I'll toss in Nate Hall interception to win it in 3OT vs. MSU 2018
Your favorite play since 1995 - a tournament
- Thread starter SmellyCat
- Start date
Basically every play when NU was on offense in the 2000 game vs. Michigan, but even more importantly the missed/muffed Michigan field goal at the end of the game.
And for me, pure bliss on the field after the game with the (short-lived) belief that we (including college freshman me -from Michigan no less!) were heading to the Rose Bowl
And for me, pure bliss on the field after the game with the (short-lived) belief that we (including college freshman me -from Michigan no less!) were heading to the Rose Bowl
Siemian (then know as the passing only QB) with the fake handoff then easy scamper into the end zone in the Taxslayer vs Miss St to help secure the first bowl win in (most) of our lifetimes
We're up to 77 now. I'm enjoying getting your nominations. Eventually we'll have to play this thing out. Here's what I have so far:
Play Opponent Date Game
Dave Beazley's TD into the band Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Powlus is "tackled" by Marcel Price Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Matt Rice's stone-cold stuff of the entire ND OL on 4th-and-2 Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Paul Burton's 90-yard punt Indiana 9/30/1995
Hartl's TD catch Michigan 10/7/1995
Fitz stuffs Tim Biakabutuka at goal line in Big House Michigan 10/7/1995
Hamdorf hits Drexler over middle when everyone assumed a handoff Michigan 10/7/1995
Final play to preserve shutout (with third stringers!) Wisconsin 10/21/1995
Hudhaifa Ismael's scoop and score to seal Iowa game Iowa 11/11/1995
Musso's PRTD against Iowa Iowa 11/11/1995
Chris Martin pick six in clincher Purdue 11/18/1995
Cats take fourth-quarter lead on Autry's TD in Rose Bowl (great pancake block by Hartl) USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Perfectly executed onside kick to start third quarter USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Gowins makes second last-second field goal Michigan 10/5/1996
Brian Musso's bobbling catch to convert 4th-and-10 on game-winning drive Michigan 10/5/1996
Schnur to Bates with 37 seconds left Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Ron Dayne fumble/Barry Alvarez's face Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Anwaun Jones blocked field goal to preserve 19-17 win (beat Saban!) Michigan St. 10/18/1997
"A career-long … for Tim Long" - 47-yard FG to send game into OT Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Damien Anderson's game-winning TD in OT. Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Victory Right - Kustok to Simmons Minnesota 10/28/2000
Napoleon Harris full-field chasedown to prevent TD Minnesota 10/28/2000
A-Train fumble in 54-51 game Michigan 11/4/2000
Kustok's incredible 12-yard scramble for TD Michigan 11/4/2000
Simmons catches game-winner Michigan 11/4/2000
Anderson dropping potential game-winner/Michigan defense consoling him Michigan 11/4/2000
Last play of 54-51 game - bad snap into kicker's hands. Michigan 11/4/2000
Dave Wasilewski's 49-yard FG to win at the gun after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Jon Schweighardt's improbable catch to set up game-winner after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Noah Herron 1-yard TD to finally beat Ohio State Ohio State 10/2/2004
Jeff Backes picks off Zwick at end zone Ohio State 10/2/2004
Bubble screen to Philmore for 27-yard TD. Ohio State 10/2/2004
Sutton hurdles defender for a 62-yard score Wisconsin 10/8/2005
Onside kick recovery with 2:07 to go. Iowa 11/5/2005
Gamewinner to Ross Lane after onside kick recovery Iowa 11/5/2005
Brad Phillips knocks out Shonn Green Iowa 9/27/2008
Brendan Smith game-clinching interception return Minnesota 11/1/2008
Wootton's strip sack of Stanzi Iowa 11/7/2009
Jordan Mabin game-clinching INT with 33 seconds left to win 33-31 Wisconsin 11/21/2009
Drake Dunsmore 66-yard TD catch and run Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Brian Peters' one-handed interception in Outback Bowl Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Drake Dunsmore's one-handed TD catch Penn St. 11/6/2010
Persa to Fields for game-winner (but: Achilles) Iowa 11/13/2010
