2007 Fiesta Bowl

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Template:Infobox CollegeFB Bowl The 2007 Fiesta Bowl Game was a college football bowl game sponsored by Tostitos. It was part of the 2006-2007 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) of the 2006 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Fiesta Bowl has been played annually since 1971. The 2007 game was played on January 1, 2007, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game pitted the #8 Oklahoma Sooners against the #9 Boise State Broncos[1] and was televised on Fox.

Oklahoma was the designated home team and was favored by 7½ points, but in a classic battle, the Broncos won in overtime, 43-42. Oklahoma wore their red home jerseys, while Boise State wore their road white jerseys. Boise, Idaho is a 15 hour trip from the bowl site[2] while Norman, Oklahoma is just under 15 hours.[3]

Pre-game buildup

During the summer preceding the season, Oklahoma was hyped to be a top 5 team and national title contender. They initially were the favorite to win the Big 12 South.[4] Following the dismissal of OU's returning quarterback Rhett Bomar, many felt the defending national champion Texas Longhorns were now the favorite (the Sooners dropped six spots in the Coaches Poll during the first two weeks of the season despite winning both of those weeks). The Sooners opened their season 3-2 with a controversial loss to Oregon and a loss to Texas. The Sooners also lost their Heisman-hopeful running back Adrian Peterson during their sixth game to a broken collar bone. Many had written the Sooners off at this point. However, the Sooners won their next seven games while Texas lost their last two and the Sooners became the outright winners of the Big 12 South and faced the Big 12 North winner, Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game. They won that game 21-7 and were given an automatic berth to represent the Big 12 in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Boise State Broncos, who returned more starters from 2005 than any other team in NCAA Division I-A football,[5] began the year with high hopes; according to one major source, anything less than a BCS Bowl berth would have been a disappointment.[6] First-year head coach Chris Petersen led this perennially strong non-BCS conference school to an undefeated 12-0 record. Some of the Broncos key wins this season came over Oregon State of the Pac 10 Conference, Hawaiʻi and Fresno State. Boise State was the champion of the Western Athletic Conference.

New stadium

The new University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ host stadium of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

The Fiesta Bowl has been played annually since 1971, and since that time, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium, home stadium to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and Pac-10's Arizona State Sun Devils. In 2006, the Cardinals completed a new home stadium in Glendale, Arizona and was named University of Phoenix Stadium. The new stadium is state-of-the-art with an inclined retractable roof and fully retractable natural grass playing surface. The stadium is also host to 2006 season BCS National Championship Game and will host Super Bowl XLII in 2008. The capacity of the new stadium is 63,500, although for this game and the BCS National Championship Game, extra seats were added in the south end of the stadium to increase capacity to about 70,000.

Scoring summary

First quarter

  • Boise State Drisan James 49 Yard touchdown pass from Jared Zabransky. (Anthony Montgomery kick good) (9:06) 7-0 Boise State
  • Boise State Ian Johnson 2 Yard touchdown run (Montgomery kick good). (7:28) 14-0 Boise State
  • Oklahoma Manuel Johnson 7 yard touchdown pass from Paul Thompson (Garrett Hartley kick good). (0:26) 14-7 Boise State

Second quarter

  • Oklahoma Garrett Hartley 31 yard field goal. (5:38) 14-10 Boise State
  • Boise State Drisan James 32 Yard pass from Jared Zabransky (Montgomery kick is good). (0:32) 21-10 Boise State

Third quarter

  • Boise State- Paul Thompson pass intercepted by Marty Tadman of Boise State, returned for a 27 yard touchdown (Anthony Montgomery kick good). (8:05) 28-10 Boise State
  • Oklahoma- Adrian Peterson 8 yard touchdown run (Hartley kick good). (4:29) 28-17 Boise State

Fourth quarter

  • Oklahoma- 28 yard Field Goal by Garrett Hartley. (14:57). 28-20 Boise State
  • Oklahoma- 5 yard Touchdown pass from Thompson to Chaney (2 point conversion good, pass from Thompson to Iglesias.) (1:26) 28-28 Tie
  • Oklahoma- Jared Zabransky pass intercepted by Marcus Walker of Oklahoma, returned 34 yards for a Touchdown (Hartley Kick good). (1:02). 35-28 Oklahoma
  • Boise State- 15 yard pass completed from Zabransky to James. James lateral to Jerard Rabb for the 35 yard Touchdown run (Montgomery Kick good). (0:07). 35-35 Tie

Overtime

  • Oklahoma- 25 yard Touchdown run by Peterson. (Hartley Kick good). 42-35 Oklahoma
  • Boise State- 6 yard Touchdown pass from Vinny Perretta to Derek Schouman. (2 point conversion good, Johnson 3 yard rush). 43-42 Boise State

Game's Legacy

The game was highlighted by an 18-point comeback by Oklahoma in the second half, a combined 22 points scored in the final 1:26 of regulation, and three trick plays that helped Boise State win the game.

