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100 greatest college football endings...

Yertle said:
True. I would expect nothing less of the "experts."

However, I'd like to see their argument for putting a game above it.
I've seen the argument that the Nebraska-Miami game (1984, I believe?) was better because of the eventual historical significance. (Eventual historical? Isn't that an oxymoron?) It was an incredible game, that was as close to overtime as was available at the time. But it was a bit of the end of an era for Nebraska and the begining of another era for Miami. Plus, the "experts" have always loved Miami and Nebraska. And, after time, their memories of that game have probably inflated the actual greatness of it.

I'd be willing to bet a little bit of vCash that the #1 finish will be the Miami-Nebraska Orange Bowl.
 
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NO way would the endings for scUM or Illinois be ranked higher than Holy Buckeye.
I would probably agree, though they'd both make the list for greatest OSU endings. I just got that from the sentence "Ohio State's games got more and more dramatic beating Illinois in a 23-16 battle before surviving Michigan 14-9." Seems like the writer thought the last two games were better.
 
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Consider the Source

Zurp said:
I've seen the argument that the Nebraska-Miami game (1984, I believe?) was better because of the eventual historical significance. (Eventual historical? Isn't that an oxymoron?) It was an incredible game, that was as close to overtime as was available at the time. But it was a bit of the end of an era for Nebraska and the begining of another era for Miami. Plus, the "experts" have always loved Miami and Nebraska. And, after time, their memories of that game have probably inflated the actual greatness of it.

I'd be willing to bet a little bit of vCash that the #1 finish will be the Miami-Nebraska Orange Bowl.
On the other hand -- there is the "consider the source" argument, which favors the Buckeyes for numero uno status big-time..
Consider --
Pete Fiutak was one of the few who correctly called the Buckeyes Fiesta Bowl win before the fact (rather than as a revisionist - SI you know who I I'm speaking of). I'm putting him in the thoroughly objective column for that reason alone, regardless of the outcome of this excellent series of columns on 1970--present day best CFB games.

Furthermore there is this from his regular column "Cavalcade of Whimsy" posted to the cfn site on Jan 6th soon after it was all official:

To start off I like to think of myself as a college football anarchist. I openly rooted for several teams to be undefeated at the end of the year to screw up the BCS, and Im openly for the breaking of all of the silly NCAA rules that prevent these kids from making money. With the exception of ruining college football traditions like putting the Big Ten and Pac 10 in the Rose Bowl, Im openly for the college football world, as we know it, to be completely turned upside down. Then I see a game like the Fiesta Bowl, and I realize Im nothing but an S.L.C. poser punk buying into the system whenever theres a great game. Thats as much fun as I can ever remember having watching a sporting event on TV.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P> </O:P><O:P></O:P>

For the first time ever, I dont care one stinkin bit about the NFL playoffs. How can anyone give two hoots about another football game so soon after that Fiesta Bowl? I watched Mallrats instead of Indianapolis New York. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>

For all the weeping and gnashing of teeth over the demotion of Pat Summerall by Fox to the B list of NFL telecasts, it was the right move. ABC, its time to do the same thing to Keith Jackson. That Fiesta Bowl demanded, and deserved, a far better call. Jackson never showed the proper emotion or excitement considering all the big plays and the magnitude of the plentiful moments. He missed plays time and again, and his stories were untimely, rambling and pointless. How many times did we hear Dan Fouts correct a call by starting, Uh, Keith? Keith Jackson might have been the best of all-time, but its over. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>

I refuse to hear any more whining about the pass interference call on Glenn Sharpe. Miami fans, youre preaching to the converted. That call shouldnt be made in the third quarter of a 42-6 game against Akron, much less on fourth down for the national title. Even so, bad calls happen. Just like Oakland had a chance to beat New England last year after the tuck play, the Canes still had a chance to put their bad call behind them and win the game. After the call, Ohio State outscored Miami 14-0. One team was able to get it in from the one, one team wasnt. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>

The worst complaint is that it took the official three seconds to make the call. It doesnt matter if the flag comes out one second or one week after the play happened. If the official saw a penalty, he saw a penalty.<O:P> </O:P><O:P></O:P>

It wasnt like the Buckeyes didnt get screwed too. If the official makes the correct call on the late, third down Chris Gamble catch when he dropped to his knees and rolled out of bounds, Ohio State would probably have been able to run out the clock and thered be no overtime.<O:P> </O:P><O:P></O:P>

Some of the Miami fans showed the most class Ive ever seen so soon after a heartbreaking loss. I received at least 15 e-mails from Hurricane fans saying how ticked off they were about the game, but still gave Ohio State all the respect in the world for pulling off the win. Considering all the controversy, and some of the e-mails I received after I picked the Buckeyes to win, this was really amazing. Take a lesson college football fans. Sometimes being a champion is being able to realize that even in a loss, your team was a part of something special. There were no real losers in this Fiesta Bowl, and its good to see that some Cane fans were able to realize that. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>

Number of e-mails I received from Miami fans after my column on why Ohio State would win disagreeing with me in a civil, analytical way: Roughly 250. Number of e-mails I received from Miami fans calling me some derivative of a pinhead and wanting sock me in the nose: Roughly 350. Number of e-mails I received wanting to bet me $10,000 to my $1,000 that Miami would win: 1. Number of times I actually thought about that, even though I never, ever bet on football: 14. Number of Miami fans shouting expletive after expletive at me, and then quoting a Bible verse about how Jesus is love: 1. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>

