|  "Ten
Thoughts From Tempe"
by
Chris Bello - January 6th, 2003
Still processing all the emotions that occurred the evening
of January 3rd. It will take a long while to deal with everything
that recently happened. While the game never should’ve
have come to a point where it was decided by one play –
it was – and a horrid call at that. This one will live
in infamy Canes fans.
Many are
saying we’ll be back. Truth is, we’re still here.
We never left. Some things that I will never forget about
that roller coaster ride of an evening ...
10) My
pregame walk through the parking lot en route to the CanesTime.com
tailgate I was sideswiped by Kirk Herbstreit as he rolled
by on the back of a golf cart. Dressed in my #5 jersey
and black "U" cap, I yelled as he went by -- "Herb,
where's the love?" He just rolled by, threw me a
smirk and gave me that now infamous NFL throat slash. The
same one Will Allen did twice after taking out Willis McGahee’s
knee. Classy gesture, guys.
As I played
the role of masochist today reading every article and getting
nauseous over every AP photo, I saw the shot of Herbie three
feet airborne next to Eddie George on the Buckeye sideline.
Seemed he knew something I didn't. Wonder if he had a pregame
talk with official Terry Porter or if any cash exchanged hands
between regulation and the first overtime? I'm kidding - but
as professional as an analyst Herbstreit is - he should' ve
either chosen to cover the game for ESPN - or played the role
of fan for the night. He shouldn't have worn both hats.
9)
Ohio State strutting out of the tunnel, hand in hand,
before kickoff is tattooed on my brain. They had
a bounce in their step that I surely thought we would knock
out of them, but it never happened. I looked down at our sideline
and saw half the NFL down there. Warren Sapp, Jessie Armstead,
Philip Buchanon, Clinton Portis, Russell Maryland, Ed Reed
– they were all representing. It had to be Miami's night.
Instead, Ohio State set the tone and Miami would fight hard
all game to stay in it. Jim Tressel had the Canes playing
Buckeye style football – but it still wasn't enough.
The Canes forced overtime and it took a tainted official to
play the role of 12th man. Porter stole it. While the Canes
never should've been in a position where last second field
goals or questionable calls should determine the outcome,
Miami clawed back and remained in the game for sixty minutes.
Moments later we sealed the win... four seconds later it was
stolen. Incomprehensible.
8)
Todd Sievers' field goal that set up overtime
was as clutch as it gets. So was the Roscoe Parrish
punt return that set up that final score. I watched through
my fingers and hardly saw the ball go through the uprights.
I almost vomited when I heard it was good. We lived to see
another day and showed the heart of a champion once again.
It was a whole new ballgame in overtime. A quick score, a
defensive stand and we were walking home with the trophy.
Kellen Winslow reeled in his most impressive catch of the
day, the Hurricane defense stood strong and it was in the
books.... Is that a flag?
7)
The four seconds that changed history have been replayed a
million times in my head but I have only seen the tape once.
That was enough. Never need to see it again. The
no catch, the flag, the fireworks and a camera in Brett Romberg's
face as he walked back to the sidelines are as vivid tonight
as they were 24 hours ago. We stopped them cold, shot our
load and had it stolen from us. I felt like I just watched
my best friend take a bullet in the skull. Maybe Maurice Clarett
isn't so crazy after all for his tirades this week. After
the death of his friend and all the controversy his post game
comment was something along the lines of this event meaning
nothing to him and merely wanting to get home. I second that,
Maurice.
6)
Willis McGahee getting carted off had me numb.
Our playmaker would miss most of the fourth quarter. I thought
he would bounce back until hearing via the AM broadcast the
severity of the injury. I had no idea what was going down
until he drove by me. I could see the tears in his eyes from
my seat. The thought of finishing the game without him was
petrifying and proved fatal. That said, I found myself more
concerned with this silent warrior's well being than this
brutal game. McGahee is bigger than all this. Without him
we never get to Tempe. All thoughts were with him from that
moment on. My heart still aches for this amazing individual.
As sick as I am tonight, I can only imagine what is running
through #2's head as he had three ligaments in his knee put
back together this afternoon. McGahee deserved so much more.
