1. The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes
The 2002 Buckeyes were characterized by a tenacious defense, a strong running attack, and an ability to win close games late in the contest. Some people might call this final quality "luck", but I prefer the term "preparation meeting opportunity". Whatever you want to call it, the Buckeyes had tons of it that year. And they needed every last ounce of it.
In their four previous national championship seasons, Ohio State opened their schedule with a team from the state of Texas: 1957 TCU; 1961 TCU; 1968 SMU; 1970 TAMU. In 2002, it would be Texas Tech. The Buckeyes routed the Red Raiders, 45-21 (and the game wasn't even that close). True freshman tailback Maurice Clarett rushed for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns (59, 45, and 2 yards) as the Buckeyes amassed 318 yards on the ground. The defense forced seven sacks and an interception, while holding Tech's high-powered offense to 21 points and 372 yards; 14 of those points and 152 of those yards came in garbage time.
After an easy 51-17 victory over Kent State, the #6 Buckeyes faced their first true test of the season when #10 Washington State visited The Horseshoe. The Cougars' quarterback, Jason Gesser, was a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and many pundits felt that he would carve up the Buckeye defense. Despite the hype, the game wasn't much of a contest. The Buckeyes shut down Gesser (247 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 2 sacks), and rendered Washington State's running game nonexistent (22 carries for 18 yards). On the other hand, Maurice Clarett rushed for 230 yards, 194 of them (and 2 TDs) in the second half. The final score: Ohio State 25, Washington State 7.
Next on the schedule was Cincinnati, a game that the Buckeyes were expected to win handily. However, with Clarett on the sidelines with an injury and the Bearcats playing inspired football, Ohio State needed a Houdini act to escape Paul Brown Stadium undefeated. While the Buckeye offense was struggling (292 yards), the defense came to the rescue with three fourth-quarter turnovers. First came an interception by wide receiver Chris Gamble, who had been pressed into duty as a cornerback due to injury, poor performance, and lack of depth. On his first ever play on defense, Gamble intercepted a pass in the end zone, ending a long drive by Cincinnati. On the Bearcats' next possession, defensive tackle Darrion Scott forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow lineman David Thompson; with a short field, the offense was able to score the go-ahead touchdown with under four minutes left on the clock. Finally, clinging to a 23-19 lead with just 26 seconds remaining, reserve safety Will Allen saved the game with another interception in the end zone. This would be the first of several "lucky" (or "opportunistic") victories for the 2002 Buckeyes.
After routine wins against Indiana (45-17), Northwestern (27-16), and San Jose State (50-7), the #4 Buckeyes travelled to Madison, Wisconsin, where the unranked Badgers gave them quite a tussle. Maurice Clarett rushed for 133 yards, 28 of them coming in the final four-and-a-half minutes to help run out the clock; wide receiver Michael Jenkins had 5 receptions for 114 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown; the multi-talented Chris Gamble had 3 receptions for 65 yards and another fourth-quarter interception in the end zone; and the rest of the defense forced five sacks and a fumble. Once again the Buckeyes escaped, this time with a 19-14 victory.
In week 9, #4 Ohio State faced #17 Penn State at home. Once again, Maurice Clarett went down with an injury early in the game. With the star tailback standing on the sidelines the Buckeyes' ground game ground to a halt, gaining only 102 yards on 45 carries (2.3 ypc) after his departure. But the defense rose to the occasion, holding Penn State to 179 yards of total offense. Nittany Lion running back Larry Johnson, Jr. (2002 Maxwell Award winner) managed only 66 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries (4.1 ypc); in his other twelve games that season, Johnson averaged 168 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry while scoring 19 touchdowns. The defense also forced Lions' quarterback Zack Mills into three interceptions, including a nifty 40-yard pick six by Chris Gamble, the Buckeyes' only touchdown on the day. Another close call, with Ohio State prevailing 13 to 7.
After shellacking Minnesota (34-3), the #3 Buckeyes experienced their really close calls of the season. In week 11, Ohio State travelled to Purdue to face a middle-of-the-pack Boilermaker squad that had no reasonable hope of winning. But with Maurice Clarett out yet again with an injury, the Buckeyes could not generate any offense (267 total yards), and they found themselves down 6-3 late in the fourth quarter. With under two minutes to play in the game, Ohio State faced a fourth-and-one at Purdue's 37-yard line. Even with an anemic running attack (94 yards, 2.4 ypc), almost everyone assumed that the Buckeyes would try to pound the ball up the middle for a first down to continue the drive. But head coach Jim Tressel fooled everyone by going against tendencies and calling for a pass play. Quarterback Craig Krenzel took a deep drop, looked short for his tight end, stepped up in the pocket to avoid a furious seven-man rush, and then found wide receiver Michael Jenkins streaking deep down the left sideline. Krenzel threw a perfect pass and Jenkins made a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab for the touchdown. Ohio State had survived another heart-stopper, 10-6. Holy Buckeye!
Ohio State's next opponent, unranked Illinois, also proved to be much tougher than expected. With The Game looming on the horizon, the Buckeyes played uninspired football against the Illini. Only Michael Jenkins had a good game (6 receptions, 147 yards, 50-yard TD); the rest of the offense managed just 174 yards on 60 plays, for an abysmal average of 2.9 yards per play. The defense allowed 358 yards and 21 first downs, and could do nothing to stop Illinois wide out Walter Young (10 receptions, 144 yards, TD). Even place kicker Mike Nugent, who had made 24 straight field goals, missed a pair of routine attempts (37 yards, 41 yards). At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 16, and Ohio State was entering their first-ever overtime session. In the first extra period, Craig Krenzel converted a 3rd-and-10 with a clutch 14-yard scramble, and then third-string running back Maurice Hall broke off an 8-yard touchdown run to put the Buckeyes up 23-16. On the ensuing possession, Illinois receivers twice failed to catch passes in the end zone, and a frantic fourth-down attempt was batted at the line of scrimmage by a Buckeye defender. Another harrowing victory was in the books.
The #2 Buckeyes were one step away from the BCS championship game, but that step was a real doozy. The #9 Michigan Wolverines were looking to once again spoil a perfect season for Ohio State, like they had in 1969, 1973, 1995, and 1996. In the first half, Michigan looked fully capable of pulling off the upset, as the Wolverine offense ran 47 plays for 191 yards and 12 first downs, and took nearly twenty minutes off the clock. However, the Buckeye defense bent but did not break, and they held the Wolverines to three field goals. Still, Michigan led 9-7 at the half.
And Michigan still led 9-7 late in the fourth quarter. But down the stretch, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel went deep into his playbook to set up the final score. First he called a seldom-used "wheel route", and quarterback Craig Krenzel found tailback Maurice Clarett wide open for a 26-yard gain which took the ball down to the Michigan six-yard line; two plays later, tailback Maurice Hall scored a four-yard touchdown on a rare option play that caught the Wolverine defense completely off-guard. Now leading 14-9 with less than five minutes remaining in the game, the Buckeye defense was called upon to preserve the victory.
With just over two minutes to go, Michigan had the ball first-and-10 at Ohio State's 30-yard line. On the next play, Wolverine quarterback John Navarre was strip-sacked by defensive lineman Darrion Scott; the fumble was recovered by end Will Smith. The Buckeyes needed only one first down to seal the victory.
But one first down is hard to come by in The Game, and Ohio State could not run out the clock and was forced to punt. Taking over on their own 20-yard line with just 58 seconds left to play, Michigan had time for one last, desperate drive. Again, the Buckeye defense bent, allowing the Wolverines to quickly go 56 yards in 11 plays. The Game was not over yet – the final snap would occur with a single tick left on the clock….
John Navarre drops into a clean pocket and settles in around the Ohio State 32-yard line. The Buckeyes rush four and drop seven into coverage. Navarre unleashes a perfect spiral. A Wolverine receiver flashes open for a second. But a second later three Buckeye defenders converge on the ball, and safety Will Allen makes the pick at the goal line as time expires. After all of the disappointments of the Cooper years, Ohio State had finally won The Game when it counted the most.
