PSU Plays of the Decade

Taking a page out of well, everyone's book, I have compiled the top 5 Nittany Lion football plays of the Zeros. Let's get it.

No. 5: Rich Gardner's pick six against Nebraska in 2002 (1:40)



No. 4: Game Winning Drive Against Northwestern 2005



No. 3: The Fumble 2



No. 2: The Fumble 1



No. 1: LJ Runs for 2000

The All Decade X-Men

As 2010 approaches and every single aspect of life is getting together an all-decade list, I figure there's no reason Xavier should fall to the wayside. Here is the all-decade team for Xavier, one of the top college basketball programs of the past 10 years with two Elite 8 appearances and making it to at least the second round six times (that's right).

STARTERS

Center: David West (2000-03)

He's the no-brainer. In fact, he was named to the college basketball All-Decade team by Sports Illustrated. He's the school's second all-time leading scorer with 2,132 points and third all-time leading rebounder with 1,308 boards. He was the Associated Press National Player of the Year in 2003. Not much else left to say after that.

Forward: Josh Duncan (2005-08)

Duncan was in a race for the last spot on this squad. The reason I placed him here instead of BJ Raymond or Brian Thornton was because of the intangibles. Duncan was a primary piece of the puzzle each of his four years at XU (averaging at least nine points each season) and in his senior season was the leading scorer and heart of the team that advanced to the Elite 8. He averaged 12.4 points and 4.3 rebounds his final year. He averaged 18.3 points a game in the NCAA Tournament that year, a stat that shows he was a leader in key situations and why he was always a winner at X.

Forward: Justin Cage (2003-2007)

Mr. Consistency for the Musketeers, the 6-6, 225-pound forward averaged in the vicinity of 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the final three seasons of his Xavier career. Cage consistently played inside and out, taking on any challenge that was laid out in front of him, playing over 30 minutes each of his final three seasons. He also had 25 points in a losing effort against Ohio State in his final game, nearly beating them by himself until the refs decided otherwise (a big screw you to Greg Oden and Ron Lewis also).

Guard: Lionel Chalmers (1999-2004)

As one of the three major players in the 2004 season, he assumed much of the scoring responsibility left behind when West bolted for the NBA. Chalmers caught absolute fire in the final 15 games of his senior season, torching No. 1 St. Joseph's in the Atlantic 10 tournament and leading Xavier on a run that would end in the school's first Elite 8 appearance. He led the Muskies in scoring with 16.6 points a game that season and earned himself a spot on the LA Clippers because of his senior heroics. Lionel finished with 1,397 points in three seasons as a Musketeer and will certainly go down as one of the best to ever play PG at X.

Guard: Romain Sato (2000-04)

X became known as "Forward University" over time thanks to the success of Tyrone Hill, Brian Grant, Aaron Williams, James Posey and David West. Guards like Sato and Chalmers sort of changed Xavier into "Guard U" over the course of this decade with their dominant performances and leadership. That's why Sato will take a third guard spot on this squad, he's pretty much a no-brainer as well if the team is going to have 3 guards. With his 16 points and 8 rebounds a game his senior year, while also making it to the Elite 8, Sato was a true force for the Muskies and demanded serious defensive attention every time he was in. He ended up averaging at least 16 points all three seasons he played at X, solidifying him in this spot.

RESERVES

Sixth man: B.J. Raymond (2005-08)

The man who hit one of the biggest shots in XU history in the 2008 Sweet Sixteen victory against West Virginia just misses out on the all-decade starting 5. Raymond was a perfect sixth man for most of his career at Xavier, hitting meaningful 3's in a good amount of games and playing lock-down defense every second he was in. Raymond has to be a part of this team as his heart and senior leadership in his final season propelled Xavier to their second Elite 8 of the decade. More than the tournament that season, he averaged 14 points and 4 rebounds as a senior.

Brian Thornton (2004-06)

The current XU Director of Basketball Operations is the "what could have been" player of the decade for the Muskies. He transferred from Vanderbilt and gained a lot of hype when he chose X, but only had two years of eligibility when he came in. On top of that, he went down with an injury 21 games into his senior season, really ruining his shot at making a deep tourney run (a shame because he definitely could have made one). When he was in a Xavier uniform, however, he was phenomenal at almost every moment. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.8 boards a game during his senior season and had 10.7 and 5.8 as a junior.

Justin Doellman (2003-07)

Doellman did a little bit of everything for X, playing a sort of guard-forward hybrid role because of his excellent 3 point shooting ability. By his senior season in 2007, Doellman led the team in scoring with 13.7 points a game. For his final three years with the Musketeers he averaged double figures and was a contributor to the 2004 Elite 8 team as a freshman. He almost single-handedly carried them to a 79-77 first-round win agaisnt BYU in '07 at Rupp Arena (glad I was there to see it).

