A Fiesta in the Desert

By: Joel Brennan, Sports Journalism

When asked to recount a memorable game, I could talk about any one of many starting with Joe Carter Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Michael Jordan and the 1996 Chicago Bulls, or even the 15-run comeback by the Cleveland Indians against the Seattle Mariners (to a Mariners fan, this was mind-blowing despite being inconsequential) a few years ago. However, in the age of instant gratification and over-used superlatives, I chose to talk about the 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and Boise State Universities.

This game was a stereotypical “David vs. Goliath” match-up that actually held true to the story. The role of David was played by Boise State who pulled out as many trick/gadget plays as one could think of, from the “Hook-and-Ladder” to the “State of Liberty” play. Boise State did everything they could to win in overtime against a much larger and more talented Oklahoma team.

With the game being played in Tempe, AZ, it was physically impossible for me to be there in person, but watching the game on TV was probably as enjoyable. For me, this was just another bowl game that held little interest, but I watched because I’m a fan. It was getting late and I was falling asleep when the excitement began.

Boise State led most of the game until the final few minutes when a few mistakes had cost them dearly. In a last ditch effort to force overtime, they ran the aforementioned “hook-and-ladder” play, one that never worked during practice, and this time it worked to perfection as the Broncos tied the game. What came next was even more remarkable. On what could have been the last play of the game, the gutsy Boise State coach, Chris Peterson called for a “Halfback Option Pass,” with back-up quarterback Vinny Perretta throwing the pass. Instead of going for the game-tying extra point, Peterson called for the heralded “State-of-Liberty” play and it worked to perfection. Senior quarterback Jared Zabransky pulled off the fake and running back Ian Johnson ran in for the game winning two-point conversion. To top all of the excitement on the field, Johnson kept running until he found his cheerleader girlfriend and proposed to her (and yes, she did agree to marry him).

All of the excitement was overwhelming even for a casual fan of the sport, but to a fanatic like me, this was a 15 on a 1-10 scale in terms of excitement. Over the course of a season, fans may see a trick play here and there, but to see three of them in one game and all work to perfection was astounding. The game became an instant classic (an ever-increasing phenomenon) for two reasons. The first is obvious; the second is because of what the game meant. It was that Cinderella story that college basketball fan’s look for every March. It showed that non-BCS schools can truly compete with the bigger schools in BCS conferences. The significance of this game should be set forth a precedent to selection committees who are only looking for high-profit match-ups, that even the smaller schools can provide excitement and really deserve the opportunity to showcase their talent.

Months after the excitement ended the story continues. Zabransky was recently named the cover athlete for EA Sports’ NCAA Football 2008. It marks the first time the cover athlete is not from a BCS-conference school. Also, there are rumors that the 2006-07 Boise State story will be made into a movie.