The crowning of a champion

By David Martin Sports Central Columnist

The amazing 2002 college football season has come to an end. Let's review the BCS bowl games, ending with the national title game.

Rose Bowl: Oklahoma 34, Wash. St. 14

This is exactly why nobody wanted an non-Big 10 team in the Rose Bowl. Ugly. The Sooners are truly one the four best teams in the nation.

Sugar Bowl: Georgia 26, Florida St. 13

Hand it to the 'Noles -- they kept the game in reach throughout. Behind a QB who had started at this level, Florida State might have had a real shot in this game.

Orange Bowl: USC 38, Iowa 17

I think the ESPN broadcasters Dave Barnett, Bill Curry, and Mike Golic may be the network's best. I thoroughly enjoyed their streamed radio broadcast, and felt like I missed out on very little by not watching. They explained everything very well, and started noting the Hawkeyes' fatigue during the second quarter, verbally setting the stage for the dominance that eventually came. The Trojans proved themselves to be among the four best teams in the nation.

In a shocking twist, the sideline reporter asked pointed questions of Kirk Ferentz and wasn't shy at all in stating her opinion. Unfortunately, I don't remember her name. The best part of the broadcast actually came in the postgame interviews when Carson Palmer noted that he and his teammates "knew they would explode" in the second half. He even stated that he thought Iowa "knew it, too."

Fiesta Bowl: Ohio St. 31, Miami 24

At work for the national championship game. Call it the only thing worse than driving on a highway during the Super Bowl. Only, I'm not driving. I govern several computers, sort of. So, I have access to live streaming of radio broadcasts. ESPN Radio seemed to have the streaming rights because I couldn't bring in Ohio State or Miami's broadcasts. Just as well. Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried doing the play-by-play and analysis. I respect them, they're good broadcasters, though they're accustomed to doing television, and occasionally leave the listener, namely me, guessing exactly what happened after a confusing play.

Franklin is a strong broadcaster. I like him. He's not afraid of making his opinion known. He questioned the call Ohio State play call to throw into the end zone from the five yard line. He argued that the forced fumble credited to Maurice Clarett was not a fumble. And, he was very skeptical of Miami's choice to eat the clock at the end of regulation rather than moving at a fast pace and playing to win.

That said, what a game! What an unbelievable game! The national championship game went into overtime. Unbelievable. Absolutely incredible game. When I don't have a strong rooting interest, I generally support the underdog. I don't have a strong conference loyalty, so being a Big East team fan doesn't mean I root for the Big East team. In fact, unless the underdog is a team that I despise, like Florida State, I'm likely to support the underdog.

During the season, I developed an affinity for Ohio State's old-fashioned football philosophy, that being win by running the ball and with a stifling defense. So, while I would live with a 'Canes win, I wanted a Buckeyes' victory, and paced and cheered, staring blankly at my surroundings with Buckeyes on the brain.

Miami committed five -- count 'em, five -- regulation turnovers. Amazing. And while I didn't see the game as it happened, I understood from the radio broadcast that the mistakes were as much a result of Ohio State's ability to apply pressure and tackle hard. Despite the defense's performance, though, I had the sense that the game was shaping up for OSU's QB Craig Krenzel to be the MVP, being the Buckeyes' leading rusher, making plays when they needed to be made.

There were several plays on which the game turned. Ohio State ran a fake field goal in the second quarter when the distance was makeable. Ohio State threw an interception from the Miami five-yard line that was returned to the 25-yard line, only to be fumbled back to Ohio State. A four-point swing, as Ohio State came away with a field goal. Ohio State missed another field goal in the fourth quarter. And, finally, a great Miami punt return put the Hurricanes in position to win the game. Instead, the 'Canes opted to play for overtime.

In the first overtime, the 'Canes were able to put the ball into the end zone, taking a 24-17 advantage. An incredibly exciting play on fourth-down allowed the Buckeyes to extend the overtime. A second fourth-down play ended in an incomplete pass. The 'Canes thought they'd won the game. Amazing stuff.

But, "There's a late flag!" shouted Ron Franklin. The referee announced that Miami was guilty of pass interference; the game went on. Gottfried and Franklin agreed that the penalty was definitely worth calling, while wondering why the flag was so slow to get out of the official's pocket. Result: Ohio State touchdown. Gottfried voiced the idea that the sudden swing in Miami's emotions might play a role in the remainder of the game.

Pardon the personal commentary, but I hate the current overtime structure in college football. I'd prefer a sudden death, perhaps a sudden death after one possession by each team. But, I hate that the game can't be won on a punt play, or a kick return. The only thing I like about the college overtime format is the requirement to go for the two-point conversion in the third overtime and beyond.

Second overtime: Clarett scored his third touchdown of the game to take the lead, 31-24. Miami's QB, Ken Dorsey, got crushed by OSU's Matt Wilhelm, bringing on the sophomore QB Billy Crudup for one play. Dorsey re-entered the game on the fourth-down play in which the game's balance hung. Timeout, Ohio State. If I were a nail-biter, I'd have devoured both hands and toes at this point. The throw from Dorsey resulted in the overtime-extending first-down.

Throughout the game, sideline reports from ESPN's Adran Carsten focused on the emotional levels of each team. Much of the time, the reports noted that Miami seemed flat and concerned. One great report detailed the direction of Krenzel to his wideout Michael Jenkins to finish his routes, especially in the red zone, to provide a better chance to get the ball into the end zone.

On numerous occasions, Carsten noted Miami's emotions, and their sideline supporters (he named Jim Kelly and spoke to Warren Sapp), seemed frustrated in their attempts to build the emotional level the 'Canes needed. A contrasting report noted that Ohio State's supporters, Kirk Herbstreit and Archie Griffin by name, were merely supportive, staying out of the way much of the time, patting backs when it was warranted, but keeping away from cheerleading and coaching.

From the two-yard line, the Buckeyes stopped a run on first-down. Incomplete pass on second-down. Stuffed run on third-down. The game-deciding fourth-down: incomplete pass. The Buckeyes win! The Buckeyes win!

Congratulations to Ohio State supporters round the world. An amazing game. An instant classic. I can't wait to watch it on ESPN Classic later this week.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.