Biggest play in school history?

[Schadenfreude]

This video is an interesting take on the biggest play in school history for all FBS teams. It goes school by school, starting with Air Force:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKzgCeMqmXo

For Bowling Green, the video sees the biggest play in school history as Jordan Anderson's game-sealing interception over Minnesota last year.

I guess I see the logic. That might have been the biggest upset in Bowling Green history mathematically. Even so, it feels like the wrong choice.

What would be a better choice?

This throw by Josh Harris at Purdue in 2003 comes to mind, given that the Boilermakers were ranked at the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UvKiS7Xt40

But I'm going to go with linebacker Kevin O'Brien forcing a Fresno State incompletion in last play of the 1991 California Bowl. That was Bowling Green's first bowl win. it was a huge upset. The Bulldogs were leaving the Big West for a stronger conference and did not seem to be taking the Falcons too seriously at that point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKFdP1E6l3k

Thoughts?

[Flipper]

Harris to Magner late in the 4th qtr of the 2003 Motor Citry Bowl. Game winning TD against a B1G opponent in a bowl game. Locked up the school's only season ending top 25 finish (at least that I recall)

[ZuluWarrior]

Great question!

I go back to the Miami Miracle in 1985, and then I think there were 5 incredible plays that saved the undefeated regular season.

[Schadenfreude]

Great question!

I go back to the Miami Miracle in 1985, and then I think there were 5 incredible plays that saved the undefeated regular season.

I sure wish there was video of this stuff. Maybe I can dig out newspaper accounts of that Miami game at some point.

[MarkL]

I saw that video ... lots of recency bias across the board.

I would put Harris to Sharon to beat Purdue. But would also give serious consideration to Johnson to Beck to kick off the scoring barrage against NIU in the 2013 MAC title game.

[jpfalcon09]

This video is an interesting take on the biggest play in school history for all FBS teams. It goes school by school, starting with Air Force:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKzgCeMqmXo

For Bowling Green, the video sees the biggest play in school history as Jordan Anderson's game-sealing interception over Minnesota last year.

I guess I see the logic. That might have been the biggest upset in Bowling Green history mathematically. Even so, it feels like the wrong choice.

What would be a better choice?

This throw by Josh Harris at Purdue in 2003 comes to mind, given that the Boilermakers were ranked at the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UvKiS7Xt40

But I'm going to go with linebacker Kevin O'Brien forcing a Fresno State incompletion in last play of the 1991 California Bowl. That was Bowling Green's first bowl win. it was a huge upset. The Bulldogs were leaving the Big West for a stronger conference and did not seem to be taking the Falcons too seriously at that point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKFdP1E6l3k

Thoughts?

Here's my Top 5 in no particular order:

Magner's 2-point reverse vs. Northwestern in 2001
Harris to Sharon vs. Purdue in 2003
Harris to Magner in 4th quarter of 2003 Motor City Bowl
Knapke to Lewis vs. Indiana in 2014
O'Brien defensive play vs. Fresno in 1991 California Bowl

[Flipper]

Great question!

I go back to the Miami Miracle in 1985, and then I think there were 5 incredible plays that saved the undefeated regular season.

I left that game at halftime...it was my birthday and I wanted to get an early start on getting drunk

Also from that magical until Denny bailed on us season that was 1985...McClure to Meehan to beat Kentucky...I think it was our 1st...maybe only...win against a SEC school

[Schadenfreude]

Also from that magical until Denny bailed on us season that was 1985...McClure to Meehan to beat Kentucky...I think it was our 1st...maybe only...win against a SEC school

Still the only one, I think. (Missouri was in the Big 8 and Big 12 when Bowling Green was rolling against them.)

[BillyLP]

I know it didn't end up being the best season, overall, but the Sheehan to Barnes 2-pt conversion to beat Minnesota stands out to me as one of the all-time great moments, too.

[Flipper]

I know it didn't end up being the best season, overall, but the Sheehan to Barnes 2-pt conversion to beat Minnesota stands out to me as one of the all-time great moments, too.

From the archives...

https://youtu.be/kYzUDt2dSQw

[ZuluWarrior]

[quote=Flipper post_id=445732 time=1658847079 user_id=19]
[quote=ZuluWarrior post_id=445726 time=1658843031 user_id=377]
Great question!

I go back to the Miami Miracle in 1985, and then I think there were 5 incredible plays that saved the undefeated regular season.
[/quote]

I left that game at halftime...it was my birthday and I wanted to get an early start on getting drunk

Also from that magical until Denny bailed on us season that was 1985...McClure to Meehan to beat Kentucky...I think it was our 1st...maybe only...win against a SEC school
[/quote]

I've seen an article sometime in the last 5 years. Still the greatest sports comeback I've ever seen live or on TV. McClure on crutches on the sideline, at least one if not two onside kick recoveries. I ran to the top of the Doyt yelling for people to come back in

[jpfalcon09]

I think watching it from this angle, the Harris to Sharon TD pass vs. Purdue is easily in my top two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UvKiS7Xt40

[kdog27]

Where’s the Fat Punter I always hear about?


Like others the Hail Maryish throw to Charles Sharon is by far my favorite BG play I saw live.

[BGSU33]

I also saw that play vs Minnesota last year listed as BG's "biggest play in school history," and while I agree that it was a big one, no way was it the "biggest" in school history. There are a lot of ones listed above that I feel are better candidates than the one vs Minnesota last year. But for me, it's a no-brainer, it was the Harris to Sharon play to beat Purdue. The Boilermakers were ranked in the Top-25 - they were #16 in one of the polls, the game was on the road, and the game-winning play came on 4th-and-15. On top of that, Harris just avoided getting sacked on the play as he was under pressure and Sharon and the DB both came down with the ball on the ground in the endzone. It was a fantastic play and a tremendous win. Oh, and BTW, it was BG's first win over a ranked opponent since 1972 (also vs Purdue). To me, it's the Biggest play in school history based on everything I just mentioned. I also have an autographed photo of Josh Harris making that thrown in my man cave.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/r ... /232492509

[hammb]

The Magner TD in the bowl game was probably a bigger moment, being a bowl game. The Magner 2pt at NW is special because it was essentially Urban Meyer taking out his balls and showing just how big they were.

In reality though the Harris->Sharon TD from Purdue will probably always be my favorite play in BG football history. A strange string of events that resulted in me being at that game. Purdue was ranked top 20 at the time and considered one of the favorites to compete for the Big10. The fact that the game wasn't televised and that small video clip posted above is one of only pieces of evidence it happened. Listening to 50k+ people instantly fall SILENT as their season came crashing down in week 2. Everything adds up to make that game my single happiest in person live sporting event, and that play was what made it so. (and yeah I was at some of the other games mentioned in this thread as well, but that '03 Purdue was special).