Brian Peters pick six at Wrigley Field Illinois 11/20/2010
Ebert outruns Nebraska Nebraska 11/5/2011
Kain Colter stretches for the pylon Nebraska 11/5/2011
Siemian to Demeterius Fields in final minute to win 42-41 Syracuse 9/1/2012
Venric Mark PRTD Penn St. 10/6/2012
Bo Cishek carries ball against Illinois Illinois 11/24/2012
Siemian with the fake handoff and easy scamper into the end zone in third quarter first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Quentin Williams pick six in first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Fitz getting Gatoraded after first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Venric Mark trucks defender Ohio State 10/5/2013
A-Walk's pick six to punctuate his coming out party Penn St. 9/27/2014
Xavier Washington bludgeons Hackenberg Penn St. 9/27/2014
Jack Mitchell's "absolutely good" touchdown Jesus FG Notre Dame 11/15/2014
Thorson's 42-yard TD run in debut Stanford 9/5/2015
Queiro's clinching interception against Stanford Stanford 9/5/2015
Vault's KRTD (with help from Long) Duke 9/19/2015
Warren Long's 55-yarder to clinch win Duke 9/19/2015
Justin Jackon juking the defense for a 58-yard TD Iowa 10/1/2016
Gaziano destroys Lewerke for a safety Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Vault's 95-yard kickoff return just when it looked like Spartans were getting back in game Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Kyle Quiero's one-handed interception Indiana 10/22/2016
Walker makes goal-lne stop on fourth down Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson's 68-yard run Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson 8-yard TD (somehow stays on his feet) Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson's 40-yard TD with a nice juke Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson's catch and run on 3rd down in OT Iowa 10/21/2017
Gaz forced fumble that ended in Nate Hall's INT. Michigan St. 10/28/2017
Quiero pick 6 to almost seal game Kentucky 12/29/2017 Music City Bowl
Flynn Nagel's 61-yarder Nebraska 10/13/2018
Cam Ruiz with picture-perfect blocked punt. Notre Dame 11/3/2018
Bennett Skowronek 32-yard TD catch to clinch Big Ten West Iowa 11/10/2018
Moten 77-yard TD Ohio State 12/1/2018 Big Ten Championship
McGee…down the sideline! Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
Trick play TD to Trey Klock Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
Play Opponent Date Game
Dave Beazley's TD into the band Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Powlus is "tackled" by Marcel Price Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Matt Rice's stone-cold stuff of the entire ND OL on 4th-and-2 Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Paul Burton's 90-yard punt Indiana 9/30/1995
Hartl's TD catch Michigan 10/7/1995
Fitz stuffs Tim Biakabutuka at goal line in Big House Michigan 10/7/1995
Hamdorf hits Drexler over middle when everyone assumed a handoff Michigan 10/7/1995
Final play to preserve shutout (with third stringers!) Wisconsin 10/21/1995
Hudhaifa Ismael's scoop and score to seal Iowa game Iowa 11/11/1995
Musso's PRTD against Iowa Iowa 11/11/1995
Chris Martin pick six in clincher Purdue 11/18/1995
Cats take fourth-quarter lead on Autry's TD in Rose Bowl (great pancake block by Hartl) USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Perfectly executed onside kick to start third quarter USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Gowins makes second last-second field goal Michigan 10/5/1996
Brian Musso's bobbling catch to convert 4th-and-10 on game-winning drive Michigan 10/5/1996
Schnur to Bates with 37 seconds left Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Ron Dayne fumble/Barry Alvarez's face Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Anwaun Jones blocked field goal to preserve 19-17 win (beat Saban!) Michigan St. 10/18/1997
"A career-long … for Tim Long" - 47-yard FG to send game into OT Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Damien Anderson's game-winning TD in OT. Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Victory Right - Kustok to Simmons Minnesota 10/28/2000
Napoleon Harris full-field chasedown to prevent TD Minnesota 10/28/2000
A-Train fumble in 54-51 game Michigan 11/4/2000
Kustok's incredible 12-yard scramble for TD Michigan 11/4/2000
Simmons catches game-winner Michigan 11/4/2000
Anderson dropping potential game-winner/Michigan defense consoling him Michigan 11/4/2000
Last play of 54-51 game - bad snap into kicker's hands. Michigan 11/4/2000
Dave Wasilewski's 49-yard FG to win at the gun after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Jon Schweighardt's improbable catch to set up game-winner after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Noah Herron 1-yard TD to finally beat Ohio State Ohio State 10/2/2004
Jeff Backes picks off Zwick at end zone Ohio State 10/2/2004
Bubble screen to Philmore for 27-yard TD. Ohio State 10/2/2004
Sutton hurdles defender for a 62-yard score Wisconsin 10/8/2005
Onside kick recovery with 2:07 to go. Iowa 11/5/2005
Gamewinner to Ross Lane after onside kick recovery Iowa 11/5/2005
Brad Phillips knocks out Shonn Green Iowa 9/27/2008
Brendan Smith game-clinching interception return Minnesota 11/1/2008
Wootton's strip sack of Stanzi Iowa 11/7/2009
Jordan Mabin game-clinching INT with 33 seconds left to win 33-31 Wisconsin 11/21/2009
Drake Dunsmore 66-yard TD catch and run Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Brian Peters' one-handed interception in Outback Bowl Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Drake Dunsmore's one-handed TD catch Penn St. 11/6/2010
Persa to Fields for game-winner (but: Achilles) Iowa 11/13/2010
Brian Peters pick six at Wrigley Field Illinois 11/20/2010
Ebert outruns Nebraska Nebraska 11/5/2011
Kain Colter stretches for the pylon Nebraska 11/5/2011
Siemian to Demeterius Fields in final minute to win 42-41 Syracuse 9/1/2012
Venric Mark PRTD Penn St. 10/6/2012
Bo Cishek carries ball against Illinois Illinois 11/24/2012
Siemian with the fake handoff and easy scamper into the end zone in third quarter first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Quentin Williams pick six in first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Fitz getting Gatoraded after first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Venric Mark trucks defender Ohio State 10/5/2013
A-Walk's pick six to punctuate his coming out party Penn St. 9/27/2014
Xavier Washington bludgeons Hackenberg Penn St. 9/27/2014
Jack Mitchell's "absolutely good" touchdown Jesus FG Notre Dame 11/15/2014
Thorson's 42-yard TD run in debut Stanford 9/5/2015
Queiro's clinching interception against Stanford Stanford 9/5/2015
Vault's KRTD (with help from Long) Duke 9/19/2015
Warren Long's 55-yarder to clinch win Duke 9/19/2015
Justin Jackon juking the defense for a 58-yard TD Iowa 10/1/2016
Gaziano destroys Lewerke for a safety Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Vault's 95-yard kickoff return just when it looked like Spartans were getting back in game Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Kyle Quiero's one-handed interception Indiana 10/22/2016
Walker makes goal-lne stop on fourth down Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson's 68-yard run Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson 8-yard TD (somehow stays on his feet) Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson's 40-yard TD with a nice juke Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson's catch and run on 3rd down in OT Iowa 10/21/2017
Gaz forced fumble that ended in Nate Hall's INT. Michigan St. 10/28/2017
Quiero pick 6 to almost seal game Kentucky 12/29/2017 Music City Bowl
Flynn Nagel's 61-yarder Nebraska 10/13/2018
Cam Ruiz with picture-perfect blocked punt. Notre Dame 11/3/2018
Bennett Skowronek 32-yard TD catch to clinch Big Ten West Iowa 11/10/2018
Moten 77-yard TD Ohio State 12/1/2018 Big Ten Championship
McGee…down the sideline! Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
Trick play TD to Trey Klock Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
Some others I remember with the help of NUsports' recaps:
Basanez TD pass to Horn through 2 PSU defenders in 2003
Mims sack and Eaton slow lumbering fumble return for 86-yd TD against MSU in 2005
"Fastball" fake FG for TD by Hamlett against Illinois in 2005
Bacher to Peterman for 70-yd TD or Bacher to Yarbrough for 78-yd TD against MSU in bonkers 2007 game
Bacher to Peterman for 53-yd TD to beat Michigan in 2008
McManis amazing INT against Illinois in 2009 to seal the victory for the first LOLHat trophy.
