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Miami Hurricanes fans can relate to Auburn loss in Final Four

By Alan Rubenstein

TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 3: Pregame festivities of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game between the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Ohio State buckeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 3: Pregame festivities of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game between the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Ohio State buckeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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The game was over. Fans and the victorious team were celebrating and rejoicing. One thought the won a national championship the other a berth in the National Championship game. No one can relate to the Auburn fan base more than Miami Hurricanes fans.

It an adage as old as sports. Should games be called the same at the end of a game as they are throughout the contest? It’s a nearly unwinnable argument. It usually depends on which side of the call your team is on. Miami Hurricanes fans will always be upset with the call that arguably cost their team a 2003 National Championship.

A 2013 article by Amy Daughters of the Bleacher Report perfectly summed up the controversial call that went against the Hurricanes on that desert night in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. “A Questionable Call That Ended a Dynasty: Miami vs. Ohio State, 2003 Fiesta Bowl.”

The Hurricanes needed a Todd Sievers field goal on the last play of regulation to send the game to overtime. Miami took the lead in overtime after having the ball first. On fourth and three. Ohio State quarterback Craig Kenzel’s pass to Buckeyes receiver Chris Gamble seemed to fall harmlessly incomplete.

The side judge signaled incomplete and that was seemingly the end of the National Championship Game crowning Miami for the second year in a year row. The victory for Miami would have been their sixth national championship, the second in the row for the first time and their 35th straight victory.

The officiating crew met after the confetti fell and determined that Miami Hurricanes defensive back Glenn Sharpe interfered with Gamble. The over the air call on the broadcast featured one of legendary college football announcer Keith Jackson’s most well-known comments “hold the phone.”

Ohio State received a new set of downs and would tie the game to send to it to a second overtime. The Buckeyes scored first and took a 31-24 lead. Miami eventually had a first and goal at the Buckeyes one-yard line in the second OT. They were unable to punch it in and Ohio State became national champions.

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