Although #2 Ohio State had a perfect 13-0 record, most pundits felt that the Buckeyes had no chance to beat the #1 Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl, which was the 2002 BCS championship game. The national media types discounted Ohio State as a serious contender because the Buckeyes had won six of their regular season games by seven points or less, and also because the Hurricanes were simply too fast and too powerful on offense. With stars such as quarterback Ken Dorsey, running back Willis McGahee, wide receiver Andre Johnson, and tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr., most media "experts" predicted a blow-out by the 'Canes, who had easily won the 2001 BCS title (37-14 over Nebraska) and were riding a 34-game winning streak.
The title game can best be described as exciting but ugly, a regular slugfest. The Buckeye defense proved to be too physical for Miami, and it held the Hurricanes to a season low 17 points and 320 yards during regulation, while forcing five turnovers and four sacks. The Buckeye offense was not much better, netting only 215 yards while suffering two interceptions; the special teams also contributed to the mess with a missed field goal and a turnover on downs after a botched fake. In the end, the offense did just enough to earn a 17-17 draw and force overtime.
And overtime is when things got memorable. Miami took the ball first and scored easily to take a 24-17 lead. Ohio State got the next possession and proceeded to self-destruct: a false start and a sack left the Buckeyes facing fourth-and-14 and almost certain elimination. But once again, the lucky Buckeyes found a way to take care of their business, as Craig Krenzel hit Michael Jenkins for 17 yards in the most clutch play of this most clutch season.
The unlikely conversion gave Ohio State new life, which the Buckeyes once again attempted to squander away. After a 7-yard run and a pair of incompletions, the Buckeyes were facing another fourth down. This time Krenzel found Chris Gamble in the end zone for the game-tying score, but the wide receiver dropped the ball. The fireworks went off, and then the back judge dropped the flag: pass interference, Miami; first-and-goal Ohio State. Three plays later the Buckeyes punched it in and tied the score at 24 apiece.
Under the overtime rules, Ohio State got the ball to start the second period. This time there were no dramatic plays and no controversial calls, just a quick 5-play drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Maurice Clarett. The score was now 31-24 in favor of Ohio State.
Miami had an opportunity to tie the game, and it seemed certain that they would do so after getting a first-and-goal at the two-yard line. But not so fast, my friends. The Buckeye defense, so stout all year long, came up with an epic goal line stand and the Hurricanes came up one yard short. After 34 years, the Buckeyes were once again the undisputed national champions of college football!
Ohio State had four All Americans in 2002: saftey Michael Doss (also 2000 and 2001), middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm, punter Andy Groom, and place kicker Mike Nugent (also 2004; also 2004 Lou Groza Award). Nugent is the Buckeyes all-time leading scorer with 356 points, and he holds several team kicking records.
Junior defensive end Will Smith (59 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and junior safety Will Allen (32 tackles, 2 game-saving interceptions) would earn All American honors in 2003.
Freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk (26 tackles, 2 interceptions) would become an All American in 2004 and 2005 (also 2005 Lombardi Award), while freshman center Nick Mangold would be named an All American in 2005.
Sophomore Chris Gamble, who started at wide receiver (31 receptions, 499 yards) and cornerback (24 tackles, 4 interceptions), became Ohio State's first "two-way" player in decades.
Maurice Clarett set Ohio State's freshman rushing record with 1,237 yards (still stands).
Head coach Jim Tressel was named the AFCA Coach of the Year.
Final thoughts: This is the team that refused to die. The many close calls – seven wins by a touchdown or less including two in overtime – might be taken as a sign of weakness, but I take it as a sign of strength. A team needs extreme mental toughness to win that many tight contests.
Why is this team better than the rest? The Buckeyes have only six perfect seasons in their 125-year history, and this was the most perfect with a 14-0-0 record. They also faced a tough schedule, beating three top-10 teams, with the Miami Hurricanes being one of the most talented teams in the history of college football (34 draftees, including 13 first-rounders).
There was also an emotional element at work here. As fans, we always want our teams to win every game, and we don't really care how they do it so long as the job gets done. But if we had our way, we'd really want every game to be close and exciting, with the outcome determined in the closing moments. Blow outs are fun, but clutch plays and goal line stands and game-saving interceptions are memorable. This team was great, this team was perfect, and this team was very memorable. Holy Buckeye!
The 2002 Buckeyes were characterized by a tenacious defense, a strong running attack, and an ability to win close games late in the contest. Some people might call this final quality "luck", but I prefer the term "preparation meeting opportunity". Whatever you want to call it, the Buckeyes had tons of it that year. And they needed every last ounce of it.
