Buckeyes' Most Satisfying Victory

[sandgk]

It was a game played against stygian black skies, played in a cold. unrelenting rain,. Played against the background of urgings from a crowd that had no more quit in it than the home team on the field ... it was a game dominated by defense, it was a game of redemption for a season thwarted by injuries, for a team maligned by the home town press, let alone the national media as under-performing.

It was a game where I was in the stands (great viewing position 35 yd line), no cover and drenched, watching as the Buckeyes upset the then #1 Hawkeyes

For all of the above I've got to be the sole (to this point) vote for the '85 victory over Iowa.

[Yertle]

I gotta go with the Fiesta Bowl. That game couldn't have been scripted better by Hollywood.

- Media-friendly defending national champs come in with a 34 game win streak.
- Over-achieving blue collar team comes in as a huge underdog.
- Defending champs jump out early only to find the underdogs have a mean-as-hell defense.
- The underdogs take the lead thanks to the emotional leader on the defense who came back to college just to win a NC.
- The controversial running back making the play of a lifetime by stripping the ball after a HORRIBLE interception.
- The underdogs take control of the game, but the champs fight back by 1) getting away with a defensive holding call, 2) getting a huge punt return in the final 2 minutes, 3) squeaking a FG through as time expires.
- The first OT: 4th and 14, the PI call, premature fireworks,...
- The second OT: The hit on Dorsey, the goal line stand - top offense in the country and top defense in the country. Which team wants it more?


How can any game come close???

[FadeproofBuck]

Although I loved the Fiesta Bowl, I went with the 97 Rose Bowl against ASU.

A bit tough to explain on why I chose that, but being 15 at the time and never witnessed a big Rose Bowl victory that I could yet remember, it was just the perfect game for me to witness it.

It was the most satisfying for me, and a great game as well with Jake Plummer and ASU coming back to make it a 17-14 ASU lead, only to have Germaine and the Bucks make a comeback of their own and win the game.

It's just a nudge over the Fiesta Bowl, because as satisfying as winning as national title was, I was just glad that Ohio State was there to be honest(not that I expected them to lose, but we were 14 point underdogs and no one gave us a chance.)

I'd much rather have a national title, but my first witnessed Rose Bowl victory over ASU along with the kind of game it was just mkaes it a tad more satisfying for me personally.

[Zurp]

I'm with Yertle. Winning the NC was absolutely incredible. Ohio State isn't even supposed to CONTEND with Miami for winning that game. All we heard about was how BADLY Miami will make Ohio State look. Many "experts" didn't even think Ohio State was the best team in the Big Ten, let alone the country. And when they start the game off by sacking Dorsey, you could just tell it was going to be awesome.

Combine that with how many plays could have been the last play of the game? Five, I believe:
1. Last-second Field Goal by Miami to tie the game and send it into overtime.
2. Fourth and 14, completion to Jenkins for first down.
3. Fourth and 3, Gamble interfered in endzone (I still think it should have been Defensive Holding, NOT interference, but I'm not complaining).
4. Miami had Fourth and 1, or 2, or 3.. something around there.. completion to Winslow for first down.
5. Finally, THE last play, Fourth and goal on the one, Grant blitzes in from the end, untouched, and gets Dorsey to heave a desperation pass which is incomplete.

All that, after many believed Ohio State shouldn't be in the game...

[Piney]

It was 2002 beating Michigan... no doubt about it.

The question is what was most SATISFYING!!! While it was great winning the national title in what will go down as the best game of all time, I had about 10 heart attacks and I was more relieved it was over and that we won. And to have the game always questioned because of a slow flag slightly lowers the overall satisfication measure.

But for pure satisfaction and killing all the ghosts of perfect seasons lost in the past I just felt at ease watching Mo Hall receiving the pitch to the outside for the TD, watching Navare's failed attempts at hail marys and then watching the interception. It was more than pure joy. It was slaying the demons of perfect seasons of the 1990s when something would always go wrong.

The Fiesta Bowl was gravy and I would have been satisfied no matter the outcome. But watching us finally beat that school up north in my lifetime with something on the line made everything better.

[Zurp]

I was edging toward The Game in 2002. I don't have any reasons not already stated. But the Fiesta Bowl was just amazing. I stayed up for a long time that night watching the "expert" commentary on ESPN. Hearing the guys who picked Miami to win try to save face by talking about the awesome Ohio State defense, or talk about how "Tressel Ball" was executed perfectly, or whatever the hell else filled up the next 5-6 hours.

Wins over Michigan, and the country says, "Ok - Ohio State beat Michigan." That win in that Fiesta Bowl, and the country says, "Ohio State is the National Champion."

[BB73]

Originally Posted by Zurp