[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 18

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Preseason doesn't count, but it's still an absolute treat to say that the "defending Super Bowl champion" Saints will be on TV tonight when I get home.:) I expect Coach Fitz to add an equally goosebump worthy moment of saying "defending Rose Bowl champion Northwestern" in the near future!

And back to the countdown ...

FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL
######################

> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota
09) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
08) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
07) Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin
06) Randy Walker, Northwestern
05) Lloyd Carr, Michigan
04) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
03) Joe Tiller, Purdue
02) Joe Paterno, Penn State
01) Jim Tressel, Ohio State

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade

10) 2000: Purdue 32, Michigan 31
09) 2001: Michigan State 26, Michigan 24
08) 2005: Michigan 27, Penn State 25
07) 2003: Minnesota 37, Wisconsin 34
06) 2004: Northwestern 33, Ohio State 27 (OT)
05) 2008: Penn State 13, Ohio State 6
04) 2009: Ohio State 27, Iowa 24 (OT)

> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade
> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

And a quick reminder of the "rules" for this list ...
- No bowl games (counted down those before the Outback Bowl)
- Only conference games (they mean more!)
- No "repeats" (i.e. only one Michigan vs. OSU game)

And now we get to the most recent game on our list, and it was a treat ...

TOP GAMES
#########

03) 2002: Ohio State 10, Purdue 6

Sometimes, one play is enough. Enough for a win, enough for a national championship and enough to earn its own nickname in the lore of great games: "Holy Buckeye!"

Ohio State rolled into West Lafayette in November of 2002 with a 10-0 record, No. 3 ranking and coming off of two big wins at home over ranked foes. They really didn't expect much resistance from 4-5 Purdue, but the Boilers defense played a fantastic game - stifling the Buckeye offense and controlling the tempo. Ohio State barely escaped the first half with a 3-3 tie after the West Lafayette timekeeper was a little too slow on the ticker for coach Joe Tiller's liking.

The third quarter was scoreless as Ohio State's defense matched Purdue yard for yard, holding Kyle Orton and the Boiler offense significantly below their average of almost four touchdowns per game. The black and gold did break through for one deep bomb in the fourth, however, and as the clock ticked down, it looked like the field goal scored off that heave would be enough for a 6-3 upset.

A 3rd and long play at midfield came up just short for Ohio State as the 2:00 mark passed. Coach Jim Tressel decided against using all-everything kicker Mike Nugent for a 54-yard tying field goal and made the gamble of his coaching career.

Not only did the notoriously conservative sweatervested coach go for it on fourth down, he went all-in. Instead of trying to overpower Purdue for that extra yard, quarterback Craig Krenzel let fly a 37-yard prayer answered in the end zone by Michael Jenkins (despite pretty good coverage) for the touchdown. It took awhile for the play to sink in, both for the stunned crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium and for the flabbergasted viewers at home. Jim Tressel did WHAT??? An interception by OSU's defense sealed the win and Ohio State kept their title hopes alive with a 10-6 escape.

It wasn't Ohio State's most impressive win of the 2002 regular season (the Wazzu win) or their biggest (the Michigan game to seal it at home), but it became the symbol of a season where everything broke the Buckeyes' way. They had an outstanding defense and a cool-headed quarterback that made use of the talent at the skill positions, but they also got just enough help when needed to stay on track for that classic Fiesta Bowl win over Miami. It was the signature play of the decade for the league's national title team and a heck of a game for fans of games dominated by defense.

Coming Friday: The most amazing, exhausting, exhilarating and exasperating game I have ever attended. Did I mention that it was amazing? AMAZING?!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
==========================