In their four previous national championship seasons, Ohio State opened their schedule with a team from the state of Texas: 1957 TCU; 1961 TCU; 1968 SMU; 1970 TAMU. In 2002, it would be Texas Tech. The Buckeyes routed the Red Raiders, 45-21 (and the game wasn't even that close). True freshman tailback Maurice Clarett rushed for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns (59, 45, and 2 yards) as the Buckeyes amassed 318 yards on the ground. The defense forced seven sacks and an interception, while holding Tech's high-powered offense to 21 points and 372 yards; 14 of those points and 152 of those yards came in garbage time.
After an easy 51-17 victory over Kent State, the #6 Buckeyes faced their first true test of the season when #10 Washington State visited The Horseshoe. The Cougars' quarterback, Jason Gesser, was a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and many pundits felt that he would carve up the Buckeye defense. Despite the hype, the game wasn't much of a contest. The Buckeyes shut down Gesser (247 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 2 sacks), and rendered Washington State's running game nonexistent (22 carries for 18 yards). On the other hand, Maurice Clarett rushed for 230 yards, 194 of them (and 2 TDs) in the second half. The final score: Ohio State 25, Washington State 7.
Next on the schedule was Cincinnati, a game that the Buckeyes were expected to win handily. However, with Clarett on the sidelines with an injury and the Bearcats playing inspired football, Ohio State needed a Houdini act to escape Paul Brown Stadium undefeated. While the Buckeye offense was struggling (292 yards), the defense came to the rescue with three fourth-quarter turnovers. First came an interception by wide receiver Chris Gamble, who had been pressed into duty as a cornerback due to injury, poor performance, and lack of depth. On his first ever play on defense, Gamble intercepted a pass in the end zone, ending a long drive by Cincinnati. On the Bearcats' next possession, defensive tackle Darrion Scott forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow lineman David Thompson; with a short field, the offense was able to score the go-ahead touchdown with under four minutes left on the clock. Finally, clinging to a 23-19 lead with just 26 seconds remaining, reserve safety Will Allen saved the game with another interception in the end zone. This would be the first of several "lucky" (or "opportunistic") victories for the 2002 Buckeyes.
After routine wins against Indiana (45-17), Northwestern (27-16), and San Jose State (50-7), the #4 Buckeyes travelled to Madison, Wisconsin, where the unranked Badgers gave them quite a tussle. Maurice Clarett rushed for 133 yards, 28 of them coming in the final four-and-a-half minutes to help run out the clock; wide receiver Michael Jenkins had 5 receptions for 114 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown; the multi-talented Chris Gamble had 3 receptions for 65 yards and another fourth-quarter interception in the end zone; and the rest of the defense forced five sacks and a fumble. Once again the Buckeyes escaped, this time with a 19-14 victory.
In week 9, #4 Ohio State faced #17 Penn State at home. Once again, Maurice Clarett went down with an injury early in the game. With the star tailback standing on the sidelines the Buckeyes' ground game ground to a halt, gaining only 102 yards on 45 carries (2.3 ypc) after his departure. But the defense rose to the occasion, holding Penn State to 179 yards of total offense. Nittany Lion running back Larry Johnson, Jr. (2002 Maxwell Award winner) managed only 66 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries (4.1 ypc); in his other twelve games that season, Johnson averaged 168 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry while scoring 19 touchdowns. The defense also forced Lions' quarterback Zack Mills into three interceptions, including a nifty 40-yard pick six by Chris Gamble, the Buckeyes' only touchdown on the day. Another close call, with Ohio State prevailing 13 to 7.
After shellacking Minnesota (34-3), the #3 Buckeyes experienced their really close calls of the season. In week 11, Ohio State travelled to Purdue to face a middle-of-the-pack Boilermaker squad that had no reasonable hope of winning. But with Maurice Clarett out yet again with an injury, the Buckeyes could not generate any offense (267 total yards), and they found themselves down 6-3 late in the fourth quarter. With under two minutes to play in the game, Ohio State faced a fourth-and-one at Purdue's 37-yard line. Even with an anemic running attack (94 yards, 2.4 ypc), almost everyone assumed that the Buckeyes would try to pound the ball up the middle for a first down to continue the drive. But head coach Jim Tressel fooled everyone by going against tendencies and calling for a pass play. Quarterback Craig Krenzel took a deep drop, looked short for his tight end, stepped up in the pocket to avoid a furious seven-man rush, and then found wide receiver Michael Jenkins streaking deep down the left sideline. Krenzel threw a perfect pass and Jenkins made a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab for the touchdown. Ohio State had survived another heart-stopper, 10-6. Holy Buckeye!
