2003 Fiesta Bowl

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2 OSU teammates kiss the Fiesta Bowl National Championship Trophy after a big upset over the Universityof Miami

The 2003 Fiesta Bowl, also known as the "Fiesta Fiasco," took place on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium, with the Ohio State Buckeyes defeating the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 31-24 in double overtime. It was the BCS National Championship Game, as part of the Bowl Championship Series, which was contested between The Ohio State University and University of Miami. The game concluded the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 2003 Fiesta Bowl was the first overtime game in either the Bowl Championship Series, or its predecessors, the Bowl Alliance or the Bowl Coalition. This game went down as one of the most memorable, but controversial, bowl games in the history of football. There were a lot of factors of why OSU beat Miami this game, but the biggest one was a flagrantly late pass interference call by field judge Terry Porter on what was supposed to be the last play of the first overtime and the end of the game with Miami on top. The game did not actually follow these guidelines though as OSU was given another shot and took advantage of it.

Game Summary

1st Quarter

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Miami QB Ken Dorsey gets leveled but completes the pass for a 25 yard touchdown to Parrish.

The University of Miami Hurricanes, or "The 'Canes," started the game by winning the toss and choosing to defer until the 2nd half. Ohio State, or "The Buckeyes," then chose to Return the ball and defend the South goal. Miami's Todd Sievers then kicked off a touchback, but the Buckeyes got flagged for having 12 men on the field so, instead, started on their own 15 yard line. The Buckeyes' first series did not go as well as they planned going 3 and out as OSU's Andy Groom punted the ball 56 yards to the Miami 20 yard line where it was downed by the Buckeyes. The 'Canes took over at the same pace as the Buckeyes as Quarterback Ken Dorsey was sacked on 1st down for a loss of 3 yards. 2nd down and 13 and still nowhere to go for the Miami offense as Willis McGahee was tackled in the backfield for a loss of 2 yards. 3rd down and 15 and Miami finally moves the ball as Ken Dorsey, QB, completes a pass to Andre Johnson, WR, for a 20 yard gain and the first 1st down of the game. A couple plays later Dorsey hooks up with Andre Johnson again for an 11 yard gain. The next play Dorsey was sacked again for a loss of 5 yards and the Miami offense could not fight back out of this one as Miami's F. Capshaw punts the ball 43 yards to the OSU 1 yard line where it will be downed. The Buckeyes get the ball and start right where they left off having no momentum and not able to move the chains. Andy Groom punts the ball 44 yards where it is fair caught by Roscoe Parrish at the Miami 48 yard line. Miami starts out slow this drive with a rush for a 1 yard loss by Willis McGahee. Dorsey then picks McGahee up bye completing a 28 yard pass for a 1st down to Kellen Winslow. 3 plays later Dorsey comes up with another completion to Parrish for a 25 yard touchdown to put the 'Canes up 7 - 0 with 4:09 left in the first quarter. Miami's Sievers then kicks the ball 65 yards to OSU's James Scott who returns the ball 15 yards. The very next play Craig Krenzel throws an interception to Miami's Safety Sean Taylor. Dorsey then completes a 14 uard pass to Andre Johnson for another first down. McGahee will then get stopped 2 plays in a row for a loss of 2 yards respectively. Dorsey then tries to throw for a first down, because the ground game wasn't working for him, but only completes an 11 yard pass 3 yards short of the first down. Miami's Capshaw punts 44 yards for a touchback. OSU then gets a false start penalty to start them off at 1st and 15 on their own 15 yard line. The Buckeyes finally get some life and put a drive together consiting of a 5 yard rush by Krenzel and a 12 yard completion from Krenzel to Jenkins to end the first quarter.

2nd Quarter

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Mike Doss intercepts a pass from Miami QB Ken Dorsey.

The drive will come up short after a quick first down at the end of the 1st quarter as Maurice Clarett is tackled for no gain and a 7 yard loss on the next two plays. Groom then punts a 63 yard punt to the Miami 7 yard line where Parrish will return it 6 yards. OSU then gives the 'Canes a break by receiving a holding penalty of 10 yards for another first down. After that mistake, OSU held their own as Dustin Fox intercepted Ken Dorsey at the Miami 49 and returned it 12 yards. OSU will then get another first down in 2 plays but come up short on a long 3rd and 12 to make it 4th and 1. The Buckeyes decide to go for it and fake punt with Andy Groom running the ball, but he is stopped for no gain on the play and the Buckeyes turn the ball over on downs. Miami then gets called for an illegal formation penalty of 5 yards, but that doesn't stop Dorsey as he completes a 14 yard pass to Ethenic Sands for a Miami 1st down. Dorsey again completes a pass on the next play to Jason Gaethers for a 4 yard gain. The 'Canes will try to pass two more times but the first is incomplete and the second is intercepted by Mike Doss who returns the ball 35 yards to the Miami 17 yard line. A few plays later Krenzel throws 8 yards for a first down to Chris Vance. The drive will continue and end up on the 2 yard line, after a Miami offsides penalty, where Krenzel will rush 4th and 1 for a touchdown. Nugent's PAT kick is good making the score 7 - 7 with a little over 2 minutes to go in the first half. Nugent's kickoff will go 74 yard for a touchback. The very next play, Ken Dorsey is sacked and fumbles the ball while the Buckeye's Darrion Scott recovers the fumble on the Miami 14 yard line. It will then only take OSU 2 plays, with the help of another 5 yard offsides penalty on Miami, until Clarett rushes for a 7 yard touchdown to put Ohio State up 14 - 7 over the Hurricanes after another successful PAT kick by Nugent. Nugent then kicked another touchback and Miami just could not cover that much of the gridiron in 1:05 and the score will remain 14 - 7 in favor of the Buckeyes gong into the half.