Stanley Burrell (2004-08)

Burrell was the picture of consistency at Xavier, though some would argue his performance as a senior was disappointing. Still, he averaged more than 30 minutes a game for four seasons with the Muskies and averaged 12.7, 14.4 and 12.4 points a game his first three years before dropping to 9.7 his senior year. Burrell's dropping PPG came with an increased emphasis on his defense, however, and he consistently shut down the opposition's best guard. I'll never forget his game-winner against George Washington at the buzzer as a freshman (that one's for you Matty).

Drew Lavender (2006-08)

Had he spent all four years at Xavier, he would have been a candidate to start on the team, but instead he transferred from Oklahoma after his sophomore season and immediately made a splash with the Muskies. The little 5-foot-7 point guard dished out at an average of 4.6 assists a game his junior and senior year and hit over 40-percent from 3-point range. X won a lot of big games with Lavender at the point, and personally I never felt more secure at the PG position than when he was handling the ball.

Honorable Mention: Derrick Brown and Jason Love.

All-Decade Series Part III: QB of the Decade

Now that we’ve covered the defensive side of the ball it’s time to shift focus to the offense. The biggest debate on this entire team—offense and defense—comes at the quarterback position. Frankly, it’s a tough enough decision that I’ve decided to devote an entire entry to it.

QB: #10 Brady Quinn (’03-’06) vs #7 Jimmy Clausen (’07-’09)

The case for Brady: He was a phenomenal leader who captained the two best seasons of the decade. Under Charlie Weis’ tutelage in 2005 he took the leap from mediocre quarterback to bonafide superstar. He had a penchant for coming up big in the clutch, engineering dramatic comebacks against Michigan State and UCLA in ’06 and finishing off the go ahead touchdown in the epic ’05 clash with Southern Cal with just two minutes left in the contest. He never missed a game as a four year starter—in spite of getting tossed around like a ragdoll in ’03…go look at his first start against Purdue—and ended his career as one of the most beloved players in school history.

Brady's Best Season – 2005: 158.40 PR, 3919 yds, 64.9% comp, 32 TD, 7 INT

The case for Jimmy: This past season he pieced together arguably the greatest season for a quarterback in Notre Dame history. He led fourth quarter comeback victories against Michigan State, Purdue, Washington, and Boston College. His gutsy performances while battling an injury against Michigan State and Purdue were ones worthy of their own chapter in Irish lore. He threw only four interceptions all season and it can be argued that only one of them (the bad pass deep over the middle to Floyd against Pitt) was really his fault. He was a deadly accurate passer, as clutch a performer in crunch time as Joe Montana, and a gritty competitor who answered the bell even when he was banged up.

Jimmy’s Best Season – 2009: 161.43 PR, 3722 yds, 68.0% comp, 28 TD, 4 INT

The Debate

Frankly I believe Jimmy Clausen was a better quarterback than Brady Quinn. In fact, I think Jimmy Clausen was the best quarterback in school history this past season. But Brady was a natural leader that people gravitated toward while you always got the impression that Jimmy’s act was at least a little contrived.

Dan Marino may have been a better quarterback than Joe Montana and posted video game level statistics over the course of the 1980’s, but the quarterback of the decade was Joe Cool. Why? Because of the success he led his team to on the field. The fact of the matter is Jimmy’s best season at the helm was a 7-6 campaign while Brady led the team to a pair of BCS bowls.

The main thing that tipped the scales though was their attitudes toward the school itself. From day one Jimmy made it clear he was at Notre Dame to learn under Charlie Weis and use Notre Dame as a stepping stone to the NFL. He never gave off the impression that he cared an iota about the school—he was out for Jimmy and only Jimmy. With Brady it was very apparent how much he loved and appreciate the school, loved the program, the traditions, and the fanfare. He embraced the spotlight that came with being the most recognizable face in college football and took on that responsibility with great pride and poise. Brady stayed around for four years—even though he was a sure-fire top pick had he left after his junior season. Jimmy chose to turn pro after his junior season, leaving behind an opportunity to cement his place as the greatest quarterback in the illustrious history of Notre Dame football for the chance to chase dollar bills.

Jimmy will be remembered as a great quarterback that could not deliver on the bold statements he made when he controversially cast a 100,000 watt spotlight on himself at his commitment ceremony at (of all places) the College Football Hall of Fame. Thirty years from now Brady will forever be remembered as a winner. That’s why he’s the quarterback of the decade.

THE VERDICT: BRADY QUINN

The All-Decade Team: The Best College Basketball Players of the 2000's

Now that I’m home for break, I’ve had plenty of time to dissect the best and brightest of the past decade. You’ve seen my assessment of the top 10 college basketball games of the 2000s, and now I’m going to get a little more particular with the 10 best players of the decade. This list was considerably harder to compile; players, while easier to remember than individual games, are also much more difficult to grade.

With the advent of the mandatory one year of play rule in college basketball, there have been several once-in-a-generation talents to come through the hardwoods of America in recent years. Some, like Carmelo Anthony, led their teams to national titles, while others, like T.J. Ford, Kevin Durant, and Michael Beasely (among others), changed the face of the game and compiled some extensive national hardware in the process. Evaluating the impact of one-and-done players was an especially difficult aspect of this process, but in coming up with this list I took a few key factors into account: individual success (measured by scoring averages, etc.), team success, and overall impact on the game during their time in college.

There’s sure to be a lot of debate about this one, but here goes my list of the 10 best college basketball players of the 2000s. Like my last top 10 list, there are a couple of ties, as some players were nearly impossible to separate, and indeed were almost never mentioned apart from each other during their time in college, while others were simply too good to leave out, and I had to find some way to include them.

10. Stephen Curry, Davidson

-Curry announced his arrival to the college basketball scene in a big way, scoring 32 points in his second career game against Michigan in 2005. He averaged 21.5 points per game as a freshman, setting the NCAA freshman record for 3 pointers in a season, and was selected to represent the U.S. in the FIBA U19 World Championships. In his sophomore campaign, he led Davidson to the Elite 8, scoring 40, 30, and 33 in upsets of Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin before coming within a missed 3 of the Final Four. He averaged just shy of 29 points per game during his junior season, although the Wildcats just missed out on the tournament. Curry changed the face of mid-major basketball forever, and improved vastly during his 3 years in the college game. He never shied away from the spotlight, playing up to the stellar competition of March Madness. He had a great handle, elite basketball intelligence, and had one of the quickest releases I have ever seen in a shooter. The kid could get a shot off from anywhere, at any time. In the 2009 NBA Draft, Golden State selected Curry with the 7^th overall pick.

9. Emeka Okafor, Connecticut

-The man originally named Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor was the best defensive player this decade has ever seen. Although hindered by injuries for much of the 2003-04 season, Okafor played a huge role in leading the Huskies to their second national title in 6 seasons, during which he was named the NCAA Tourney’s Most Outstanding Player. During that season he was named Defensive Player of the Year, leading the nation in blocks and setting the stage for UConn to do the same for the next five years.

8. (tie) Adam Morrison, Gonzaga; J.J.Redick, Duke

-During the 2005-06 season you could hardly turn on the T.V. without hearing these two superstars mentioned in the same breath. They ended up being co-National Players of the Year and were the face of college basketball for this star-studded season. Redick finished his career as the NCAA record holder for career 3 pointers, but developed a formidable slashing and driving game as he matured under the guidance of Coach K. Morrison became one of the more surprising NBA busts, selected 3^rd overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. In college, however, his all-court game was spectacular, with a mid-range game that drew many comparisons to Larry Bird.

7. (tie) Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse; Joakim Noah, Florida

-Although he didn’t have the numbers of Beasley or Durant, Anthony certainly dominated the college game during his brief stay at Syracuse. What’s more, he led the Orange to their first and only national title in 2003, over Kansas. Anthony was named a Second Team All-American, and was the best player in a tournament that included Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison, and T.J. Ford. He would go on to become a star in the NBA. Had he not won an NCAA championship, Anthony may not have made the list, but how many freshman have we seen put their team on their back and take them to a title? I may get some disagreement from my choice of Noah. Noah played a stellar three seasons in Gainesville, and was the best and most highly regarded player on Florida’s repeat national championship teams. Had he declared for the draft after the Gators’ first championship run, he may have been taken first or second overall. That’s all speculation, but what isn’t is that he was the leader of a team that accomplished one of the most difficult feats in sports: winning back-to-back titles.

6. (tie) Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's; Juan Dixon, Maryland

-Nelson stayed all four years in Philly, leading the Hawks to a 30-1 regular season and within a shot of the Final Four during his senior season, which culminated with winning the Wooden and Naismith Awards. One of the great four year college players of the decade, Nelson has gone on to become one of the better point guards in the NBA, and his role as the head of St. Joseph’s remarkable 2004 run won’t soon be forgotten. Dixon was not going to be denied a title the 2002 NCAA Tournament, which culminated in a championship victory over Jared Jeffries and the Indiana Hoosiers. Dixon is the only player in NCAA history to record 2,000 points, 300 steals, and 200 3 pointers. He was the undisputed leader of an NCAA Champion, and any time you’re the only man in college basketball history to do anything, you’re something special.

5. (tie) Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley, Kansas State

-Hard to think of these two separately. Although they played in different seasons, no two players dominated college basketball as freshman like Durant and Beasley. Both won Big 12 Player of the Year and National Freshman of the Year honors during their singular campaigns, with Durant also winning National Player of the Year honors, an unprecedented accomplishment for a freshman. Both of these players were clearly NBA-ready, and it showed, giving college basketball fans the world over a brief glimpse of unparalleled greatness.

4. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

-Griffin was a freak of nature during his 2 stellar seasons in Norman. No one was more dominant, more feared, or more successful than Griffin during his sophomore season, during which he had about as good a season as a player can have. He had 30 double-doubles, and won a few awards during his remarkable campaign: Wooden Award, Naismith Award, Unanimous First Team All-American, SI Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Award, and Adolph Rupp Award. Anybody who watched him play knows what a dominant force he was, and I don’t think we’ll see another forward like him for a long, long time.

3. Jason “Jay” Williams, Duke

-One of the sadder stories in basketball of the decade was nevertheless a shining star during his three years at Duke. Williams was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that ended his promising NBA career far too soon, but anyone who watched him play in college knows what an impact he had on the game. He led Duke to a national title in 2001, won the Naismith and Wooden Awards in 2002, and finished his three year career in Durham with over 2,000 points and a retired jersey at Cameron Indoor Stadium. His career blossomed early, as he secured National Freshman of the Year honors during his first season at Duke.

2. Shane Battier, Duke

-One of the greatest college basketball players of all time, Battier stayed all four years under Coach K. He led the Dukies to 2 national championship games and a title in 2001. He was as much a defensive star as he was an offensive force, taking home National Defensive Player of the Year honors 3 teams. He remains a defensive juggernaut in the NBA, and although his offense has declined considerably with his national recognition, this was certainly not true of his brilliant college career.

1. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

-As much as many of you, including me, may have hated Psycho T during his career at North Carolina, there isn’t a person in the world who wouldn’t have killed to have him on their team, and I don’t think there will be much disagreement over his merits as the top player of the decade. He averaged 20 points and 8 boards over his four years, and swept all of college basketball’s individual honors after his senior season, which culminated in a dominant run as national champions, the final piece missing from his spectacular career. He wasn’t the smoothest or the most athletic player, but his tenacity and will to win was unmatched in the college game. His individual accolades are too extensive to list here, but he is the ACC’s all-time leading scorer and my choice for the top college basketball player of the 2000s.

All-Decade Series Part II: The Greatest Plays

Let’s take a look at the greatest plays of the past decade, starting with #5. Plays were chosen not only for how great the individual play was, but also for the impact it had at the time on the overall game.

#5 – SHARK ATTACK (Purdue 2005)

Purdue was Notre Dame’s last hurdle before the showdown with Southern Cal in Charlie Weis’ first year at the helm. A lot of people forget but the Irish were actually underdogs that game, a night contest on ESPN at Ross-Ade Stadium. There were a lot of questions as to Notre Dame was the real deal that year and quickly those questions were answered.

When Brady let go of this ball I initially had thought it was a duck because he kind of got hit as he let it go. I was wrong…


#4 – “HOLY RUDY!” (Michigan St 2002)

This was right about the time where I began to think Ty Willingham could walk on water during his first season. Charles Rogers had just made the most amazing touchdown catch I’ve ever seen not made by someone named Tyrone Prothro and Irish backup quarterback Pat Dillingham trotted out on to the field since starter Carlyle Holiday was knocked out of the game.

What happened next was a tiny bit of payback for the Herb Haygood incident from 2000 and an opportunity for Brent Musberger to whip out one of the corniest calls ever…


#3 – “HE MAY GO!” (Nebraska 2000)

Nebraska fans embarrassed the Notre Dame faithful by totally invading Notre Dame Stadium, making it seem more like a neutral site game than a home game for the Irish. When Nebraska scored to take the lead 21-7 in the third quarter it seemed like the #1 ranked Cornhuskers were on their way to a convincing victory.

Julius Jones responded with a 100-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to cut the deficit to a touchdown. Then after Notre Dame forced a three and out 5'7" sparkplug Joey Getherall went back to field a punt…


#2 – ZIBBY DELIVERS A ROUNDHOUSE PUNCH (USC 2005)

Things were all knotted up in the second quarter when the Irish forced a punt. As Tom Zbikowski trotted back to field the kick my buddy Jon Don turned and said knowingly to us that “Zibby is a tough runner but he’s just not a threat to take it to the house, he’s just not fast enough.” Jon Don confirms to this day that crow never tasted so good…


#1 – “HE’S GOING IN!” (UCLA 2006)

This was the biggest rage I ever experienced in the student section. I had gotten to the game right at kickoff (thanks to some flight delays from fall break) and sat with my buddy Gabe in the senior section. When Samardzija crossed the goal line literally people just turned and tackled the person next to them. It was just a huge dogpile on the benches, absolute carnage.

I think the reason it was so wild (you know, other than the fact that we’d saved our season and come back against all odds to win with under 30 seconds left) was because the students had an entire game’s worth of emotion pent up. Prior to that play it was an incredibly boring, bland, uneventful game. Sitting through 59:30 of crappy football is worth it when in an instant all is saved…


FIVE HONORABLE MENTIONS:

* Nick Setta’s game-winning field goal against Purdue as time expired in 2000
* Julius Jones’ ridiculous touchdown run to take the lead against Washington State in 2003
* Brady Quinn stretches over the goal line to take the lead against Southern Cal in 2005
* Lambert takes the lead against Michigan State in 2006
* Golden Tate’s entire career
* Robert Hughes’ pile-pushing 2-pt conversion against Washington this year

The All-Decade Series: The Best College Basketball Games of the 2000's

Like Mattare, I too am a sucker for all-time teams and things of that nature. As the decade winds to a close and the college basketball season is in full swing, what better way to look back on the best of college hoops from the 2000's than with my list of the 10 best games of the decade. And, yes, there's a tie for 6, so I guess there's really 11 on the list. Call it a cop-out, I call it a little extra. The Big Ten has 11 teams, right?

10. Oklahoma State 105, Texas 103 (3OT: 1/16/07): Clutch shots, future NBAers, unbelievable momentum swings, and Sean Sutton almost fainting on the sidelines: What more could one want from a game? Mario Boggan matched Kevin Durant with 37 points and the game winning three pointer in triple overtime, just seconds after KD's 3-point play put the Horns up 1 with 10.5 seconds left. 15 ties, 16 lead changes, and a bevy of unreal shots highlighted this one. The most memorable may have come in the first half, before any hint of the bedlam to follow: Terrel Harris threw one in a fadeaway half-courter after chasing down a bad pass, nearly crashing into the stands in the process.

9. Connecticut 79, Duke 78 (Final Four, 2004 NCAA Tourney): Duke led by 8 with under 3 minutes to go, but UConn rattled off 12 straight points over the game's final minutes. Emeka Okafor picked up a couple of quick fouls in the first half and played just 4 minutes in the game's opening salvo. He came off the bench to score all 18 of his points in the 2nd half, lifting the Huskies to the win and a spot in the national championship game, where they would go on to defeat Georgia Tech.

8. Louisville 93, West Virginia 85 (Elite 8, 2005 NCAA Tourney): Maybe it's my emotional investment in this one that has it ranked a little higher than some might have it. Call me crazy, but this was one of the best games I've ever seen, and a game after which I joined half the city of Louisville in a massive downtown celebration. The Cards trailed by as many as 20 in the first half, but survived one of the most remarkable 3 point barrages the tourney had ever seen. WVU made 18 of their 27 attempts from behind the arc, and some were way behind it. The coach's son knocked one down while falling into the Cards' bench and another from about 30 feet away, and Kevin Pittsnogle, one of the greatest white trash players in college basketball history, simply could not miss. With future first-rounder Francisco Garcia saddled with foul trouble, hometown hero Larry O'Bannon poured in 24 despite crippling cramps, and Taquan Dean, the pride of Neptune, NJ, added 7 threes of his own. A furious second half rally and a few overdue misses from the Mountaineers later, Rick Pitino had taken his third team to the Final Four.

7. Gonzaga 109, Michigan State 106 (3OT, 2005 Maui Invitational): The game was played in front of just 2,400 fans, but boy were they treated to a show. Adam Morrison poured in 43 points and 4 lead changes highlighted the last 1:14 of regulation. Maurice Ager scored a career high 36 points, including the game-tying shot at the end of regulation. If this one had been played in March, it would be several spots higher, and maybe it still should.

6 (Tie): UCLA 73, Gonzaga 71 (Elite 8, 2006 NCAA Tourney): Some of Gus Johnson's finest commentary ever, as Jordan Farmar stole it from J.P Batista and fed it to a wide open Luc Mbah a Moute under the basket for the lead. After another steal, Aaron Afflalo made one of two free throws. The Zag's inbounds found an open Batista, who turned and nearly nailed a Laettner to force OT. Instead, UCLA was on to the first of 3 straight Final Fours, and I think we all remember what happened after that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgeqrYxu_YM

6. Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76 (2009 Elite 8): Six lead changes in the final six minutes and Scottie Reynolds' game-ending shot highlighted a spectacular finish and Villanova's first trip to the Final Four since 1985. Believe it or not, Reynolds still plays for Villanova (I was saying that last year too; I feel like this is his 6th or 7th year).

5. Michigan State 94, Kentucky 88 (2OT, 2005 NCAA Elite 8): Again, maybe it's my proximity to this one that gives it such a high ranking, but you can't imagine the bliss of seeing the Cards on to the Final Four and the Cats sent home packing just a night later. Sparty lead by 8 with 5:43 to play, but a Patrick Sparks 3 that bounced around the rim several times before finally falling tied the game and forced OT. I remember watching this game and having no clue even after the closest close-ups modern replay technology can give showed where Spark's feet were on the shot. I still think he had a toenail on the line, but no matter, ball don't lie and UK lost in double OT.

4. George Mason 86, Connecticut 84 (OT: 2006 NCAA Elite 8): George Mason had already beaten UNC and Michigan State. Exactly 4 people picked them to go to the Final Four on ESPN.com's bracket, and you can bet those 4 people were women who either liked their colors, their mascot, or went there. UConn came in #1 and had far more talent. Quick, name a player from George Mason's 11th seeded squad? I got 2, Will Thomas and Folarin Campbell, but I doubt anyone could name more. Now do the same for UConn: Marcus Williams, Hilton Armstrong, Rudy Gay, Josh Boone, and Denham Brown started for the Huskies, and don't forget Jeff Adrien and Craig Austrie. George Mason would lose to Florida in the Final Four, but they left a Cinderella slipper that will never be worn again.

3. Kansas 75, Memphis 68 (OT, 2008 NCAA Championship Game): We'll all remember Mario Chalmers' unreal 3 to tie it and force OT, but what we might not remember is the Mangino-sized egg the Tigers laid at the end of the game. Questions about their free throw struggles abounded throughout the year, and the critics got it right in this one. Two future NBAers, including #1 overall pick Derrick Rose, missed 4 of 5 attempts from the line in the game's final minute. That 20% mark is probably a little higher than the percentage of questions D-Rose got right on the SAT, but it was enough to give Kansas a shot at winning a game they had no business winning at the end.

2. Syracuse 127, Connecticut 117 (6OT, 2009 Big East Quarters): I was in Dublin for Spring Break during this one, but I wish I had stayed up until 8 or 9 in the morning or whatever it would have been in Ireland to watch this one. I looked at the recap the next day and was flabbergasted. One of the biggest regrets of my sports life has been missing this game. This is why people love college basketball. Nuff' said.

1. Illinois 90, Arizona 89 (OT, 2005 Elite Eight): 6: Number of NBA players in this game. 1: Illini losses during the regular season. 15: deficit overcome by Illinois with 4 minutes left in regulation. Hands down the best game I have ever seen. Watching the comeback now is just as electrifying as it was 4 years ago. You don't come back from 15 down with 3:55 to play without some help, and the Illini certainly got that, but Dee Brown, Luther Head, and Deron Williams orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in sports and cemented this one as the best college basketball game of the 2000s. Best team of the decade to not win a title? I don't see how there's one better.

Disagree? Let's hear it.

All-Decade Series Part I: The Defense

I’ll be honest: I’m an absolute sucker for Top 10 lists, all-time teams, greatest this and greatest that, all things of that nature. I love the process of ranking, love the debates that follow, love everything about them. That’s why in this lull between the end of the football season and the beginning of Big East play in basketball I’ve decided to put together a little series recapping a decade of Notre Dame Football.

Let’s kick off the series with the Irish Defensive All-Decade Team.


DE: #44 Justin Tuck (’02-’04)
Best Season – 2003: 73 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 19 TFL, 3 forced fumbles

When he burst on to the scene in 2002 as a redshirt freshman he was used strictly in passing situations. It seemed like every time he got inserted into the game he either got to the quarterback or drew a holding call. If you remember his speed rush against Michigan in 2002 was responsible for the Skunkbears being flagged for a safety in the Irish’s two point victory.

By the time he was a senior he had re-written the Notre Dame defensive record books. He ended his career with 24.5 sacks, including 13.5 his junior year. Both still stand as Notre Dame records. I’m thoroughly convinced that if he would have returned for his senior season that the Irish would have gone undefeated in the regular season. With the way Abiamiri was abusing Winston Justice on one side, can you imagine if Tuck was the one hunting down Leinart instead of Frome/Talley from the opposite end of the line? Let’s move on, I’m getting upset.

DT: #98 Trevor Laws (’04-’07)
Best Season – 2007: 112 tackles, 4 sacks, 8 TFL, 3 blocked kicks

Trevor had one of the greatest seasons for a defensive player in school history during the 2007 campaign. In a year where seemingly nothing went right he was the sole bright spot. In spite of constant double and triple teams he registered 112 tackles while managing to block three field goals. He had a never-ending motor and was a leader during Notre Dame’s darkest hours.

When some players were interviewed after games in ’07 you could tell that they had come to grips with what was happening and were resigned to the fact that losses would continue to pile up. Whenever Laws had a microphone in front of him you could just tell how mentally and physically drained he was not only from leaving everything on the field, but also from carrying the weight of the season on his shoulders. I’ll always remember and appreciate the fact that never once did he throw up the white flag even though he had every reason to do so.

DT: #98 Anthony Weaver (’00-‘01)
Best Season – 2001: 53 tackles, 7 Sacks, 21 TFL, 3 forced fumbles

Weaver split time between end and tackle but for our cause of putting the four best defensive lineman on the team we’re going to stick him at tackle. Weaver was a huge contributor who earned a starting spot his freshman year and never let go. He wasn’t as explosive as Tuck or as visible as Laws, but he was consistently a disruptive force registering 42 tackles for a loss in his four seasons.

Perhaps his finest moment came in 2000 against Michigan State when he made an unbelievably athletic play and picked off a Jeff Smoker pass. He returned it down to the two-yard line and set up what should have been a game-winning touchdown run (burn in hell Herb Haygood, burn in hell). He often gets forgotten just because his game didn’t have any sort of flashiness, but he without a doubt deserves a spot on this team.

DE: #95 Victor Abiamiri ('03-’06)
Best Season – 2006: 43 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 15 TFL

Abiamiri came in as the highest rated recruit Ty Willingham ever lured to South Bend. He started every game of his last two years and specifically terrorized the Stanford Cardinal. In the 2005 and 2006 contests he accumulated a total of seven sacks, including a pair that came in back-to-back plays that ended Stanford’s last ditch comeback attempt in ‘05.

While the statbook may say those were his two best games in a Notre Dame uniform, any one who watched his performance against Southern Cal in 2005 would disagree. Vic introduced himself to Matt Leinart early and often that day, tossing around future NFL teammate and noted Philadelphia Eagle turnstile Winston Justice like a rag doll. He stepped his game up to another level that day; it was far and away his most dominating performance.

LB: #39 Anthony Denman (’00)
Best Season – 2000: 84 tackles, 5 sacks, 14 TFL, 2 forced fumbles

Denman was an absolute rock for the Irish front seven during the 2000 season. If you were to describe him in a word it was reliable—you could never recall him blowing an assignment, missing a tackle, or screwing up when he had an opportunity to make a play. He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player in the Fiesta Bowl season by his peers and was named 2nd team All-American that same year by the AP.

His greatest performance was hands down his game against #1 Nebraska in 2000. He came up with 13 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and a sack in containing the vaunted Nebraska option attack led by eventual Heisman winner Eric Crouch. That day it seemed like he didn’t just tackle Cornhuskers—every time he made contact he LIT UP ballcarriers. Bob Davie went as far as to say it was the “greatest performance by a linebacker in his time at Notre Dame.” Unfortunately though, like many other phenomenal performances of this past decade it is largely forgotten because it came in a losing effort.

LB: #33 Courtney Watson (’00-’03)
Best Season – 2003: 117 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 15 TFL, 2 interceptions

Watson really burst on to the scene as a leader at linebacker on the vaunted 2002 defense. His performance in that “Return to Glory” year under Willingham earned him a spot as a first team All-American on ESPN. Against Florida State that season he turned the tide with his interception of Chris Rix in the third quarter, which started a stretch of five Seminole plays that resulted in three turnovers.

Prior to his senior year he was a preseason candidate for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards. While he posted statistics worthy of consideration for those awards, Notre Dame’s sub-par season doomed any chance he had of bringing home hardware. I always loved the story about his name. Apparently his father hated the fact that his mother named him Courtney, so his father never once called him by that name—he called him “Spunk.” The story made me like his Dad even more than I liked him.

