The Opening Drive 12/31: Revisiting 'David Versus Goliath' Ahead of Tonight's Cotton Bowl
Miami fans want revenge, but this isn't the same underdog story.
January 3, 2003. Tempe, Arizona. David versus Goliath.
The Miami Hurricanes entered the BCS title game riding a 34-game winning streak. They were loaded with NFL talent up and down the roster. The U was an 11.5-point favorite over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Nobody told the Buckeyes that, though, as they didn’t back down from the challenge in front of them that night.
Both teams traded body blow after body blow, with the occasional haymaker mixed in. Miami suffered a devastating injury to star running back Willis McGahee, an event many consider the turning point of the game. We also witnessed one of the craziest plays in college football history when Ohio State star running back Maurice Clarett stripped Sean Taylor—one of the greatest safeties ever—after a Taylor interception.
The game eventually finished tied at the end of regulation after a Chris Gamble catch was ruled incomplete (this was before replay). Gamble was also held on that play. Overtime followed, with both teams scoring touchdowns to force a second overtime.
That’s where controversy cast a proverbial black cloud over the game. Ohio State faced 4th-and-3, and Craig Krenzel threw into the end zone, targeting Chris Gamble. The pass fell incomplete, confetti rained down, and the Hurricanes rushed the field. However, a flag had been thrown. The official initially signaled holding, but the call was announced as pass interference. That decision gave the Buckeyes new life and ultimately led to the game-winning touchdown.
To this day, the call remains one of the most scrutinized plays in college football history. In my opinion, the call was correct—but the timing was awful.
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The Buckeyes would score on their possession in the second overtime, and Cie Grant would get his hands on Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey and force an errant throw to give Ohio State the win. Many would say this was the moment Miami fell from grace. My favorite fact from this game involves the sheer amount of NFL talent on both rosters. Mind you, Ohio State was viewed as the sacrificial lamb and wasn’t supposed to be able to hang with Miami. Thirty-seven of the 43 starters went on to play in the NFL, as did 58 of the 100 players who registered a snap. Miami fans still despise Ohio State for this game to this day and have long sought their “get back.”
Miami would have two chances at payback, as the teams played a home-and-home series in 2010 and 2011. Ohio State won the 2010 matchup, despite the game later being vacated. The Buckeyes were embarrassed in 2011 by the Hurricanes. Even so, that result didn’t satisfy the Miami faithful. Perhaps it’s because they know that had Ohio State played Braxton Miller over Joe Bauserman, the outcome could have been different.
That brings us to tonight and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Will Miami finally get the payback it yearns for? Will Ohio State be able to overcome the Miami pass rush and dial up the same magic that led to a national title last year? We’ll find out soon enough. Be sure to stay tuned to Buckeye Film Breakdown for all of the postgame analysis.
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