Kickers, not coaches, center of bizarre Orange Bowl
MIAMI -- In what was supposed to be remembered as a historic night between two legendary coaches, the Orange Bowl will go down as the most bizarre game of the season.
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| FSU's Gary Cismesia (right) misses two field goals in overtime. (AP) |
Florida State once again had its trouble in the kicking department as Gary Cismesia missed two field goals in overtime and an extra point in the second quarter.
"I've played in a lot of bizarre games, especially when you get down to missing field goals," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. "I think when they pick the all-time missed field goals coach, I'll probably win that award."
The game also saw both teams combine for 21 penalties and 20 punts. Penn State star running back Tony Hunt was injured on the third play of the game and didn't return, while teammate and All-American linebacker Paul Posluszny left with 6:41 remaining after seriously injuring his knee.
The MVP also came from the losing team as Willie Reid set a record with 180 punt return yards.
If that wasn't strange enough, Penn State almost attempted a fake field goal in the third overtime.
On third-and-two, Kevin Kelly and the kicking unit trotted out on the field to attempt what looked like a 34-yard try. But the Nittany Lions were going to run a fake.
"We didn't get the lineup we liked," said Penn State's Joe Paterno, who then looked at his senior quarterback. "Michael (Robinson) didn't like it."
"Once I heard it was a fake, coach and I had it out," Robinson said. "I kept telling the coaches, 'Don’t get too cute.'"
Penn State decided to call off the fake and Robinson picked up the first down on a quarterback keeper.
Two plays later, Kelly finally ended the madness, hitting a 29-yarder in the third overtime to give the Nittany Lions a 26-23 victory over Florida State.
"Everybody was telling me, 'Don't worry about the first one, or the second. You'll get that third one,'" Kelly said. "I figured, what are the chances I’d miss a third one?"
After both teams missed field goals in the first overtime, then scored touchdowns in the second OT, Florida State had another chance to take the lead in the third overtime, but Cismesia's 38-yard attempt bounced off the right upright.
"We both deserved to win, but we both made so many mistakes, we both deserved to lose," Seminoles quarterback Drew Weatherford said.
The bizarre ending caps a rollercoaster season for the Seminoles. They opened with a 10-7 victory over Miami, thanks to the Hurricanes botching a game-tying field-goal attempt down the stretch.
From there, Florida State rolled to a 5-0 start before losing on the road to Virginia. The Seminoles then lost the last three games of the season, but still qualified for the ACC Championship.
Florida State somehow beat Virginia Tech to earn the BCS bid, only to fall short in the Orange Bowl and finish at 8-5.
"It’s really a tough loss to take," Reid said. "You couldn't put it on one guy. It was a great game between two great coaches and I’m proud to be a part of it."
Penn State closes out the season at 11-1 and wins its first bowl game since winning the Alamo Bowl in 1999.
"Nobody believed in us," Penn State's Tamba Hali said. "We come in and go 11-1, win the Big Ten and then come here and win the Orange Bowl. I mean you can't ask for more."