Either of Tyler Ellis' pick-6s against Cal 2013
VanHoose pick-6 against Nebraska in 2015
Solomon Vault kickoff return for TD against PSU in 2015
Basanez TD pass to Horn through 2 PSU defenders in 2003
Mims sack and Eaton slow lumbering fumble return for 86-yd TD against MSU in 2005
"Fastball" fake FG for TD by Hamlett against Illinois in 2005
Bacher to Peterman for 70-yd TD or Bacher to Yarbrough for 78-yd TD against MSU in bonkers 2007 game
Bacher to Peterman for 53-yd TD to beat Michigan in 2008
McManis amazing INT against Illinois in 2009 to seal the victory for the first LOLHat trophy.
Either of Tyler Ellis' pick-6s against Cal 2013
VanHoose pick-6 against Nebraska in 2015
Solomon Vault kickoff return for TD against PSU in 2015
Does Mike Trumpy off tackle for one yard about two hundred times rank anywhere?
I agree. It seems like the the big stars - Autry, Sutton, Anderson, Schnur, Persa, Bacher, Kafka, Basanez, Bates, etc. seem to be underrepresented. However, maybe it's just because those guys did it so much that there aren't really single plays that stand out. I did add Autry's long run against Purdue and one of his TDs against Penn St. (both in 1995) to the list.
What about running the the speed option with Jacob Schmidt?
I really liked watching Larkin run the option in for a touchdown against Purdue.
I also liked watching the defense stuff Saquon Barkley on 4th down a few years back.
I also think the suggestions are highly weighted toward the last few years, since some posters - including myself - weren't around or as heavily engaged in the 90s and 00s. I think we'll need more input from our elders/longtime supporters to fill out the period prior to 2010.
I also liked watching the defense stuff Saquon Barkley on 4th down a few years back.
I also think the suggestions are highly weighted toward the last few years, since some posters - including myself - weren't around or as heavily engaged in the 90s and 00s. I think we'll need more input from our elders/longtime supporters to fill out the period prior to 2010.
I added two for Larkin, including the one above, as well as his nice TD run against Nebraska in 2017. I agree that we're more weighted toward the last couple few years (1995 notwithstanding), but a random good run or play from 2005 is pretty hard to remember even for those of us who were around back then. So it's either the all-time great plays that people have been watching for years (like Hartl's TD against Michigan), or it's the recent ones that may not be THAT memorable 20 years from now, but at least they're fun to revisit.
I couldn't find the Saquon Barkley play on fourth down, but I did see a nice stop on 3rd-and-1 in 2017. See, even the recent ones we're having a hard time remembering!
By the way, I'm up to 95 - so many great choices. Considering that 95 is a special number for NU fans, maybe I should stop right here. I'll work on some seeding. Will probably put three or four plays together for the first round to create a true bracket after that. I dunno. Any suggestions?
Maybe have a defensive "region", special teams region, and two offensive regions?
I'm not smart enough to contribute useful suggestions here, but I just want to give you a tip o'the cap, Smellster, for a cool idea with this whole thing.
Yeah, I thought of 96 for the same reasons. However, I added that one today already!
My pleasure! I hate this time of year - I’m a baseball fan too and the All-Star Break is the worst. I can’t wait for football to start and I’m already watching all these highlights anyway, so I figured y’all would be interested too.
Thanks for adding "Fastball." Here are my photos of the play as pulled up from the HailtoPurple.com archives:
Fastball! Hamlett breaks free...
...and scores.
I think capping at 96 is the way to go, but there's no law that says we have to have two plays per round, so we'll have 32 matchups in the first round of three plays apiece, and then the final five rounds will be a traditional bracket. I'll work out the seedings for the top 32 and then randomize the rest while trying to keep two plays from the same game as far away from each other as possible. The four regions will be the Walker, Barnett, Parseghian, and Waldorf regions. I'll try to post four matchups per day in the first round.
