety to the New York Giants. Terzian's mistake provided the margin of victory, as the Giants defeated the Cowboys 12-10. NFL Commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]] suspended Terzian for two games following the error, but Terzian chose to resign. |
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The following season Terzian officiated [[Super Bowl XI]], also a Vikings' loss. |
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*http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7D9123FF934A35753C1A96E948260 |
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*http://www.cowboysplus.com/classic/webspecials/hailmary/1228hurtofficialsider.html |
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During a [[1978 NFL season|1978]] game between the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] and [[Buffalo Bills]] at [[New Era Field|Rich Stadium]], Chiefs coach [[Marv Levy]] protested a call by Terzian by screaming "Hey Armen! Hey you over-officious jerk!". The sound bite has been a staple of [[NFL Films]] highlights of coaches on the sideline since. |
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When the NFL adopted an [[instant replay]] review system in 1986, Armen became a replay official. Under the system used at the time which is similar to the one used in American college football today, the replay official would page one of the officials (in this case, the umpire) who would inform the referee that he wanted to take a closer look at the play to see if something was missed. Only the replay official could initiate a review; unlike today's NFL, coaches were not allowed to challenge plays (the collegiate system also allows challenges, although the procedure is different). |
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Terzian's career ended because of an incident in Week 3 of the 1988 season, during the game between the [[New York Giants]] and [[Dallas Cowboys]] at [[Texas Stadium]]. The Cowboys were to receive the opening kickoff, and running back [[Darryl Clack]] stood at his two-yard line to receive the kick from [[Raul Allegre]]. Clack, lost sight of the ball in the sunlight and could not field it cleanly. It bounced into the end zone, where Clack picked it up and was swarmed by Giants defenders. [[Mark Collins (American football)|Mark Collins]] tackled Clack and referee Pat Haggerty ruled the play a safety and gave two points to New York. |
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The play had not been called correctly on the field as it was treated as a fumble and not a muffed kick. Since Clack had muffed the kick, the rules dictated that the play should have resulted in a touchback and a Dallas possession at their 20-yard line. Armen never made the call to review the play, and the safety stood. It also proved to be the margin of victory in the 12-10 result, with the Giants defeating the Cowboys. Terzian admitted his error later, releasing a statement to this effect to the press during the game.<ref name="wapo">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/10/06/replay-official-quits/1b003d53-c548-45d0-8939-f3132fad2b30/ |title=REPLAY OFFICIAL QUITS |date=1988-10-06 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref> NFL Commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]] chose to suspend Terzian for his actions after the game, and Terzian responded by submitting his resignation which Rozelle accepted several weeks later.<ref name="wapo" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/07/sports/sports-people-erring-official-quits.html|title = SPORTS PEOPLE; Erring Official Quits|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 7 October 1988}}</ref> |
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==Death== |
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Terzian died in 1989 at the age of 74. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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* https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/07/sports/sports-people-erring-official-quits.html |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Terzian, Armen}} |
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{{Amfootbio-stub}} |
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[[Category:National Football League officials]] |
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[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]] |
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[[Category:Violence in sports]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:15, 17 February 2024
Armen Terzian (1915–1989) was an American-Armenian American football official in the National Football League (NFL) from 1961 to 1981. He was a field judge and wore uniform number 23.
Career[edit]
Armen was the field judge for the New Orleans Saints' first regular season game vs. the Los Angeles Rams on September 17, 1967 at Tulane Stadium. Terzian signaled the Saints' first touchdown when John Gilliam returned the opening kickoff 94 yards.
Terzian officiated an NFC Divisional Playoff game in December 1975 at Metropolitan Stadium between the Minnesota Vikings and the visiting Dallas Cowboys.[1] Following a late Hail Mary touchdown pass by the Cowboys—that could have been called off for Pass Interference—to take the lead, an angry fan threw a whiskey bottle that hit Terzian in the forehead. He was momentarily unconscious,[2] though Armen did not require stitches. Terzian wore a large white bandage around his forehead and exited the game on foot during the final few seconds.[3][4]
The following season Terzian officiated Super Bowl XI, also a Vikings' loss.
During a 1978 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills at Rich Stadium, Chiefs coach Marv Levy protested a call by Terzian by screaming "Hey Armen! Hey you over-officious jerk!". The sound bite has been a staple of NFL Films highlights of coaches on the sideline since.
When the NFL adopted an instant replay review system in 1986, Armen became a replay official. Under the system used at the time which is similar to the one used in American college football today, the replay official would page one of the officials (in this case, the umpire) who would inform the referee that he wanted to take a closer look at the play to see if something was missed. Only the replay official could initiate a review; unlike today's NFL, coaches were not allowed to challenge plays (the collegiate system also allows challenges, although the procedure is different).
Terzian's career ended because of an incident in Week 3 of the 1988 season, during the game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys were to receive the opening kickoff, and running back Darryl Clack stood at his two-yard line to receive the kick from Raul Allegre. Clack, lost sight of the ball in the sunlight and could not field it cleanly. It bounced into the end zone, where Clack picked it up and was swarmed by Giants defenders. Mark Collins tackled Clack and referee Pat Haggerty ruled the play a safety and gave two points to New York.
The play had not been called correctly on the field as it was treated as a fumble and not a muffed kick. Since Clack had muffed the kick, the rules dictated that the play should have resulted in a touchback and a Dallas possession at their 20-yard line. Armen never made the call to review the play, and the safety stood. It also proved to be the margin of victory in the 12-10 result, with the Giants defeating the Cowboys. Terzian admitted his error later, releasing a statement to this effect to the press during the game.[5] NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle chose to suspend Terzian for his actions after the game, and Terzian responded by submitting his resignation which Rozelle accepted several weeks later.[5][6]
Death[edit]
Terzian died in 1989 at the age of 74.
References[edit]
- ^ Jenkins, Dan (January 5, 1976). "In on a wing and a prayer". Sports Illustrated. p. 8.
- ^ "Bottle gashes officials forehead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 29, 1975. p. 18.
- ^ "NFL official struck on head by bottle". Chicago Tribune. UPI. December 29, 1975. p. 2, sec. 4.
- ^ "Cowboys get their miracle". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 29, 1975. p. 1C.
- ^ a b "REPLAY OFFICIAL QUITS". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. 1988-10-06. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Erring Official Quits". The New York Times. 7 October 1988.