[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 40

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

It's a Football Friday, folks!
It's BEAT VANDY FRIDAY!

Wear purple today. Wear it proud. :)

Hope you've had as much fun counting down to the season as I have these past six weeks as we've looked back at the past decade in the Big Ten. Now we're on the cusp of what promises to be one just as exciting if not more so - hopefully with a trip to Pasadena in our future.

There's not much suspense for our team of the decade, so let's get on with the final slot of our countdown ...

FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL
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> 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)
03) 2002: Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
02) 2000: Northwestern 54, Michigan 51
01) 2006: Ohio State 42, Michigan 39

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

10) Laurence Maroney/Marion Barber, Minnesota
09) Antwaan Randle El, Indiana
08) Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin
07) Dallas Clark, Iowa
06) Troy Smith, Ohio State
05) Damien Anderson, Northwestern
04) Braylon Edwards, Michigan
03) Chris Gamble, Ohio State
02) Larry Johnson, Penn State
01) Drew Brees, Purdue

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

10) 2003 Michigan Wolverines
09) 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes
08) 2006 Wisconsin Badgers
07) 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes
06) 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes
05) 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions
04) 2005 Penn State Nittany Lions
03) 2006 Michigan Wolverines
02) 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes
01) 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes

Just one rule for this list: No more than three teams from one school (so it wouldn't just be a list of Buckeye teams :) ).

TOP TEAMS
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01) 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes

- Record: 14-0
- Quality Wins: vs. #10 Washington State, @ Wisconsin, vs. #17 Penn State, vs. #19 Minnesota, @ Purdue, vs. #10 Michigan, vs. #1 Miami
- Bad Losses: None
- Avg. Margin of Victory: 16.2 points
- Bowl Result: Beat #1 Miami, 31-24 in 2OT in Fiesta Bowl

I don't think I run any risk of being confused with a Buckeye fan, but in 2002, it would be fair to call me a Jim Tressel fan. The "Luckeyes" weren't a cinderella story or a fun underdog tale, but they were also unlike the Ohio State teams we had seen in the 1990s under Cooper or the ones we've seen since. Those teams had more talent, NFL draft picks, ego and star power. But in 2002, Ohio State won their first national title in eons by simply playing together as a team and always playing hard until the final whistle. You gotta respect that.

Ohio State entered 2002 ranked #13, but feeling optimistic after beating Michigan to cap off Tressel's first year in Columbus. As is the norm with OSU (and not enough other programs), they had a big-time nonconference game on the schedule for September against #10 Washington State and Heisman candidate Jason Gesser. And after two easy opening wins against Texas Tech and Kent State, the Buckeyes similarly dispatched of the Cougars 25-7.

The Buckeyes were starting to get national notice, rising to #6 in the polls, but the next game was without star freshman Maurice Clarett and the Buckeyes used the first of their many lives in 2002 by escaping from Cincinnati with a 23-19 win over the Bearcats. Clarett may have been closer to the ego-centric Buckeyes of old, but the stars of this game were a savvy  newcomer who seemed like he was born a veteran in QB Craig Krenzel and Chris Gamble, who quietly played whatever position was needed to help the team.

Ohio State opened the Big Ten schedule with a rout of Indiana and closer-than-expected game at Northwestern, along with a San Jose State nonconference cupcake. Then came a road test in Madison against the Badgers. The game was tight throughout with the Badgers up 14-13 at the half and entering the final quarter. But the Buckeyes scored midway through the fourth and intercepted Wisconsin to seal another close shave, 19-14.

The Buckeyes then "lucked" by #17 Penn State 17-10 by holding Larry Johnson to a season low in yardage. The next week, they completed the homestand with a rare rout of #19 Minnesota, 34-3. Ohio State was now ranked #3 and headed into West Lafayette for what would become the most memorable game of their title run, the "Holy Buckeye" fourth down heave by Krenzel to win 10-6 over Purdue. But next week's 23-16 overtime escape of Champaign was equally as tense and impressive. The 2002 Buckeyes were becoming the mirror image of the 2000 Wildcats - we scored points and they stopped people from scoring, but both fans wound up running out of Maalox tables every week.

Finally, it was time for The Game. The Wolverines were ranked #9 in one poll, #12 in the other and came in with a shot at the Roses ... along with a track record of spoiling Ohio State's perfect season chances on the final weekend in 1993, 1995, 1996, along with other wins. The Buckeyes were down at the half but again scored in the fourth and intercepted Michigan on the final play to cap a perfect season, 14-9.

Ohio State arrived in Phoenix a heavy underdog in the title game. While OSU had been squeaking by foes big and small, the #1 Canes began the season on top of the polls after destroying Nebraska in the last title game, and were looking for a repeat and riding a 34-game winning streak. But the Buckeyes simply outplayed Miami that night, especially the OSU defense, who held Miami to just one touchdown for most of the game. However, OSU's offense could not pull away and Miami rallied late to send the game into overtime.

The Canes scored first and OSU was about to run out of downs when a late flag for interference in the end zone kept their hopes alive. It was a late flag, but probably the right call - and regardless, the Buckeyes had been hosed worse earlier in the game on some key calls. OSU later scored, then scored again on the first possession of the second OT, placing the game in the hands of their defense. Some well-timed blitzes kept the Canes out of the end zone and Ohio State won the national championship, 31-24.

Much like the title game in Arizona four years later, I think if they played 10 times the result might be different in a majority of those contests, but that's not how football is played. Ohio State rose to the occasion that night despite most of America not giving them a chance. They weren't the most talented Big Ten team -- or even Ohio State team -- of the decade, but they were the best overall team.

Coming Saturday: FOOTBALL!!!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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