Ok, I have four groups of 24 and will start posting matchups in the coming days. I will cap the voting at four days for each round. Here's what I've got:
GARY BARNETT REGION
Play Opponent Date Game
Matt Rice's stone-cold stuff of the entire ND OL on 4th-and-2 Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Paul Burton's 90-yard punt Indiana 9/30/1995
Hamdorf hits Drexler over middle when everyone assumed a handoff Michigan 10/7/1995
Final play to preserve shutout (with third stringers!) Wisconsin 10/21/1995
Darnell Autry 60-yard run to the 1-yard-line in clincher Purdue 11/18/1995
Ron Dayne fumble/Barry Alvarez's face Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Last play of 54-51 game - bad snap into kicker's hands. Michigan 11/4/2000
Basanez to Brandon Horn 41-yard TD through two Penn St. defenders Penn St. 11/8/2003
Onside kick recovery with 2:07 to go. Iowa 11/5/2005
Bacher to Eric Peterman for 70-yard TD in bonkers 48-41 game Michigan St. 10/6/2007
Bacher to Eric Peterman for 53-yard TD to beat Wolverines Michigan 11/15/2008
Jordan Mabin game-clinching INT with 33 seconds left to win 33-31 Wisconsin 11/21/2009
Kain Colter stretches for the pylon Nebraska 11/5/2011
Fitz getting Gatorade shower after first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Venric Mark trucks defender Ohio State 10/5/2013
A-Walk's pick six to punctuate his coming out party Penn St. 9/27/2014
Gaziano destroys Lewerke for a safety Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Kyle Quiero's one-handed interception Indiana 10/22/2016
Justin Jackson's catch and run on 3rd down in OT Iowa 10/21/2017
Quiero pick 6 to almost seal game Kentucky 12/29/2017 Music City Bowl
Flynn Nagel's 61-yarder Nebraska 10/13/2018
Cam Ruiz with picture-perfect blocked punt. Notre Dame 11/3/2018
Bennett Skowronek 32-yard TD catch to clinch Big Ten West Iowa 11/10/2018
McGee…down the sideline! Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
RANDY WALKER REGION
Fitz stuffs Tim Biakabutuka at goal line in Big House Michigan 10/7/1995
Musso's PRTD against Iowa Iowa 11/11/1995
Perfectly executed onside kick to start third quarter of Rose Bowl USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Gowins makes second last-second field goal Michigan 10/5/1996
"A career-long … for Tim Long" - 47-yard FG to send game into OT Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Napoleon Harris full-field chasedown to prevent TD Minnesota 10/28/2000
A-Train fumble in 54-51 game Michigan 11/4/2000
Dave Wasilewski's 49-yard FG to win at the gun after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Collin Ellis' second pick 6 against Cal (40 yards) California 8/31/2003
Jeff Backes picks off Zwick at end zone Ohio State 10/2/2004
Noah Herron 1-yard TD to finally beat Ohio State Ohio State 10/2/2004
Sutton hurdles defender for a 62-yard score Wisconsin 10/8/2005
Brad Phillips knocks out Shonn Green Iowa 9/27/2008
Kafka's 53-yard run in his 217-yard game Minnesota 11/1/2008
Wootton's strip sack of Stanzi Iowa 11/7/2009
Drake Dunsmore's one-handed TD catch Penn St. 11/6/2010
Ebert outruns Nebraska Nebraska 11/5/2011
Bo Cishek carries ball against Illinois Illinois 11/24/2012
Xavier Washington bludgeons Hackenberg Penn St. 9/27/2014
Jack Mitchell's "absolutely good" touchdown Jesus FG Notre Dame 11/15/2014
Justin Jackson's 68-yard run Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson 8-yard TD (somehow stays on his feet) Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Larkin with a nice 24-yard TD in which he reversed field Nebraska 11/4/2017
Moten 77-yard TD Ohio State 12/1/2018 Big Ten Championship
ARA PARSEGHIAN REGION
Dave Beazley's TD into the band Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Hartl's TD catch in Big House Michigan 10/7/1995
Hudhaifa Ismael's scoop and score to seal Iowa game Iowa 11/11/1995