Oklahoma fell behind 14-0 early in the first quarter after a costly fumble deep in their own territory by quarterback Paul Thompson, which led to a Ian Johnson touchdown run two plays later. Boise State scored a touchdown on its final possession of the first half to take a 21-10 halftime lead. Late in the 3rd quarter, with Boise State leading 28-10, Oklahoma recovered a punt which struck the leg of a Boise State player deep in Broncos territory. A few plays later, Oklahoma star tailback Adrian Peterson scored his first touchdown of the game to cut the Boise State lead to 28-17. The Sooners followed up with a Garrett Hartley field goal a few series later to close the gap to 28-20.

The Final 1:26

Wide receiver Quentin Chaney caught a tipped 5 yard TD pass from quarterback Paul Thompson with 1:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma completed their 18-point comeback after it converted the two-point conversion with a pass from Thompson to wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias on its third attempt (the first attempt was unsuccessful but Boise State was called for pass interference; the second attempt was successful but Oklahoma was called for illegal shift – two players in motion at the time of the snap).

After the ensuing kickoff, on the next play from scrimmage, Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky was intercepted by Marcus Walker, who returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. After the extra point, Oklahoma led 35-28.

On the ensuing drive Boise State drove to midfield, but was stopped and faced a 4th down with 18 yards needed for first down, and only 18 seconds left. Zabransky passed for 15 yards to Drisan James. With five Oklahoma defenders playing a "prevent" style defense to prevent the long conversion, James quickly scooped the ball to an in-stride Jerard Rabb, who ran the ball along the left sideline 35 more yards for a touchdown (this play is referred to as a hook and lateral). The extra point tied the game up at 35-35 with just seven seconds remaining in regulation, and the game then went into overtime.

Overtime

In overtime, Boise State won the toss and elected to play defense. Oklahoma scored on their first play with a 25-yard run by Adrian Peterson, the 2004 Heisman runner-up in his first game back after missing seven games with a collarbone injury. The extra point was good, making the score 42-35 Oklahoma.

On Boise State's drive, the Broncos were down to 4th and 2 on the Sooners' 5 yard line when Boise State ran a wide receiver rollout option. Zabransky ran in motion to his left while backup wide receiver Vinny Perretta, slotted as a running back, took the snap, rolled to his right, then threw a touchdown to tight end Derek Schouman (lined up as a wide receiver) to bring Boise State within one point at 42-41.

Instead of kicking the extra-point to tie the game and send it into a second overtime, Broncos coach Chris Petersen elected to go for the two-point conversion to win the game. He ran a trick play drawn up by his two backup quarterbacks – after the snap, Zabransky faked a quick pass directly to his right with his right hand (where three receivers were lined up), then quickly handed off the football backhanded with his left hand to running back Ian Johnson, who ran it in to the endzone untouched for the win (this play is a variation to the Statue of Liberty play known to the team as just "Statue").

During a postgame interview, Boise State's Ian Johnson got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Boise State head cheerleader Chrissy Popadics, on live TV. She seemed surprised, but enthusiastically accepted.[7]. Johnson did not have the ring with him because he wouldn't propose if the Broncos lost.

Instant Classic

The wild finish (consisting of the final 1:26 of regulation and the overtime period) has led the game to become an instant classic:

  • Oklahoma completing the 18-point comeback with a 2-point conversion on its third attempt (after the first two tries were called off due to penalties)
  • Walker's interception return for the touchdown.
  • The hook and lateral from Drisan James to Jerard Rabb off a 4th and 18 pass from Jared Zabransky that resulted in a 50-yard game-tying touchdown with just seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
  • Peterson's 25-yard run on Oklahoma's first play in overtime.
  • The wide receiver rollout option pass by backup wide receiver Vinny Perretta, lined up at quarterback, on 4th and 2, resulting in a touchdown catch by Derek Schouman to bring Boise State within one point in overtime.
  • The Statue of Liberty play-action fake from Zabransky to Ian Johnson, who ran for a three-yard, game-clinching two-point conversion.
  • The onfield marriage proposal from Ian Johnson to his girlfriend, Bronco head cheerleader, Chrissy Popadics.

