Championship Saturday might be the best day of the college football season (At least until the Prayer at Jordan-Hare). What started out as just one game in 1992 (the SEC Championship between Florida and #1 Alabama at worn out Legion Field in Birmingham) has grown into four title games in BCS conferences plus a myriad of non-AQ championship tilts.
But what makes Championship Saturday special to me is deeply personal. And it goes back to December 5, 1998.
Florida State starts the day ranked #4. Its season is complete. But, the Seminoles need a lot of help to crack the top two. However, #1 Tennessee, second-ranked Kansas State and #3 UCLA are all in action so anything is possible.
The day begins with an Army-Navy appetizer at Noon. But at 2:00, all attention is turned to the rickety old Orange Bowl in Miami where the Hurricanes are hosting the Bruins. This game is moved to December 5th after a real hurricane threatened South Florida in September. Miami isn’t very good. Bob Toledo’s squad needs to win to stay in the title hunt. Both offenses roll up more than 1,350 total yards! Edgerrin James rushes for 300 and scores the go-ahead touchdown with under a minute left. Cade McNown’s Hail Mary sails over the end zone and Miami escapes with a 49-45 win. UCLA is done. Suddenly, Florida State is #3.
It’s now 5:30. And we move to the 2nd half of the former Big XII Championship game in future SEC outpost St. Louis. K-State is having its way with Texas A&M 17-6 midway through the 3rd. The Wildcats’ lead grows to 27-12 after 3. R.C. Slocum’s squad mounts a 4th quarter rally to tie the game with 1:05 to go. After trading field goals in the first overtime, Kansas State takes a 3 point lead in overtime number two. Then, at 8:34 PM EST, Sirr Parker dives over the pylon to conclude a 32 yard scoring pass to win the Big XII title and send Aggie (and Florida State) fans into sheer disbelief.
At this point, FSU fans are dialing up some mighty AOL 28.8 kps to search for flights from anywhere in Florida or Atlanta to anywhere between LAX, Albuquerque and Vegas.. anywhere within shouting distance of Phoenix just after New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, #1 Tennessee is fighting for its life in the SEC Championship Game against ultra-rare West Division champ Mississippi State (?????). The Bulldogs ran a punt back 83 yards to take a 14-10 lead midway through the 4th quarter. Suddenly, Ohio State backers are wondering if they too are in for a miracle. Tee Martin crushed those hopes with two TD passes within 32 seconds to capture the SEC crown. Ohio State’s glimmer of a miracle was gone. Mississippi State is still searching for its first SEC title. The Vols packed their bags for Tempe and a date with Florida State in the first ever BCSChampionship game. Despite the outcome, it turned out to be the greatest road trip ever which may or may not be a future column.
The fact that Florida State clawed its way from #4 to #2 without having to play and put anything on the line isn’t what made this day special and unforgettable. Eleven days prior to Championship Saturday, my mom passed away. This day was the first day I didn’t have to deal with funeral arrangements, wills, personal effects, hosting relatives, etc. and instead tried to run a few normal errands, feed my 18 year old cat, eat a real meal for the first time in a week and a half, enjoy a normal football Saturday and put the sadness and grief aside for a few hours.
To this day I’m convinced Mom had a hand in what transpired on that memorable day.