3rd Quarter

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Willis McGahee runs for a Miami 1st down.

To start off the second half, OSU Mike Nugent's kickoff goes 74 yards for a touchback. Miami starts off with the ball on the 20 yard line but will come up short on a 3rd and 3 to make it 4th and 1 and will decide to punt. Derrick Crudup punts the ball 43 yards and it is downed at the OSU 28 yard line. OSU starts out this drive good as Clarett gets the ball the next two plays for a 4 and 10 yad gain respectively for an OSU first down. OSU will jump offsides for a 5 yard penalty on the next play. The Buckeyes are stopped twice in a row to bring up a 3rd and 15 where Krenzel throws a deep ball to Chris Gamble for a 57 yard reception to the Miami 6 yard line and an OSU first down. Krenzel then throws an interception to Sean Taylor who returns it 28 yards where he fumbles the ball at the hands of Maurice Clarett who also recovers the fumble. The Buckeyes are then held up to a field goal by Mike Nugent to put the Buckeyes up 17 - 7. OSU is up to kickoff and NUgent boots it 65 yards where the 'Canes' returner, Andre Johnson, takes the ball 39 yards before getting tackled. Once again, the Buckeyes defense hold Miami to a 3 and out and are forced to punt. Capshaw's punt goes 43 yards to the OSU 10 yard line where Chris Gamble receives the punt and goes 1 yard before going down, but Antrel Rolle gets called for a kick catching interference penalty of 10 yards. OSU starts at their own 21 yard line, but only moves 4 yards until Groom comes in to punt a 30 yarder out of bounds. Miami then comes up with a couple big plays including a 23 yard reception from Dorsey to Winslow and a 7 yard reception also from Dorsey to Winslow. Miami is now 1st and goal from the OSU 9 yard line where Willis McGahee will rush 9 yards for a Miami touchdown. Sievers PAT kick is good and the score is now 17 - 14 Buckeyes. Sievers kickoff will go 74 yards for a touchback and it will be OSU's ball at their own 20 yard line with 2:11 left in the 3rd quarter. Clarett gets the ball on 1st and 10 and is tackled for no gain and then Krenzel rushes for 4 yards making it 3rd and 6. Krenzel will then take the ball himself once more for a 3 yard gain and that will end the 3rd quarter with the score 17 - 14 Buckeyes.

4th Quarter

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Mike Doss of OSU celebrates after getting the defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl.

The 4th Quarter will start out with a 49 yard punt out of bounds by Andy Groom giving Miami the bal at their own 24 yard line. Miami will once again put a drive together earning 3 first downs including a 9 yard rush by McGahee, a Dorsey completion to Ethenic Sands for 9 yards, and a Dorsey completion to Winslow for a gain of 11 yards. The 'Canes are then held up and are forced to bring out kicker Todd Sievers to attempt a 54 yard field goal. Sievers field goal was wide right and the Buckeyes takeover on downs. The Buckeyes then put a drive together themselves also earning 3 first downs, including a 10 yard completion from Krenzel to Jenkins, a 12 yard completion from Krenzel to Gamble, and a 6 yard rush by Clarett, before they are held up and forced to kick a field goal. Nugent comes in to attempt a 42 yard field goal and misses the uprights wide right. Miami then takes over on downs with 6:36 left in the game. The first play of the drive, Dorsey hooks up with Kellen Winslow for an 11 yard gain and a first down. Jarrett Payton then rushes for 5 yards right before Dorsey and WInslow hook up yet again for a 10 yard gain this time and another 1st down. Miami is then help up two plays in a row bringing up 3rd and 8 when Dorsey passes to Parrish for a 34 yard completion, but Parrish fumbles the ball at the hands of OSU's Dustin Fox as Will Allen, of OSU recovers the fumble. Krenzel will then rush for one more 1st down on a 4 yard gain until they are held and forced to punt once again. Groom then punts the ball 44 yards where Miami's returner, Parrish, will run the ball 50 yards before being tackled by Groom and Doss. Miami starts their drive at the OSU 26 yard line with 2:02 left in the game. They run 3 plays for a total of 3 yards until they take a timeout on 4th and 7 with 3 seconds left in the game. Sievers comes out to attempt a 40 yard field goal and OSU calls timeout to try and get Sievers rattled so he would miss the kick. They will do it once more with their last timeout until both teams are finally ready to go out and play the last play of regulation time. Todd Sievers then finally goes out to attempt the 40 yard field goal and puts it through to tie the score up 17 - 17 with no time left in regulation to force this game into overtime.

