Debunking Sour Grapes: OSU Buckeyes Were Legitimate National Champs in '02

It was overtime in the 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the 2002 season's national championship game. The Ohio State Buckeyes were trailing the Miami Hurricanes 24 to 17.

After failing to convert on third down, Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel knew that this could be their last chance. The situation seemed dire, yet he had been in so many similar situations throughout the season. He knew what to do. He calmly instructed his teammates on the sideline as Miami had used their overtime time-out to make sure they had picked the right play defensively to win the game.

Huddled around his teammates, Krenzel looked to his tight end Ben Hartsock and told him "If you've got one-on-one coverage, look for the ball." Meanwhile, his favorite target, Michael Jenkins, was preparing himself to run the most dedicated fade route of his collegiate career. Coach Tressel seemed as calm as he could be and tried to keep his players as level headed as possible for what could be the final play of the game. The whistles blew. Finally, it was time to go.

Fourth and three. The Buckeyes found themselves staring down a fast and athletic Miami defense at the Hurricane's five yard line. Krenzel took a deep breath and called for the ball. Miami brought the pressure. He knew he had to get the pass off, so he threw the ball to the most open receiver he could find: wideout Chris Gamble. Gamble, who had run his route as close to perfection as possible (he had been held at the line of scrimmage), knew it was coming. He leapt into the air to make the grab. The ball bounced out of his hands and fell indiscriminately to the turf. Incomplete... It was over.

Ohio States fans fell deathly silent. They had just watched a season of hope slip right through a receiver's hands in the end zone. Miami fans began screaming with jubilation and glee. A massive cache of fireworks erupted to celebrate the Hurricanes' victory. Miami players, fans, and coaches ran onto the field in excitement. 

The Hurricanes had done it once again. For the second year in a row, they were the national champions. However, it was a short lived victory. The energy and polarity of the entire stadium was reversed by a small yellow piece of cloth. ABC commentator Keith Jackson told the people watching at home to "hold their horses. There is a penalty." Then, Miami fans groaned as they watched Big 12 field judge Terry Porter call pass interference on Glen Sharpe of the Miami Hurricanes. Suddenly, optimism was reversed. Ohio State received a first down and the ball was then spotted on the one-yard line.

This became known by many as perhaps the most controversial call of all time in college football history. Miami fans were, and still remain to this day, very livid. ABC commentator Dan Fouts unprofessionally complained, "Bad call......Bad call!" Ohio State went on to win the game in double overtime and became the first team to record a perfect 14-0 season. Since then, there have been several Youtube videos illustrating how it was a bad call. Even CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd was vocal about Porter messing up big time. 

As a result, the Buckeyes' 2002 national title has since been given dirty names such as "tainted," or "controversial." This occurrence has only helped temper the heat of disdain most of the nation unfairly holds against the Ohio State program. But, regardless of how people like to scream, "conspiracy theory," when something doesn't go their way, it is only fair to point out the real controversy of the game. The real controversy occurred maybe 20 minutes before that infamous flag left Porter's hand, when the Buckeyes won the game in regulation...

It was late in the fourth quarter. Ohio State held a 17-14 lead over Miami. There was 2:24 left on the clock. Miami had only one time out left. Ohio State had possession and was ever so close to clinching their victory over the Hurricanes. It was third down, with six yards to go for a Buckeye first down. The ball was spotted on Ohio State's 32-yard line. Krenzel lined up a few paces behind center in the shotgun formation.

The play clock slowly ticked down to one second. Krenzel called for the ball. The snap was on the money. Krenzel took the ball and rolled out to his right. Running parallel to him on a short out route was Gamble. Krenzel threw the ball low to where only his teammate could get it.

As Gamble went low for the catch, he kept close watch to make sure his body remained in bounds. He secured the ball tightly as it hit him right between the numbers. It was a perfectly executed catch. However, even though Gamble caught it in bounds, he was deprived of the game winning first down.

The sideline judge ruled the pass incomplete. The catch occurred on the Buckeye's sideline, so you could see a very irate team motioning at the ref that Gamble was in bounds. Fans who watched the replay screamed angrily at the bad call. Even ABC commentator Dan Fouts said that it was really close. However, this was before instant replay rules came into effect in college football.

Had the ref made the right call, the first down would have given Ohio State enough downs to run out the clock. Miami's one timeout wouldn't have been enough to give them another shot. As a result of a bad call, however, the Buckeyes were forced to play overtime against a team they had already beaten.

To be honest, that game would have been more controversial if that flag had not been thrown in overtime, because then the Buckeyes would have unfairly lost a game they had won. To argue that Terry Porter's flag cost Miami the national championship is folly. They lost the game before that flag was ever thrown.

However, you probably won't hear about the fourth quarter game-winning catch controversy on the College Gameday preceding Ohio State and Miami's rematch this season. Instead, it is probably safe to assume that ESPN will exploit and replay over and over the film of the "controversial" pass interference call on Glen Sharpe to make this a more "interesting" grudge matchup. Regardless, whatever the media decides to do remains largely irrelevant to the true outcome of that game. 

To quell those with any remaining doubt, the best team did in fact win the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. They won what was perhaps the greatest national championship game played so far.