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01/02/2007: "That's Why They Play The Games"

Nothing says college football like New Year's Day. Yeah, the BCS BS has diluted things by stretching bowl season halfway into January, but the first day of the year always has its share of great games.

2007 was to be the same. In the Rose Bowl, Michigan - still carrying a chip on their collective shoulder from a tough loss to Ohio State - would take out their frustrations on a sub-par USC squad unable to recover from an embarassing loss to UCLA. Following that, football powerhouse Oklahoma would pound upstart Boise State into the turf in the Fiesta Bowl.

As if.

I don't know what they fed USC's D-line for breakfast, but I'll take a case. Desparaged all year and humiliated in their last two trips to Pasadena, the Trojan defense sacked Michigan QB Chad Henne five times in the first half and matched Michigan blow for blow. Halftime saw the teams tied at 3, and you knew that was bad news for Michigan. Pete Carroll is well-known as the best at making halftime adjustments, and in spite of the miscue against the Bruins, you just knew he'd find some way to get the SC offense on track after the break. He did - by removing the run from the plan. After an ineffective first possession, USC didn't run the ball for the next 30 plays - and scored four touchdowns to seal the Wolverines' fate. As Coach Carroll said after the game, "We showed that right now, we can play with anyone" ... and if they'd have played even half this good against their last opponent, they'd have gotten the chance.

I'll admit it - I was one of those who was pulling for Boise State to pull the upset against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. But even though they were listed as only a single touchdown underdog, I knew that it would be like watching a puppy dodge traffic - lots of luck and lots of grit right up to the moment they get flattened. So imagine my surprise when the Broncos scored the first 14 points and took a 28-10 lead into halftime. Admittedly, this isn't the best Oklahoma squad ever - the QB played wide receiver last year - but it's still the Sooners. And in the second half, they reminded everyone as they staged the inevitable comeback. When Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky's ill-advised pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown to give Oklahoma a 7-point lead with little over a minute remaining, the game appeared to be over. If you thought so, and opted to change the channel at that point, boy do I feel sorry for you!

The end of the game has been well-documented everywhere, and will be talked about for many years. I'll just focus on the last few plays: a hook-and-ladder pass and pitch play for the tying touchdown, a classic off-tackle run by Adrian Peterson to score in overtime, and a halfback option pass by Boise State to pull within one point. David had gone toe-to-toe with Goliath, but it couldn't last. Knowing that, Boise State coach Chris Petersen made the bold call - we go for two. But it's not that they went for two that made the Broncos folk heroes - it's how they went for it.

Zabransky took the snap and after a short drop did a little pump fake to the right flat. But he didn't have the ball in his passing hand - it was held behind his back in the other. Running back Ian Johnson - who as the play developed stood looking bored with hands on hips - slid to his left behind Zabransky and grabbed the ball ... it's the Statue of Liberty! It might as well have been Thornton Mellon doing the Triple Lindy - Oklahoma was caught flat-footed as Johnson sprinted into the end zone to win the game. If that wasn't enough, he found his cheerleader girlfriend and proposed to her on the spot! As Stuart Scott would say, "as cool as the back side of your pillow."

Pundits will argue if the Boise State win supports or detracts from those who would call for a playoff. They're 13 and 0, and if Ohio State loses next Monday will be the only undefeated Division I program in the country. It would be great to see the Broncos take on the winner of next week's game. At the same time, a relatively small program like Boise might be able to step it up for a single game, but can they do it week after week against bigger, tougher opponents? Probably not. The playoff might diminish the glory gained on the field last night.

No matter how you feel, it was some mighty good football ...