OT: Best bowl games in history

[Tskware]

Sports Illustrated recently printed a list of their choice for the top 10 bowl games ever played. Thought this would be an interesting topic for comment.


1. 2006 Rose Bowl (BCS) Texas 41, USC 38

2. 1984 Orange Bowl Miami 31, Nebraska 30

3. 2007 Fiesta Bowl Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42

4. 1973 Sugar Bowl Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23

5. 1979 Sugar Bowl Alabama 14, Penn State 7

6. 1979 Cotton Bowl Notre Dame 35, Houston 34

7. 1980 Holiday Bowl BYU 46, SMU 45

8. 1987 Fiesta Bowl Penn State 14, Miami 10

9. 2003 Fiesta Bowl (BCS) Ohio State 31, Miami 24

10. 1965 Orange Bowl Texas 21, Alabama 17



Cannot argue with no. 1, but one I knew for sure would be on the list was no. 4, 1973 Sugar Bowl. I believe it was the first meeting ever between ND and Alabama and both teams were undefeated, was the de facto NC game. And it was one hell of a game, not decided until the final minute when the Irish hit a long pass while backed up on their own goal line on 3rd and long. It was a hell of a call and clinched the game.


As an aside, either I need something else to do, or I am a college football nut, because I watched all or part of 8 of these games (too young for the 1965 game, and did not watch the 1980 Holiday Bowl, that I can recall)

 

[mtn cat1]

Sports Illustrated recently printed a list of their choice for the top 10 bowl games ever played. Thought this would be an interesting topic for comment.


1. 2006 Rose Bowl (BCS) Texas 41, USC 38

2. 1984 Orange Bowl Miami 31, Nebraska 30

3. 2007 Fiesta Bowl Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42

4. 1973 Sugar Bowl Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23

5. 1979 Sugar Bowl Alabama 14, Penn State 7

6. 1979 Cotton Bowl Notre Dame 35, Houston 34

7. 1980 Holiday Bowl BYU 46, SMU 45

8. 1987 Fiesta Bowl Penn State 14, Miami 10

9. 2003 Fiesta Bowl (BCS) Ohio State 31, Miami 24

10. 1965 Orange Bowl Texas 21, Alabama 17



Cannot argue with no. 1, but one I knew for sure would be on the list was no. 4, 1973 Sugar Bowl. I believe it was the first meeting ever between ND and Alabama and both teams were undefeated, was the de facto NC game. And it was one hell of a game, not decided until the final minute when the Irish hit a long pass while backed up on their own goal line on 3rd and long. It was a hell of a call and clinched the game.


As an aside, either I need something else to do, or I am a college football nut, because I watched all or part of 8 of these games (too young for the 1965 game, and did not watch the 1980 Holiday Bowl, that I can recall)

It is hard to argue with any of these, however, I surely understand your thought's Tskware!!!

 

[bthaunert]

The Holiday Bowl was when SMU was up 45-25 with 4 minutes to go in the game and Jim McMahan led BYU to 3 touchdowns in the last 3 minutes of the game. Amazing!

 

[Saguaro Cat]

I remember watching that #8 Miami Penn State game. It was not good. Testaverde threw a bunch of interceptions. Penn State had no offense. More hype than execution.

I'm sure in the history of bowl there are better games. The Kentucky-Wisconsin Hall of Fame bowl was better.

 

[JDHoss]

I remember watching that #8 Miami Penn State game. It was not good. Testaverde the a bunch of interceptions. Penn State had no offense. More hype than execution.

I'm sure in the history of bowl there are better games. The Kentucky-Wisconsin Hall of Fame bowl was better.

Agree on the Pedophile St - U game. Needed plenty of caffeine for that one.

 

[slick rick.ksr]

Holiday Bowl always does a good job of matching up competitive teams that play entertaining football
One of my favorite bowls

 

[Tskware]

I bet my *** on Miami in the Penn State Fiesta Bowl, Miami was considered invincible, but acted like jack asses in the days leading up to the game . . . then played like dog crap and lost in what was considered a huge upset. Defense of PSU was of course coached by Sandusky who went on to a whole different level of "fame" later in life. Think it is on the list because of the historical significance of the game, not because of how well played it was.

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Fumble-rooski was my immediate thought when I saw the thread title. Glad to see it was so high. Hard to argue against the 2006 Rose Bowl but damn was it was really that long ago. I'm getting old.

 

[mktmaker]

I go with #2: The 1984 Orange Bowl.

National title on the line, #1 Nebraska down 1.

All they had to do was kick the PAT and keep their #1 ranking. Osborne chose to go for 2 and failed.

 

[John Henry]

Thanks for the list. It is a good list and we all have our favorites. I would put the Rose Bowl down a few notches but it was a great game. The Rose Bowl once had a rule that only the Big Ten and Pacific Coast Conference were invited. That prohibited any Southern schools from participating including Texas schools and Oklahoma schools much less the ACC and SEC schools,

I go back a few years before and I will say to me the Sugar Bowl of 1951 is the greatest game. Of course I would say that but it was really a great game. In case you were not born and missed it here is what happened.

The 1951 Sugar Bowl featured the Oklahoma Sooners (ranked #1 in the nation). How good was Oklahoma? Well they were undefeated with a 31 game winning streak and were the defending National Champion. They had not lost since September 1948. Their coach was the legend, Hall of Fame Bud Wilkinson. On the other side was little Ole Kentucky coached by Bear Bryant. Kentucky was 10-1 and SEC Champions. . Oklahoma averaged 34.5 points per game. Not bad. But only one team had scored more than twice in a game against our Cats that season. (How about that Coach Stoops) Both teams were loaded with All Americans and future Hall of Famers with some of the biggest names in football history. So what happened. Kentucky won 13-7. Oklahoma scored for the first and only time with 7 minutes left in the game. Kentucky received the ball with 7 minutes left and Oklahoma only ran 1 more play the rest of the game.

Kentucky was ON TOP OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD. Now that was my greatest bowl game and I was 8 years old.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

I loved Penn St beating the arrogant Miami team. Jimmie Johnson getting punked is always beautiful.
I remember and watched most of those games. I must be getting old....

 

[Oldtrainer_rivals]

No brain-er here, 1951 Sugar Bowl CATS 13-/-Sooners 7. The Sweet Ky. Babe did his thing with lots of help from Walt Yowarsky, Shorty Jamerson, Al Bruno, and Gene Donaldson. I was a 8th grade junior high guard and all these guys were my hero's! Listen to the game with my Dad. Mom fixed corn bread, soup beans, fried chicken and cold slaw for our celebration supper!

 

[The-Hack]

TruBluCatFan, when you mention the fumble-rooscy, are you talkin' about the Boise State Oklahoma game, '07 Fiesta? That was my favorite of all time, being too young to remember Kentucky's Major Bowl games.

Let's see, in the '07 Fiesta, we saw The Old Statue of Liberty, a Hook and Lateral, and the MVP proposing to the cheerleader after the game. Was there a fumble-roosky pulled off in the game, too?

 

[UpstateNYCat]

The '05 Rose Bowl with Michigan/Texas was an outstanding game also, VY ruled the Rose Bowl. The Michigan/Bama Orange Bowl was pretty good, Brady leading the comeback, Bama missing the XP to tie the game. Sugar Bowl with Pitt/Georgia with Marino's late TD pass was also good.

 

[TeoJ]

Watched em all,couple I will throw in Fran Tarkenton Sr year(forget bowl) comeback fell short.
68 Ohio State Rose bowl forget who they played(best college team I ever watched play)Rex Kern QB,Jim Otis RB,Jack Tatum LBER and the hardest hit I ever got to see.

 

[Tskware]

Watched em all,couple I will throw in Fran Tarkenton Sr year(forget bowl) comeback fell short.
68 Ohio State Rose bowl forget who they played(best college team I ever watched play)Rex Kern QB,Jim Otis RB,Jack Tatum LBER and the hardest hit I ever got to see.

They played USC, with a RB named Orenthal James Simpson, who everyone called OJ. Pretty good college running back

 

[UKUGA]

For a game that really didn't matter, that Boise State win over OU was a real classic.

With the trick play in OT, followed by the kid who scored proposing to his cheer leader girlfriend after the play.

I was only watching because I was in grad school and didn't have class until the following week.

 

[TeoJ]

They played USC, with a RB named Orenthal James Simpson, who everyone called OJ. Pretty good college running back

I watched OJ in college just didn't realize he was in that game.

 

[mtn cat1]

Sports Illustrated recently printed a list of their choice for the top 10 bowl games ever played. Thought this would be an interesting topic for comment.


1. 2006 Rose Bowl (BCS) Texas 41, USC 38

2. 1984 Orange Bowl Miami 31, Nebraska 30

3. 2007 Fiesta Bowl Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42

4. 1973 Sugar Bowl Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23

5. 1979 Sugar Bowl Alabama 14, Penn State 7

6. 1979 Cotton Bowl Notre Dame 35, Houston 34

7. 1980 Holiday Bowl BYU 46, SMU 45

8. 1987 Fiesta Bowl Penn State 14, Miami 10

9. 2003 Fiesta Bowl (BCS) Ohio State 31, Miami 24

10. 1965 Orange Bowl Texas 21, Alabama 17



Cannot argue with no. 1, but one I knew for sure would be on the list was no. 4, 1973 Sugar Bowl. I believe it was the first meeting ever between ND and Alabama and both teams were undefeated, was the de facto NC game. And it was one hell of a game, not decided until the final minute when the Irish hit a long pass while backed up on their own goal line on 3rd and long. It was a hell of a call and clinched the game.


As an aside, either I need something else to do, or I am a college football nut, because I watched all or part of 8 of these games (too young for the 1965 game, and did not watch the 1980 Holiday Bowl, that I can recall)

It may not be in the top 10 Bowls, but UK's game VS OU back in '50 / '51, was the biggest of all time!!! UK being an underdog to the Okies and winning that bowl game, (giving UK its only Natl. Championship), was the most important Bowl Game ever!!!!! Way to go "Vito"!!!!!