Cats take fourth-quarter lead on Autry's TD in Rose Bowl (great pancake block by Hartl) USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Schnur to Bates with 37 seconds left Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Anwaun Jones blocked field goal to preserve 19-17 win (beat Saban!) Michigan St. 10/18/1997
Kustok's incredible 12-yard scramble for TD Michigan 11/4/2000
Jon Schweighardt's improbable catch to set up game-winner after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Collin Ellis' first pick 6 against Cal (56 yards) California 8/31/2003
Mims sack and Eaton lumbering fumble return for 86-yard TD Michigan St. 10/22/2005
Erryn Cobb returns blocked punt for first TD in Fitz's first game as coach Miami (OH) 8/31/2006
Bacher to Jeff Yarbrough for 78-yard TD in bonkers 48-41 game Michigan St. 10/6/2007
Sherrick McManis controversial interception to clinch first LOLHat trophy Illinois 11/14/2009
Drake Dunsmore 66-yard TD catch and run Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Siemian to Demeterius Fields in final minute to win 42-41 Syracuse 9/1/2012
Venric Mark PRTD Penn St. 10/6/2012
Quentin Williams pick six in first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Thorson's 42-yard TD run in debut Stanford 9/5/2015
Warren Long's 55-yarder to clinch win Duke 9/19/2015
Nick Van Hoose 72-yard pick 6 Nebraska 10/24/2015
Vault's 96-yard KRTD Penn St. 11/7/2015
Vault's 95-yard kickoff return just when it looked like Spartans were getting back in game Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Walker makes goal-lne stop on fourth down Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Cats stuff Saquon Barkley on 3rd-and-1 Penn St. 10/7/2017
PAPPY WALDORF REGION
Powlus is "tackled" by Marcel Price Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Autry 10-yard TD against Penn St. - "THE REAL DEAL" Penn St. 11/4/1995
Chris Martin pick six in clincher Purdue 11/18/1995
Brian Musso's bobbling catch to convert 4th-and-10 on game-winning drive Michigan 10/5/1996
Damien Anderson's game-winning TD in OT. Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Victory Right - Kustok to Simmons Minnesota 10/28/2000
Anderson dropping potential game-winner/Michigan defense consoling him Michigan 11/4/2000
Simmons catches game-winner Michigan 11/4/2000
Bubble screen to Philmore for 27-yard TD. Ohio State 10/2/2004
Gamewinner to Ross Lane after onside kick recovery Iowa 11/5/2005
Fastball fake field goal TD to Gerard Hamlett Illinois 11/19/2005
Brendan Smith game-clinching interception return Minnesota 11/1/2008
Brian Peters' one-handed interception in Outback Bowl Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Persa to Fields for game-winner (but: Achilles) Iowa 11/13/2010
Brian Peters pick six at Wrigley Field Illinois 11/20/2010
Siemian with the fake handoff and easy scamper into the end zone in third quarter first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Queiro's clinching interception against Stanford Stanford 9/5/2015
Vault's KRTD (with help from Long) Duke 9/19/2015
Justin Jackson juking the defense for a 58-yard TD Iowa 10/1/2016
Justin Jackson's 40-yard TD with a nice juke Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Gaz forced fumble that ended in Nate Hall's INT. Michigan St. 10/28/2017
Larkin keeps it on an option for a 4-yard TD in the 2018 opener Purdue 8/30/2018
Chad Hanaoka blocks giant linebacker Rutgers 10/20/2018
Trick play TD to Trey Klock Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
GARY BARNETT REGION
Play Opponent Date Game
Matt Rice's stone-cold stuff of the entire ND OL on 4th-and-2 Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Paul Burton's 90-yard punt Indiana 9/30/1995
Hamdorf hits Drexler over middle when everyone assumed a handoff Michigan 10/7/1995
Final play to preserve shutout (with third stringers!) Wisconsin 10/21/1995
Darnell Autry 60-yard run to the 1-yard-line in clincher Purdue 11/18/1995
Ron Dayne fumble/Barry Alvarez's face Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Last play of 54-51 game - bad snap into kicker's hands. Michigan 11/4/2000