He will be a force again and I pray he gets one more go around
with the Ohio State defense when it's all said and done.
5)
Ken Dorsey getting hit on the final drive of the second overtime,
getting up and collapsing like Rocky Balboa in his fight against
Clubber Lang. Eerily reminiscent of being a youngster
and seeing a young and invincible Mike Tyson knocked down
and out for the count. I saw the Canes vulnerable for the
first time in 2 1/2 years and couldn't interpret the emotions.
I was shell-shocked, scared, sickened and distraught all in
one. No time to get lost in the moment as Dorsey overthrew
a wide open Eric Winston on the final 3rd down and choked
on the last gasp of breath I had left. I saw the tying score
and the finale all in one. Winston was completely open and
Dorsey was too wounded to get it where he wanted it. The brass
ring was in reach, we reached for it and missed. One last
try...
4)
Dorsey getting tossed like a rag doll on the game's final
play was not the way #11 deserved to go out. How
many quarterbacks never would've returned after the previous
hit? Dorsey strutted back onto the field for one last attempt.
It was then it truly hit me --- it shouldn't have come to
this. Even before the last attempt, anxiety became rage. We
had it won and it was stolen. There were missed opportunitesin
regulation as well. Phantom call aside, we still had a chance
to rectify things and win the game. There still was an opportunity
to overcome "The Call" and persevere. Once that
was gone and the Buckeyes stormed the field I wanted five
minutes with Porter and a tire iron. He robbed us. I felt
personally violated. I can only imagine Dorsey's emotions
as he knelt down on that stadium grass. The only thing worse
for that competitor would've been watching from the sidelines.
Ken Dorsey went down swinging. No shame in 38-2, but that
is no consolation to anyone tonight.
3)
Walking into the team hotel post game, it was a morgue.
Everyone was shell-shocked and bewildered. There were no words
as we dug deep to find a way to deal with this moment. Going
back to September 9th, 2000 and January 2nd, 1987 all at once.
My family and I had a therapy session in the car on the way
over to the hotel, while listening to talk radio about the
horrid call. Buckeye fans ran rampant in the streets like
nothing of the sort even happened. Meanwhile I attempted to
convince myself I'd someday get over this one. Wrong. I won't
ever forget this feeling. It is burned into my brain.
2)
Miami fans clapping for the team for five straight
minutes as they entered the hotel was a scene out of a movie.
Tell me again that Hurricane fans are fair-weathered and sporadic.
As I took notice of every Hurricane in that line, the look
in Jon Vilma's eyes stood out the most. It was bewilderment
– like he knew he let it slip away. There was anger,
aggression, nausea and disappointment beaming from him. He
went from hard hitting linebacker to senior team leader in
that defining moment. Any question about his heart, leadership
ability or play in '02 is over. He just became next year's
Ed Reed – the voice of this team. He is going to take
over that defense and inject the hunger that was occasionally
missing this year. The big chip was just set on this team's
shoulder. The '03 Canes will deal with this horrific event
and make a positive out of it. Vilma will become this team's
leader. I saw it in his hurting eyes last night.
1)
My final moment started with Brett Romberg grabbing a few
individual deli trays and heading out to the hotel golf cart
for a ride back to his room. He signed some autographs,
appeased the well wishers and went outside to sit alone. As
I passed by he gave me 20 memorable seconds alone to thank
him for all he's done as an ultra-Cane. He remembered me as
"the guy who owns the acoustic guitar company"
when I met him Florida State weekend. Mentioned that he checked
my company's website and that our guitars looked sharp. Says
he'll be in touch about getting one in the near future. Romberg
just lost the game of his life and he is laying compliments
on me, making me at ease with the moment. I barely got out
a "thanks," walked away choked up knowing that was
my last experience with 2002 Canes football.
Born and raised in Miami, FL and a CanesTime.com
columnist since 1996, Chris Bello now resides in San Diego,
CA and handling online sales and providing content for allCanes.com.
Feel free to send your comments or to contact him at chris@allCanes.com
|
