MANSFIELD, Ohio -- Mike Gottfried knew Ohio State was going to win the national championship when the OSU cheerleaders out-kicked their Miami counterparts during a halftime field goal contest at the Fiesta Bowl.
"I turned to my brother John and said, 'That's it. It's over,' " joked Gottfried, who was calling the game for ESPN Radio. "And when it came to the bands, it was Ohio State in a rout."
The game, of course, was anything but a blowout as the Buckeyes survived two overtimes and at least that many near-death situations to knock off the defending national champions 31-24.
"That was one of the best games I've ever seen," said Gottfried, who has called all five of the Bowl Championship Series title games for ESPN. "It was one of those games where every play became a play that could change the course of the game."
The 57-year-old Crestline native was in town Friday to begin working on this summer's Camp Focus, a project he spearheads. The five-day camp for fatherless boys, held at Ashland University and sponsored by GMAC and Coca-Cola, was a huge success last year.
Gottfried proclaimed Ohio State his preseason No. 1 for 2003, followed by Oklahoma, Texas, Auburn and Michigan.
"As a coach, you think every game is as suspenseful as that Fiesta Bowl was," said Gottfried, who was head coach at Kansas and Pittsburgh before heading into the broadcast booth. "But that truly was a classic game. There was so much intrigue. It was enjoyable because every play meant something."
Asked what play was the biggest of them all, Gottfried couldn't choose.
"I don't know if you look at one play," he said, "but what I thought was key was that with 1:40 to go (in regulation) it looked like Miami was setting itself up to kick a field goal and go into overtime rather than take a shot at getting into the end zone. I think that shows the respect Miami had for Ohio State.
"(Miami quarterback Ken) Dorsey had been getting clubbed around and was a little shaky, so that may have had something to do with (coach) Larry Coker's thinking."
Upon further review, Gottfried singled out OSU tailback Maurice Clarett for stripping the ball away from safety Sean Taylor after he had picked off a pass in the end zone.
Clarett's thievery regained momentum for the Buckeyes and resulted in a field goal that padded OSU's lead to 17-7 in the third quarter. That sequence would loom large when Miami kicked a game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation.
"You talk about the biggest play, that was a big play," Gottfried said. "You can't measure how much that meant. That could have turned the momentum for Miami, but Clarett hustled to make that tackle."
Gottfried didn't wade into the controversy about the fourth down interference penalty on Miami in the first overtime other than to say the flag was thrown late.
"Ohio State was the best team; they really did beat (Miami)," Gottfried said. "But the emotion on Miami's side ... you think you've won the game and your fans are charging the field. Then comes the flag. You've got to get your act back together.
"Ohio State was a team of destiny, with all the things that happened. They made great plays, which is the sign of a great team.
"Andre Johnson (Miami wide receiver) will probably be the third pick in the NFL draft, but Ohio State's cornerbacks did such a good job on him. Ohio State didn't let Miami get anything. The Florida schools always have to get big plays because their teams are built around speed."
Ohio State's title team was built more around heart and will and toughness. Quarterback Craig Krenzel, Sports Illustrated cover boy and Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP, was the perfect personification.
"I was really impressed with Krenzel," Gottfried said. "I have a whole new respect for him after that game and watching some of his highlights from the season. He made plays."
Reach Jon Spencer at jspencer@nncogannett.com.
Originally published Monday, January 20, 2003
