Holy Buckeye

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=Holy Buckeye
Date=Novermber 9, 2002
Year=2002
Visitor School=Purdue University
Visitor Name Short=Purdue
Visitor Nickname=Boilermakers
Visitor Record=4-5
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=
Visitor BCS=
Visitor Coach=Joe Tiller
Visitor1=3
Visitor2=0
Visitor3=0
Visitor4=3
Visitor Total=6
Home School=Ohio State University
Home Name Short=Ohio State
Home Nickname=Buckeyes
Home Record=10-0
Home

Home Coaches=3
Home BCS=2
Home Coach=Jim Tressel
Home1=0
Home2=3
Home3=0
Home4=7
Home Total=10
Stadium=Ross-Ade Stadium
City=West Lafayette, Indiana

"Holy Buckeye" is considered one of the greatest plays in Ohio State Buckeyes football history. In 2002, Coach Jim Tressel was in just his second year as head coach of the Buckeyes. Coming off a 7-5 season in 2001, the team was expected to be improved, but not a National Championship contender. The Associated Press ranked them No. 13 to start the season, but after winning their first seven games, the Buckeyes improved their ranking to No. 5. Ohio State then won very close games at Wisconsin (19-14) and versus No. 18 Penn State (13-7), a development that would be repeated many times. After defeating No. 23 Minnesota, Ohio State was 10-0 and ranked No. 3. Fans and media alike began to focus on their rivalry game against No. 12 Michigan, which would be played in three weeks. Prior to that, Ohio State had to travel to Purdue and Illinois. Both games were seen as tuneups for the Michigan game because both Purdue and Illinois were unranked and had losing records.

Despite Purdue's record (4-5), the oddsmakers had made Ohio State only a 5.5 point favorite in the game. Playing inspired football in front of their home fans, Purdue managed to take a 6-3 lead in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes' comeback chances were hampered by the loss of star freshman RB Maurice Clarett, who had re-injured in shoulder earlier in the game.

The Buckeyes regained possession of the ball with only 3:10 remaining in the game. [http://ohiostate.scout.com/2/686846.html] Forty seconds later they found themselves facing third down and 14 yards to go on the 50 yard line. QB Craig Krenzel threw to TE Ben Hartsock, who advanced the ball to the 37. Too far for a game tying field goal, and with not enough time to punt the ball to Purdue and hope to get it back, the Buckeyes had to go for it on 4th down. However, instead of calling for a timeout, Coach Tressel called a pass play with 1:40 left in the game. The plan was to look for Hartsock over the middle for the first down, but he was covered. Wide receiver Chris Gamble was running a 15 yard route down the right side, but was also covered.

However, Krenzel saw cornerback Antwaun Rogers pressed in man coverage against WR Michael Jenkins. Within three steps off the line, Jenkins had beat his man. Krenzel was able to wait for a split second of separation, thanks to the blocking of the offensive line, and RB Lydell Ross who picked up a blitzing Purdue linebacker. Krenzel stepped up in the pocket and let it fly. Jenkins caught the ball over his shoulder at the Purdue goaline and stepped into the end zone.

As dramatic as the score was, the play lives on due to the play call of ABC/ESPN broadcast announcer Brent Musburger: "Will it be up to the offensive line? No, Krenzel's going to throw for it. Got to get it off - TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN! MICHAEL JENKINS! ON FOURTH AND ONE! WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?!? CRAIG KRENZEL STRIKES - WITH A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT! HOLY BUCKEYE!!" Many copies of the video are found on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbAKvVGmmw] and Buckeye fan sites.

With out this catch the Buckeyes would have turned the ball over on downs and Purdue could have run out the clock. If the Boilermakers had prevailed, the Buckeyes' perfect season would have been over and their chances at the national title ruined.

What made the play more memorable was the fact Jenkins ran the route for a different play. When asked when he knew the pass would be a completion, Krenzel replied, "As soon as I threw it!"

coring Summary

References

Citation
last = Lindy's
first =
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = A Championship Season...and the Battle for #1
newspaper =
pages = 58-60
year = 2002
date =
url = . [http://ohiostate.scout.com/2/686846.html] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbAKvVGmmw]