I'm not even sure what to say right now. Whatever I type out won't even do justice to the range of emotions that rolled through my body through out the Humanitarian Bowl. That was easily one of the most exciting football games I have ever seen in person.
The fourth quarter was unbelievable! The teams combined for 36 points in the final stanza of a game that ended with Idaho on top 43-42. When Bowling Green scored with :32 left in the game, Vandals fans were deflated. The place went silent. But then, the Vandals stormed down field with a 50-yard pass play from Nathan Enderle to Preston Davis with :08 left. Enderle then connected with Max Komar, who couldn't catch a pass if his life depended on it all day long, on a touchdown to make it 42-41 Falcons. The next decision is the one everyone is talking about.
Instead of kicking the extra point to force overtime, Robb Akey and the Vandals decided to go for two points and the win. I couldn't believe my eyes. I can't remember the last time I was as nervous as I was at that point. The same connection that brought the Vandals within scoring distance hooked up again for the win. Enderle found Davis wide open in the back of the end zone for the 43-42 victory.
It was like a movie. I could only imagine what the conversation was like in the huddle. I picture it in my mind like Norman Dale talking to his Hickory High School basketball team in the final seconds of the championship game in Hoosiers. Instead of giving the ball to Jimmy Chitwood, the Vandals put the weight on the shoulders of Enderle (he told me after the game that he wouldn't have had it any other way). It was a storybook ending to a storybook season.
After the Falcons couldn't return the ensuing kickoff and time expired...the celebration on the field started! It was awesome! Some of the Vandals were smiling, some were praying, and others were crying. Idaho fans stormed the field around them. I plan on being in this business for a long time and I know this will be a celebration I'll never forget. I have a feeling I'm not the only one to say that.
I thought it was pretty cool that DeMaundray Woolridge was the game's MVP. Talk about a guy who deserves some credit. Woolridge started his career at Washington State, but he was kicked out of school when he couldn't make grades. He was away from football for two years until he could get his studies back in order. He got a second chance with the Vandals and made it count. He was a star on the football field this year, but more importantly he's set to graduate from Idaho.
More than anything Max Komar wanted to finish his career at Idaho with a bang. No one deserved a happy ending more than him. He is a fifth year senior. He went through three head coaches (Nick Holt, Dennis Erickson, and Robb Akey) and endured a lot of losses in a Vandals uniform. The pains continued today when Komar couldn't make a catch (like I quickly mentioned earlier) for the first 59:56 seconds of the game. All of those drops were washed away with a touchdown reception that will go down in University of Idaho history.
I feel like I can go on and on about this game, but I won't waste your time. If you were in the stands at Bronco Stadium, watching the game on ESPN, or seeing the highlights on KREM.com, you all have your own memories of the game. The thought we all share in common is that the Humanitarian Bowl was the best game of the bowl season (I don't think anything will top it) and it put the Idaho Vandals back on the map.
I'm sorry that this blog probably is all over the place, but I knew it would be. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around everything that happened today. This is the best I can do.
If you want to go back through my tweets of the game (there more cool pictures on there), you can find a running log on my profile @TLKREM2 (I don't think you need to be a member to see it).
I can't thank the Vandal fans enough for all the great compliments about our Idaho football coverage. You deserved every second of it! I can't thank Sports Information Department and Robb Akey enough for allowing us to get inside with the team. Without their help our coverage wouldn't have been what it was. Again, thank you for being awesome fans!
I don't want to put a period at the end of this sentence because I know that means the end of the football season (and a magical run), but I guess I have to accept the fact at some point.
GO VANDALS!!!!!!