Final Game Points

Boise State finished their season with a perfect 13-0 record, spurring controversy as to whether teams from non-BCS conferences should have an opportunity to play for a national title.

Boise State also became just the second team from a non-BCS conference to win a BCS bowl game. (Utah was the first, in 2005) As of the end of this game, teams from non-BCS conferences are now 2-0 in BCS bowl games.

Reaction

The dramatic fashion in which the game finished along with the numerous trick plays and underdog story has already garnered incredible enthusiasm and many consider it one of the greatest college football bowl games to ever be played.[8]

ESPN columnist Pat Forde had this to say:[8]

The Valley of the Stun was the stage as an indomitable bunch of dreamers in orange pants landed the mightiest populist blow of college football's modern era. They were Hickory High in helmets, George Mason in cleats. They knocked off a gridiron giant one decade to the day after the burial of Pokey Allen, the beloved Boise coach who brought the program up to Division I-A status just 11 years ago.

Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated:[9]

How do you sum up one of the most remarkable endings any of us will ever be fortunate enough to see? How do you sum up one of the most exciting bowl games ever contested? And how do you sum up what will one day be viewed as one of the most significant moments in the history of college football? I’m not exaggerating....Boise State beating Oklahoma in a New Year’s Day bowl game is college football’s equivalent to George Mason reaching the Final Four, with one extremely significant difference: George Mason had its chance to compete for the national title; Boise State does not. Like it or not, Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 just became the single biggest argument to date for a college football playoff....Not only did they get in the game, they made a major statement on behalf of their mid-major brethren that none of us will soon forget.

Arash Markazi, also of Sports Illustrated, who covered the Broncos throughout their stay in Arizona:[10]

When it was over, even Hollywood couldn't have scripted a more dramatic ending. This was the ultimate underdog story of a team that believed from the start, refused to give up even when it looked bleak and pulled off the improbable. It's one thing for a Cinderella team to upset a heavily favored opponent, but c'mon, this was ridiculous....Boise State's mind-numbing 43-42 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night had everything and will go down as one of [the] best games in college football history. It was as big as George Mason getting to the Final Four and is proof that mid-majors can play with the big boys in football, too.

Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times:[11]

Crazy, zany and loony are three apt words to describe the end of Monday night's Fiesta Bowl at the University of Phoenix Stadium. You thought it would never end, but it did, with one of the most gutsy calls and remarkable plays in the history of college football.

Pete Thamel of The New York Times:[12]

...[A] hook-and-lateral, a Statue of Liberty play and a halfback toss launched the Boise State football team to an upset that will long resonate in college football lore....Johnson’s proposal capped a dizzying, riveting, back-and-forth game that will be remembered as one of the most exciting in college football history.

Zabransky:[12]

This probably goes down in the history of college football. It can be argued as the best game ever.

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Rankings from the Coaches Poll on December 3, 2006.
  2. ^ "Google Maps - Boise, ID to Glendale, AZ" (HTML). Google. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  3. ^ "Google Maps - Norman, OK to Glendale, AZ" (HTML). Google. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  4. ^ "Big 12 Announces Media Preseason Football Poll" (HTML). Big 12 Sports. July 20, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "2006 Bronco Football Media Guide" (PDF). Boise State Broncos Football. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "2006 Boise State Preview" (HTML). Scout.com. Retrieved 2006-12-04.
  7. ^ "Johnson pops the question after wild Fiesta Bowl win". Associated Press via ESPN. January 2, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b "Broncos earn respect with improbable victory". ESPN. January 2, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Mandel, Stewart (January 2, 2007). "College Football Blog: Boise's Thrilling Win a Landmark Moment". Sports Illustrated. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Markazi, Arash (January 2, 2007). "Behind the scenes with Boise". Sports Illustrated. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Dufresne, Chris (January 2, 2007). "A perfectly incredible ending". Los Angeles Times. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b Thamel, Pete (January 2, 2007). "Playbook Full of Tricks Gives Boise State Dramatic and Defining Victory". The New York Times. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)


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