This was already talked about in my S.O.C. Game Notes on the Fiesta Bowl, but Im still ticked off about the way ABC and ESPN handled the Willis McGahee injury. We all know that injuries are a part of the game, but the networks dont have to show the grotesque way they happen. If youre twisted enough to enjoy seeing legs getting bent the wrong way, bones broken and injuries happen, then Im sure there are any one of a number of fetish videos you can go rent. Were talking about an amateur athlete that might have lost out on millions of dollars on one play. How would you like it if one of the worst moments of your life was played, replayed, then replayed in slow motion on SportsCenter over and over and over again? Showing McGahee getting hit is fine, but theres no reason whatsoever to show his leg getting bent in slow motion. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>

Miami has played in two national title games in the Fiesta Bowl. It has committed 12 turnovers in those two games, and is now 0-4 in the Fiesta Bowl all-time.

I don't know why this amuses me so much, but I find it hilarious that Larry Coker and Jim Tressel wear suits and ties to the game, and then dress down for the game itself. I can't picture a Wall Street stockbroker taking the train in a tuxedo, and then changing into a suit at work.

Oh yeah, there were other bowl games this week.<O:P> </O:P><O:P></O:P>
No matter what happens though, that 2003 NC slugfest will remain numero uno in my mind ... till the Buckeyes better it.
 
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People, read the thread title...it's "Greatest Endings", not "Greatest Games". There are a lot of games that have more thrilling, last-second endings (I would bet that Iowa-LSU bowl game from this past season will make the top three).
 
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Good point Mili. The LSU-Kentucky miracle will be very high on the list - Kentucky had dumped the silly Gatorade bucket on their coach just before the ball was deflected a couple of times and went for a game-winning bomb.

You'd think that would have stopped the stupid Gatorade thing, but no such luck.
 
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BuckeyeBill73 said:
Good point Mili. The LSU-Kentucky miracle will be very high on the list - Kentucky had dumped the silly Gatorade bucket on their coach just before the ball was deflected a couple of times and went for a game-winning bomb.

You'd think that would have stopped the stupid Gatorade thing, but no such luck.

Yep, that's got to be in the top five, along with Fluties' Hail Mary (probably will be voted #1) and Cordell Stewart's copy-cat Hail Mary at Michigan. Also, The Cal-Stanford band TD could be #1.
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
Yep, that's got to be in the top five, along with Fluties' Hail Mary (probably will be voted #1) and Cordell Stewart's copy-cat Hail Mary at Michigan. Also, The Cal-Stanford band TD could be #1.

I was just going to get to Cal/Stanford... which obviously has the extreme bizarre factor going for it... I haven't read the lists so far exhaustively... but there would seem to be some "Wide Rights" in the running for top 10 or 15 too.

And obviously the flutie play is as famous as they get.
 
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AKAKBUCK said:
I was just going to get to Cal/Stanford... which obviously has the extreme bizarre factor going for it... I haven't read the lists so far exhaustively... but there would seem to be some "Wide Rights" in the running for top 10 or 15 too.

And obviously the flutie play is as famous as they get.
Wide Right 2 (Dan Mowery) was #42 from 1992
Wide Left (Xavier Beitia) was #47 from 2002
Wide Right #1 (Gerry Thomas) was #36 from 1991
Wide Right #3 (Matt Munyon) was #30 from 2000
 
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BuckeyeBill73 said:
Wide Right 2 (Dan Mowery) was #42 from 1992
Wide Left (Xavier Beitia) was #47 from 2002
Wide Right #1 (Gerry Thomas) was #36 from 1991
Wide Right #3 (Matt Munyon) was #30 from 2000

Damn! I'll bet Bobby boy would've loved to have Nuge for any one of those kicks, eh?


:biggrin:
 
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All I know is i was watching the Beitia kick at Dick's Den (I think on the way back from The Shoe v. San Jose State?) Anyway... He misses the kick... and I say to my buddy, "Boy I didn't see that coming... I mean the left part")
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
People, read the thread title...it's "Greatest Endings", not "Greatest Games". There are a lot of games that have more thrilling, last-second endings (I would bet that Iowa-LSU bowl game from this past season will make the top three).

Exactly. The Miami-Nebraska game was recently rated the #1 game ever, with the Miami-OSU Fiesta Bowl #2 (due to the historical significance that Zurp pointed out).

However, I disagree that it doesn't deserve to be considered the greatest ending. The goal line stand to end the NC game in 2OT's gets my vote for #1 ENDING.

Also Mili, I'd vBet you if I had any vCash about the LSU/Iowa game. If I was to bet on the top three (not MY picks, just my bet on their picks):

1. Cal/Stanford
2. Flutie
3. OSU/Miami

MililaniBuckeye said:
Yep, that's got to be in the top five, along with Fluties' Hail Mary (probably will be voted #1) and Cordell Stewart's copy-cat Hail Mary at Michigan. Also, The Cal-Stanford band TD could be #1.

Oops. I read two posts later and realize that I'm preaching to the choir.
 
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