Basanez to Brandon Horn 41-yard TD through two Penn St. defenders Penn St. 11/8/2003
Onside kick recovery with 2:07 to go. Iowa 11/5/2005
Bacher to Eric Peterman for 70-yard TD in bonkers 48-41 game Michigan St. 10/6/2007
Bacher to Eric Peterman for 53-yard TD to beat Wolverines Michigan 11/15/2008
Jordan Mabin game-clinching INT with 33 seconds left to win 33-31 Wisconsin 11/21/2009
Kain Colter stretches for the pylon Nebraska 11/5/2011
Fitz getting Gatorade shower after first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Venric Mark trucks defender Ohio State 10/5/2013
A-Walk's pick six to punctuate his coming out party Penn St. 9/27/2014
Gaziano destroys Lewerke for a safety Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Kyle Quiero's one-handed interception Indiana 10/22/2016
Justin Jackson's catch and run on 3rd down in OT Iowa 10/21/2017
Quiero pick 6 to almost seal game Kentucky 12/29/2017 Music City Bowl
Flynn Nagel's 61-yarder Nebraska 10/13/2018
Cam Ruiz with picture-perfect blocked punt. Notre Dame 11/3/2018
Bennett Skowronek 32-yard TD catch to clinch Big Ten West Iowa 11/10/2018
McGee…down the sideline! Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
RANDY WALKER REGION
Fitz stuffs Tim Biakabutuka at goal line in Big House Michigan 10/7/1995
Musso's PRTD against Iowa Iowa 11/11/1995
Perfectly executed onside kick to start third quarter of Rose Bowl USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Gowins makes second last-second field goal Michigan 10/5/1996
"A career-long … for Tim Long" - 47-yard FG to send game into OT Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Napoleon Harris full-field chasedown to prevent TD Minnesota 10/28/2000
A-Train fumble in 54-51 game Michigan 11/4/2000
Dave Wasilewski's 49-yard FG to win at the gun after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Collin Ellis' second pick 6 against Cal (40 yards) California 8/31/2003
Jeff Backes picks off Zwick at end zone Ohio State 10/2/2004
Noah Herron 1-yard TD to finally beat Ohio State Ohio State 10/2/2004
Sutton hurdles defender for a 62-yard score Wisconsin 10/8/2005
Brad Phillips knocks out Shonn Green Iowa 9/27/2008
Kafka's 53-yard run in his 217-yard game Minnesota 11/1/2008
Wootton's strip sack of Stanzi Iowa 11/7/2009
Drake Dunsmore's one-handed TD catch Penn St. 11/6/2010
Ebert outruns Nebraska Nebraska 11/5/2011
Bo Cishek carries ball against Illinois Illinois 11/24/2012
Xavier Washington bludgeons Hackenberg Penn St. 9/27/2014
Jack Mitchell's "absolutely good" touchdown Jesus FG Notre Dame 11/15/2014
Justin Jackson's 68-yard run Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Justin Jackson 8-yard TD (somehow stays on his feet) Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Larkin with a nice 24-yard TD in which he reversed field Nebraska 11/4/2017
Moten 77-yard TD Ohio State 12/1/2018 Big Ten Championship
ARA PARSEGHIAN REGION
Dave Beazley's TD into the band Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Hartl's TD catch in Big House Michigan 10/7/1995
Hudhaifa Ismael's scoop and score to seal Iowa game Iowa 11/11/1995
Cats take fourth-quarter lead on Autry's TD in Rose Bowl (great pancake block by Hartl) USC 1/1/1996 Rose Bowl
Schnur to Bates with 37 seconds left Wisconsin 10/19/1996
Anwaun Jones blocked field goal to preserve 19-17 win (beat Saban!) Michigan St. 10/18/1997
Kustok's incredible 12-yard scramble for TD Michigan 11/4/2000
Jon Schweighardt's improbable catch to set up game-winner after Sparty had taken lead on KRTD with 29 seconds left Michigan St. 9/29/2001
Collin Ellis' first pick 6 against Cal (56 yards) California 8/31/2003
Mims sack and Eaton lumbering fumble return for 86-yard TD Michigan St. 10/22/2005
Erryn Cobb returns blocked punt for first TD in Fitz's first game as coach Miami (OH) 8/31/2006
Bacher to Jeff Yarbrough for 78-yard TD in bonkers 48-41 game Michigan St. 10/6/2007
Sherrick McManis controversial interception to clinch first LOLHat trophy Illinois 11/14/2009
