Top Ten Most Dramatic Games- Part Two (1-5)

5.) Liverpool vs AC Milan, 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, May 25th, 2012: My favorite European side is Liverpool. Being an American with no cheering interest via lineage led me to make this decision mostly because that's where the Beatles are from. It looked pretty hopeless being down 3-0 at the half, but soccer is a funny game sometimes. Liverpool came out of locker room on fire and 2 brilliant goals and a rebound from a penalty had Liverpool equal to AC Milan before the game reached 60 minutes. Liverpools keeper Dudek and the defenders played heroically through the remainder of the game and extra time. The game was to be decided on Penalties, which is the cruelest way to decide a game. It is stressful to watch even without having a strong rooting interest, but when a club you support is involved it's nearly unbearable. Dudek made some great saves in the shootout and Liverpool won the Champions League on penalties 3-2.




4.) Tennessee vs. Ohio State, Sweet Sixteen 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament, March 22nd, 2007: Ohio State trailed by as many as 20 points in this game and the deficit at halftime was 17. It really looked like what seemed like a team that was going to do great things was going to get knocked out far too early. However, the gap slowly closed and Ohio State took the lead with just over 8 minutes to play in the game. It was a back and forth, stress-inducing battle for the rest of the game. The game winning play was quite unusual for basketball. Mike Conley made his first free throw to put The Buckeyes up 85-84, but missed his second with 6 seconds remaining. Tennessee brought the ball up the court quickly and were poised to attempt a lay up to win at the buzzer. Greg Oden had other things in mind though as the center had hustled back down the court and blocked the potential game winning shot as time expired.




3.) Illinois @ Ohio State, NCAA Basketball, March 6th, 2005: This was one of those games that everyone had looked at months ahead of time as being a phenomenal match-up. Illinois was looking to become he first Men's College Basketball team to go undefeated since 1976. Ohio State, on the other hand, had self-imposed a post-season ban on its talented team. That made this game, on Senior Day against the number one and undefeated Illinois Fighting Illini the biggest of the season for the Buckeyes. Illinois kept Ohio State at an arm's length throughout much of the game, leading by 11 at the half. Ohio State had closed the gap to two points in the final minute. Ohio State decided to go for the win on its final possession and Matt Sylvester (I told you he'd come up again) shot up a three and drained it with 6 seconds remaining putting Ohio State up 65-64. The final six seconds were a bit choppy, but Illinois didn't manage a good look and Ohio State had a marque victory. After several down seasons, this put Ohio State basketball back on the map and began the Thad Matta era.




2.) Arizona State vs. Ohio State, 1997 Rose Bowl, January 1st, 1997: This game along with Ohio State's loss to Michigan before it are the first two football games of which I have any clear memories. However, one must remember I was only seven at the time, so my understanding certainly wasn't what it is today. Jake "The Snake" Plummer scrambled late in the forth quarter to put the Sun Devils up 17-14. I was devastated. I started crying (I have long since stopped crying over sport's results*.) However, Joe Germaine and the Buckeye's taught me a lesson that day: to not lose faith in your team. The Buckeyes drove down the field with a lot of help from Pass Interference penalties. That drive was capped off with Germain completing a pass to David Boston for a 5-yard touchdown. Arizona State block the PAT, which left the game at 20-17 Ohio State with 19 seconds remaining. Arizona State wasn't able to make anything of their final desperate possession and the Buckeyes hoisted the Rose Bowl trophy, which was so much cooler looking back then.




1.) Ohio State vs. Miami, 2002 BCS National Championship Game/2003 Fiesta Bowl, January 3rd, 2003: This was it. Ohio State finally had a chance to play for the National Title. 1999-2001 had been disappointing seasons by Ohio State standards. Not much was expected of the 2002 Ohio State team. However, they pretty much muddled their way to a perfect season to face the vaunted Miami Hurricanes. I felt pretty confident about Ohio State going into this game even though they were the decided underdogs. It was tight throughout with Ohio State's defense playing very well and the Ohio State offense largely being led by, surprisingly, Craig Krenzel's running ability. The game ended in regulation tied 17-17 and headed to Overtime. Miami got the ball first and scored a Touchdown. Ohio State was down to a 4th and 14 before Krenzel hit Jenkins to get the first down, which led to the big controversy. On another 4th down, Miami was called for defensive pass interference. I will maintain that an infraction was committed for as long as I am able to. The joy I felt when I saw that yellow flag flicker across the edges of the screen was as great as any I've ever felt. The Buckeyes punched in a TD and another to start the 2nd Overtime before Ohio State's defense held Miami on a 4th and Goal to win the National Title.




Thanks for reading and tomorrow I'll briefly talk about some games that were left off the list.

-Michael
*For the most part