Ohio State's next opponent, unranked Illinois, also proved to be much tougher than expected. With The Game looming on the horizon, the Buckeyes played uninspired football against the Illini. Only Michael Jenkins had a good game (6 receptions, 147 yards, 50-yard TD); the rest of the offense managed just 174 yards on 60 plays, for an abysmal average of 2.9 yards per play. The defense allowed 358 yards and 21 first downs, and could do nothing to stop Illinois wide out Walter Young (10 receptions, 144 yards, TD). Even place kicker Mike Nugent, who had made 24 straight field goals, missed a pair of routine attempts (37 yards, 41 yards). At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 16, and Ohio State was entering their first-ever overtime session. In the first extra period, Craig Krenzel converted a 3rd-and-10 with a clutch 14-yard scramble, and then third-string running back Maurice Hall broke off an 8-yard touchdown run to put the Buckeyes up 23-16. On the ensuing possession, Illinois receivers twice failed to catch passes in the end zone, and a frantic fourth-down attempt was batted at the line of scrimmage by a Buckeye defender. Another harrowing victory was in the books.
The #2 Buckeyes were one step away from the BCS championship game, but that step was a real doozy. The #9 Michigan Wolverines were looking to once again spoil a perfect season for Ohio State, like they had in 1969, 1973, 1995, and 1996. In the first half, Michigan looked fully capable of pulling off the upset, as the Wolverine offense ran 47 plays for 191 yards and 12 first downs, and took nearly twenty minutes off the clock. However, the Buckeye defense bent but did not break, and they held the Wolverines to three field goals. Still, Michigan led 9-7 at the half.
And Michigan still led 9-7 late in the fourth quarter. But down the stretch, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel went deep into his playbook to set up the final score. First he called a seldom-used "wheel route", and quarterback Craig Krenzel found tailback Maurice Clarett wide open for a 26-yard gain which took the ball down to the Michigan six-yard line; two plays later, tailback Maurice Hall scored a four-yard touchdown on a rare option play that caught the Wolverine defense completely off-guard. Now leading 14-9 with less than five minutes remaining in the game, the Buckeye defense was called upon to preserve the victory.
With just over two minutes to go, Michigan had the ball first-and-10 at Ohio State's 30-yard line. On the next play, Wolverine quarterback John Navarre was strip-sacked by defensive lineman Darrion Scott; the fumble was recovered by end Will Smith. The Buckeyes needed only one first down to seal the victory.
But one first down is hard to come by in The Game, and Ohio State could not run out the clock and was forced to punt. Taking over on their own 20-yard line with just 58 seconds left to play, Michigan had time for one last, desperate drive. Again, the Buckeye defense bent, allowing the Wolverines to quickly go 56 yards in 11 plays. The Game was not over yet – the final snap would occur with a single tick left on the clock….
John Navarre drops into a clean pocket and settles in around the Ohio State 32-yard line. The Buckeyes rush four and drop seven into coverage. Navarre unleashes a perfect spiral. A Wolverine receiver flashes open for a second. But a second later three Buckeye defenders converge on the ball, and safety Will Allen makes the pick at the goal line as time expires. After all of the disappointments of the Cooper years, Ohio State had finally won The Game when it counted the most.
Although #2 Ohio State had a perfect 13-0 record, most pundits felt that the Buckeyes had no chance to beat the #1 Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl, which was the 2002 BCS championship game. The national media types discounted Ohio State as a serious contender because the Buckeyes had won six of their regular season games by seven points or less, and also because the Hurricanes were simply too fast and too powerful on offense. With stars such as quarterback Ken Dorsey, running back Willis McGahee, wide receiver Andre Johnson, and tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr., most media "experts" predicted a blow-out by the 'Canes, who had easily won the 2001 BCS title (37-14 over Nebraska) and were riding a 34-game winning streak.