Overtime

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The pass interference penalty by Sharpe on Gamble of OSU.

Ohio State wins the toss to start overtime and chooses to be on defense first. Miami starts their OT drive out slow, but on 2nd and 10, Dorsey completed a 9 yard pass to Andre Johnson to make it 3rd and 1 from the OSU 16 yard line. Jarrett Payton then rushed for 8 yards to give Miami another 1st down and a 1st and goal from the OSU 8 yard line. Two plays later, Dorsey hooked up with Kellen Winslow in the endzone for a 7 yard touchdown pass. Pass interference was called on OSU but the penalty was declined. Miami now leads 24 - 17 forcing OSU to score if they want to keep this game alive and send it into a 2nd OT. It is now the Buckeyes turn to try to score from the Miami 25 yard line and Krenzel comes up big on the first play with a 5 yard rush. OSU now has 2nd and 5 on the Miami 20 yard line and there is a false start penalty against the Buckeyes bringing them back 5 yards to the 25. It is now 2nd and 10 for the Buckeyes and Krenzel is sacked for a 4 yard loss bringing up 3rd and 14. Krenzel then throws an incomplete pass to Clarett to make it 4th and 14 and their last chance to get a 1st down. Krenzel comes through and completes a 17 yard pass to jenkins for a 1st down on the Miami 12 yard line. Krenzel then throws another incomplete pass to Jenkins which brings up 2nd and 10 where Krenzeltakes the ball himself and rushes for 7 yards down to the Miami 5 yard line. 3rd and 3 is another dud for Krenzel which brings up 4th down and 3. Krenzel then passes to Gamble who gets the ball knocked down by Sharpe for an incomplete pass. Everyone thought that the game was over until field referee Terry Porter waits four seconds until deciding to throw a flag for pass interference on Sharpe, of Miami, which will go down as one of the most controversial calls in football history. OSU now has 1st and goal at the Miami 2 yard line where Krenzel rushes for a 1 yard touchdown a few plays later. Nugent's kick is good and the score is tied at 24 sending thisgame into a doule overtime.

2nd Overtime

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Miami QB Ken Dorsey is dragged down after an incomplete pass to end the game in double Overtime.

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Craig Krenzel's 1 yard run for a touchdown on the first possession of the 2nd overtime.

This overtime teams switch who goes first giving the ball to OSU for the first possession. OSU starts out strong with Lydell Ross rushing for a 9 yard gain on 1st down. 3rd and 1 comes up and Krenzel rushes for 5 yards and a 1st down. 1st and 10 on the Miami 11 and Krenzel completes a 6 yard pass to Jenkins bringing up 2nd and 4 on the Miami 5 yard line. OSU then gives the ball to Maurice Clarett for a 5 yard touchdown putting OSU up 31 - 24 after a successful Nugent PAT. It is now Miami's turn to try to score and send thisgame into a 3rd overtime. The 'Canes draw a couple of blanks to put them in a 4th and 3 situation where Dorsey completes a 7 yard pass to Winslow for a 1st down. A facemask penalty is called on OSU during the play to make it 1st and 5 for Miami from the OSU 6 yard line. Dorsey then throws an incomplete pass to Andre Johnson but gets a pass interference call on the Buckeyes' defender which brings up another 1st down from the OSU 2 yard line. The OSU defense holds the 'Canes to only one yard in 3 plays to bring up a big 4th and goal on the 1 yard line. Miami tries passing the ball but it is incomplete by Dorsey which ends the game and the Buckeyes win with a score of 31 - 24.

Scoring summary and statistics

Full statistics can be obtained from:

• Ohio State University - Box Score

The Call

The call that field judge Terry Porter made during the first overtime of pass interfence on Glenn Sharpe of Miami went down as one of the most controversial calls in the history of football. The call has been questioned because Terry Porter took 4 seconds to throw the flag. This fact is used as an explanation as to why the call was the wrong one to make, although no critic of the call has been able to show there is a time limit on when to make such a call. Porter's own explanation of the delay is that he was replaying the play in his mind, and deciding whether the penalty was defensive holding or pass intereference. The former occurs while the quarterback possesses the ball; the latter occurs when a pass has been thrown and the ball is in the air.

Still photos of the play, which have been excrutiatingly examined, do show that Sharpe made contact with the receiver before the ball reached he and Gamble. The subsequent victory of Ohio State has been questioned by many Miami fans and some in the media, but the national consesus remains that Ohio State won the game. In the final polls of the season, Ohio State received all first place votes.

External links

• National Association of Sports Officials backs the penalty call
• Fiesta Fiasco by Rick Reilly, Sports Illustrated - January 10, 2003
• Notes: Months later, 'Canes interference call looks right