Drake Dunsmore 66-yard TD catch and run Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Siemian to Demeterius Fields in final minute to win 42-41 Syracuse 9/1/2012
Venric Mark PRTD Penn St. 10/6/2012
Quentin Williams pick six in first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Thorson's 42-yard TD run in debut Stanford 9/5/2015
Warren Long's 55-yarder to clinch win Duke 9/19/2015
Nick Van Hoose 72-yard pick 6 Nebraska 10/24/2015
Vault's 96-yard KRTD Penn St. 11/7/2015
Vault's 95-yard kickoff return just when it looked like Spartans were getting back in game Michigan St. 10/15/2016
Walker makes goal-lne stop on fourth down Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Cats stuff Saquon Barkley on 3rd-and-1 Penn St. 10/7/2017
PAPPY WALDORF REGION
Powlus is "tackled" by Marcel Price Notre Dame 9/2/1995
Autry 10-yard TD against Penn St. - "THE REAL DEAL" Penn St. 11/4/1995
Chris Martin pick six in clincher Purdue 11/18/1995
Brian Musso's bobbling catch to convert 4th-and-10 on game-winning drive Michigan 10/5/1996
Damien Anderson's game-winning TD in OT. Wisconsin 9/23/2000
Victory Right - Kustok to Simmons Minnesota 10/28/2000
Anderson dropping potential game-winner/Michigan defense consoling him Michigan 11/4/2000
Simmons catches game-winner Michigan 11/4/2000
Bubble screen to Philmore for 27-yard TD. Ohio State 10/2/2004
Gamewinner to Ross Lane after onside kick recovery Iowa 11/5/2005
Fastball fake field goal TD to Gerard Hamlett Illinois 11/19/2005
Brendan Smith game-clinching interception return Minnesota 11/1/2008
Brian Peters' one-handed interception in Outback Bowl Auburn 1/1/2010 Outback Bowl
Persa to Fields for game-winner (but: Achilles) Iowa 11/13/2010
Brian Peters pick six at Wrigley Field Illinois 11/20/2010
Siemian with the fake handoff and easy scamper into the end zone in third quarter first bowl win Mississippi St. 1/1/2013 Gator Bowl
Queiro's clinching interception against Stanford Stanford 9/5/2015
Vault's KRTD (with help from Long) Duke 9/19/2015
Justin Jackson juking the defense for a 58-yard TD Iowa 10/1/2016
Justin Jackson's 40-yard TD with a nice juke Pittsburgh 12/28/2016 Pinstripe Bowl
Gaz forced fumble that ended in Nate Hall's INT. Michigan St. 10/28/2017
Larkin keeps it on an option for a 4-yard TD in the 2018 opener Purdue 8/30/2018
Chad Hanaoka blocks giant linebacker Rutgers 10/20/2018
Trick play TD to Trey Klock Utah 12/31/2018 Holiday Bowl
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I was at Pat O'Shea's Mad Hatter in SF, a 4-star sports bar. The NU contingent had been growing there for years and we had a vintage NU flag on the ceiling, which we all signed.
I don't think anybody would have blamed Gowins for missing the second attempt, but he did not. "Cool under pressure" doesn't nearly reach the tension level on this kick. And so Dracula finally died. I bought a round of iced peppermint schnapps for the table.
Surprisingly, the UM fans were congratulatory as they slouched away.
I was in SF watching us crumble in 2012 (Daniel Jones deflection) with dozens of NU fans and ONE Mich fan. Sucked
Thanks for adding "Fastball." Here are my photos of the play as pulled up from the HailtoPurple.com archives:
Fastball! Hamlett breaks free...
...and scores.
Not just a special play, but all in all a memorable day as the win took us to the Sun Bowl, saw the introduction of the new "Willy" and proved to be the catalyst for an initial meeting of board fans that fostered fan friendships that continue to this day.
Cat fans pose after the game.
L to R: MizzouCat, Alaskanwildcat, Francis Herbert, and Alan Smithee.
Cheerleaders and the new-look Willie.
Fans continue to celebrate in the lot.
L to R: MizzouCat, MidvaleDave, Steven Horton, Alan Smithee, and DrillCat.
Has anybody mentioned this play yet...Jeff Backes' punt return for a TD against Illinois to tie the game late in the 4th quarter to keep our bowl hopes alive. Another cardiac cats game.
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