The Big Game - From Someone Who Was There

Journal robi2106's Journal: The Big Game - From Someone Who Was There 3

Journal by robi2106 on Friday January 05, 2007 @03:40PM

This entry brought to you by a friend I know in real space who is also a HUGE sports fan (evidence his in person sporting event attendance). Addition of all links are my edits and my comments are in brackets "[" "]".

Okay, so for those who do not know I was at the Fiesta Bowl last night!

Unless you were spending last night in a cave (or just don't care about football) you have probably heard about the ending of the game. This game was the most outstanding, most impressive, most gut-wrenching sporting event I have ever seen live. In my comment, I am not forgetting attending Final Fours in 1998 and 2002, Rose Bowl in 2003, Wimbledon 1995 [3 way battle Agassi vs Becker vs Sampras who won.... amazing tournament] and 1997 World Cup in 1994, NBA Finals Game 5 in 1999, NHL Playoff Games in San Jose, #2 Oklahoma vs. #1 Nebraska in 2000, etc. I have had the privilege of seeing some pretty sweet games, but that was in fact the best game I have ever seen.

Possibly the most amazing thing that has happened in all of sports since the Music City Miracle in 2000 when the Titans beat the Bills on a last second lateral in an NFL Playoff Game (I was not there), and this Fiesta Bowl may have been better than that. It may be the 2nd greatest game ending in all of sports history (probably nothing will ever top the 1982 Cal vs Stanford 7 laterals).

Did I beat this horse to death? Is everyone understanding how amazing this thing was? I was in Phoenix at the game, but I heard that borderline riots were breaking out in Boise at the end of the game. So what happened you ask? Check out espn.com or something to watch it if you can, but here is the basic story:

Boise State led from the beginning because of two Oklahoma turnovers. 14-0 BSU.

OU comes back to score a TD on a long drive. 14-7 BSU.

BSU dominates the 2nd and 3rd quarters. 28-10 BSU.

BSU muffs a punt late in the 3rd quarter, the game swings to OU. OU starts rolling. 28-20 BSU.

OU leads impressive drive and scores TD after three controversial penalties. OU then gets another penalty but converts two-point conversion. 28-28.

BSU throws interception on 1st play of drive for OU TD. 35-28 OU.

With 1:02, BSU gets ball. OU defense is tough but on 4th and 18, BSU runs hook and ladder play to perfection to score from 50-yd line right before time expires. 35-35.

In 1st OT, OU scores TD on 1st play. 42-35 OU.

On BSU OT possession, BSU scores TD on 4th and 2 with a half-back pass. 42-41 OU.

Instead of kicking extra point to tie, BSU scores 2-pt conversion on a statue of liberty play reminiscent of 1930s.

I think most of the fans in attendance had to change clothes after the game due to sweat . . . or something else.

What made it so emotional for me is that though I was raised by a DIE-HARD sprts fan dad from Oklahoma, I currently live in Boise. Not just a little bit ironic. I came to the game in my customized OU jersey with "Martin" on the back. I had no choice but to root for Oklahoma. It is a huge part of my family heritage and I have always rooted for OU. Let me put it this way, we only used to visit my grandmother in Oklahoma City when OU had a home game that weekend.

But I have been living in Idaho for the past 2.5 years and have grown to love the place. I have a bunch of friends who go to or went to Boise State and have become a fan the past few seasons. This was fine with my dad because OU and BSU are in different conferences and conceivably they wouldn't play each other. That was a good theory.

At the game I honestly didn't know what to do. I was there to root for Oklahoma and I did, but I couldn't turn against Boise State. I couldn't believe it but I found myself rooting for Boise State. They needed the win so much more than Oklahoma. When OU intercepted the ball at the end of the fourth quarter to seemingly put the game away for OU, all the OU fans went crazy, but I just stood in shock. It made me feel a little bit sick. When BSU came back at the end, I was pumped! Great game! It was a very interesting experience.

What is the Fiesta Bowl?

The Fiesta Bowl is one of the five main college "bowl" games played around the country at the end of the regular season. NCAA Division 1 football does not have a playoff system, which in and of itself sets college football apart from any other sport on any level, and most people actually dislike bowl games because they are an excuse to not have a playoff. That said, many of the bowl games are very exciting and are always the last game of the year for each team, so energy is high.

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