LB: #30 Rocky Boiman (’00-‘01)
Best Season – 2001: 42 tackles, 4 sacks, 11 TFL, 2 fumble recoveries

To fill out our linebacking unit we’re going to tab Rocky. His stats aren’t all that impressive compared to players like Brandon Hoyte and Maurice Crum, but his numbers are a bit deceiving since there were times where he was asked to play with a hand on the ground at defensive end. I feel comfortable that if Irish fans were asked who they’d like to see at the third linebacker position Rocky would be at the top of the list. His impact on the field went beyond the numbers—he had the perfect demeanor for a linebacker and was a relentless competitor.

My favorite memory of Boiman came from the 2000 season. My buddy Brian and I were freshmen in high school and had snuck up into the student section during the Boston College. We were sitting with some random guys from Knott Hall who happened to be friends with Rocky and they said that he was an absolute maniac. The kid said that Rocky’s goal for the Purdue game that year was “to tear Drew Brees’s arm off of his body.” When’s the last time we had a player as tough as he was on our defense?

CB: #42 Shane Walton (’00-’02)
Best Season – 2002: 68 tackles, 5 TFL, 7 interceptions, 7 PBU, 2 TD’s
S: #20 Gerome Sapp (’00-’02)
Best Season – 2002: 71 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 interceptions, 7 PBU, 1 TD
S: #19 Glenn Earl (’00-’03)
Best Season – 2002: 81 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 interceptions, 4 PBU
CB: #34 Vontez Duff (’00-’03)
Best Season – 2002: 36 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 interception, 6 PBU, 1 TD

The All-Decade secondary quite simply consists of the 2002 quartet that was largely responsible for the magical run that took the Irish as high as #4 in the AP poll. There are a few other potential players worth noting, most notably Tony Driver and Chinedum Ndukwe, but the 2002 secondary was one of the most clutch and productive units we’ve seen in a long time. It’s impossible to separate them.

Shane Walton was the heart and soul of the best defense of the decade. He came up with huge play after huge play after huge play the entire 2002 season. His seven interceptions were the most in a single season since Tom Carter in the early 90’s, his seven passes broken up paced the squad, and he even stuck his nose in there 68 tackles (five for a loss).

I was out in South Bend for the infamous Neon Green Jersey Game against BC. In the second half the entire stadium was deflated after one of Notre Dame’s sixteen fumbles that game (is it possible that Marcus Wilson had more fumbles than runs for 4+ yards over the course of his career?). The defensive team came on to the field during the ensuing TV timeout and suddenly Walton just started flipping out, getting up in each defenders face and shoving them. He then went over in front of the student section and went nuts. By the time the TV timeout was over the team and entire student section were in a frenzy. First play of BC’s drive: interception. We don’t need to rehash what happened the rest of the game, but that moment was awesome.

George Sapp was a huge recruit that Davie plucked from Texas but until his senior season he had a pretty non-descript career. His final year was of course the 2002 campaign. Like Walton he came up with huge plays throughout the year, like his 54 yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Purdue game—a contest where Notre Dame scored three defensive touchdowns and zero offensive touchdowns…ahhhh the Ty Willingham years.

Glenn Earl vs Tony Driver was the toughest debate for me on the defensive side of the ball. What pushes Earl over the edge though isn’t just his stellar 2002 campaign, but his special teams contributions earlier in his career. In 2000 alone he blocked three kicks, including a chip shot field goal against Air Force as time expired that kept Notre Dame’s BCS hopes alive.

Lastly, we have Vontez Duff. He only had one interception in 2002 but he made it count—he returned it 33 yards for the clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter against Purdue. He was a solid contributor that entire year in a secondary that gave up just 12 touchdowns, picked off 21 passes, and allowed only 204.8 passing yards per game and a 49.2% opponent completion percentage. In other words, cut what our team allowed this year in half.

Truth be told, it was pretty slim pickings for the second best cornerback of the decade. Who else could it have been though? Mike Richardson? Terrail Lambert? Preston Jackson?

Stop, no more. Yes, Duff was second best.

P: #17 Joey Hildbold ('00-'02)
Best Season – 2001: 42.2 avg, 19 punts inside the 20, long of 59 yards

Hildbold was exactly what you need in a punter: a consistent and reliable performer. He wasn’t spectacular but you always knew he'd go out there and get off a solid punt. Hildbold was also a master of looking like he was taken out by a sniper whenever a defender so much as breathed on him. I would guess that he drew more roughing the kicker penalties than Eric Maust had punts that traveled 40 yards in the air this year.


Let the debates begin!

COMING UP NEXT: Offensive All-Decade Team