The title game can best be described as exciting but ugly, a regular slugfest. The Buckeye defense proved to be too physical for Miami, and it held the Hurricanes to a season low 17 points and 320 yards during regulation, while forcing five turnovers and four sacks. The Buckeye offense was not much better, netting only 215 yards while suffering two interceptions; the special teams also contributed to the mess with a missed field goal and a turnover on downs after a botched fake. In the end, the offense did just enough to earn a 17-17 draw and force overtime.
And overtime is when things got memorable. Miami took the ball first and scored easily to take a 24-17 lead. Ohio State got the next possession and proceeded to self-destruct: a false start and a sack left the Buckeyes facing fourth-and-14 and almost certain elimination. But once again, the lucky Buckeyes found a way to take care of their business, as Craig Krenzel hit Michael Jenkins for 17 yards in the most clutch play of this most clutch season.
The unlikely conversion gave Ohio State new life, which the Buckeyes once again attempted to squander away. After a 7-yard run and a pair of incompletions, the Buckeyes were facing another fourth down. This time Krenzel found Chris Gamble in the end zone for the game-tying score, but the wide receiver dropped the ball. The fireworks went off, and then the back judge dropped the flag: pass interference, Miami; first-and-goal Ohio State. Three plays later the Buckeyes punched it in and tied the score at 24 apiece.
Under the overtime rules, Ohio State got the ball to start the second period. This time there were no dramatic plays and no controversial calls, just a quick 5-play drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Maurice Clarett. The score was now 31-24 in favor of Ohio State.
Miami had an opportunity to tie the game, and it seemed certain that they would do so after getting a first-and-goal at the two-yard line. But not so fast, my friends. The Buckeye defense, so stout all year long, came up with an epic goal line stand and the Hurricanes came up one yard short. After 34 years, the Buckeyes were once again the undisputed national champions of college football!
Ohio State had four All Americans in 2002: saftey Michael Doss (also 2000 and 2001), middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm, punter Andy Groom, and place kicker Mike Nugent (also 2004; also 2004 Lou Groza Award). Nugent is the Buckeyes all-time leading scorer with 356 points, and he holds several team kicking records.
Junior defensive end Will Smith (59 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and junior safety Will Allen (32 tackles, 2 game-saving interceptions) would earn All American honors in 2003.
Freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk (26 tackles, 2 interceptions) would become an All American in 2004 and 2005 (also 2005 Lombardi Award), while freshman center Nick Mangold would be named an All American in 2005.
Sophomore Chris Gamble, who started at wide receiver (31 receptions, 499 yards) and cornerback (24 tackles, 4 interceptions), became Ohio State's first "two-way" player in decades.
Maurice Clarett set Ohio State's freshman rushing record with 1,237 yards (still stands).
Head coach Jim Tressel was named the AFCA Coach of the Year.
The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes
Final record: 14-0-0
Poll rankings: #1 AP; #1 BCS
Defeated #2 Miami (Fiesta Bowl); #9 Michigan; #10 Washington State; #16 Penn State
Final record: 14-0-0
Poll rankings: #1 AP; #1 BCS
Defeated #2 Miami (Fiesta Bowl); #9 Michigan; #10 Washington State; #16 Penn State
Final thoughts: This is the team that refused to die. The many close calls – seven wins by a touchdown or less including two in overtime – might be taken as a sign of weakness, but I take it as a sign of strength. A team needs extreme mental toughness to win that many tight contests.
Why is this team better than the rest? The Buckeyes have only six perfect seasons in their 125-year history, and this was the most perfect with a 14-0-0 record. They also faced a tough schedule, beating three top-10 teams, with the Miami Hurricanes being one of the most talented teams in the history of college football (34 draftees, including 13 first-rounders).
There was also an emotional element at work here. As fans, we always want our teams to win every game, and we don't really care how they do it so long as the job gets done. But if we had our way, we'd really want every game to be close and exciting, with the outcome determined in the closing moments. Blow outs are fun, but clutch plays and goal line stands and game-saving interceptions are memorable. This team was great, this team was perfect, and this team was very memorable. Holy Buckeye!
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