The great Yogi Berra said it best, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” It is a mantra repeated by coaches from the peewee level all the way up to the professionals. As long as there is time remaining on the clock, anything is possible.
Just this year, there have been several notable examples of inconceivable last minute comebacks.
In the Americas Cup, the world’s premier sailing competition, the United States team trailed New Zealand 8-1. Almost out of nowhere, United States sailers won 8 events, capturing a 9-8 victory.
In the NHL, the Boston Bruins trailed the Toronto Maple Leafs four goals to one in game seven of the first round of the playoffs. Despite the game appearing to be over, the players rallied and forced overtime, in which they won 5-4, successfully moving on to the next round.
The most recent, and arguably the most improbable of these examples, is Auburn University’s stunning upset over the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
In brief, the Auburn Tigers were tied 28-28, with the Crimson Tide with only one second remaining in the game.
Alabama had the ball and decided to attempt to kick a 57-yard field goal for the win.
The kick ended up falling short, but Auburn return specialist Chris Davis was in the back of the end zone, ready to attempt to make a miracle happen.
He ran the missed field goal all the way back 109 yards for a touchdown, ending the game with a win for Auburn, and shocking football fans around the country. Many of these fans dubbed the game as an “instant classic.”
This play has been on highlight reels all around the country since it occurred, and videos of fans reacting have made it even more popular. The excitement of fans is displayed as grown men collapse to the floor, crying with joy over a football game played by teenagers and young men in their early twenties.
What made this game even more meaningful was that it decided who would play in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) finals.
Consequently, Auburn clinched a spot in the BCS National Championship game, which will be played on Jan. 6 against the now first seeded Florida State University Seminoles, led by Heisman winning freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston recently became the youngest Heisman winner in the trophy’s existence.
While sports fans around the country watched this happen, former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie’s miracle Hail Mary against the Miami Hurricanes in 1984 was remembered.
It was in the Orange Bowl, with 28 seconds left on the clock, when Boston College got the ball back.
Only six seconds remained before the start of the final play, with Boston College down 45-41, having to get 48 yards down the field in a miniscule amount of time to win.
Everyone in the stands had thought it was over, but not Flutie and BC.
He escaped pressure in the pocket and hurled the ball towards the end zone. The ball was miraculously caught, sealing an improbable victory for Boston College.
Not only do the players involved in these miraculous wins get a thrill from the experience, it rejuvenates the reason we watch and love sports.
Those last seconds of a game can make or break the game, and even a season.
Fans around the world continue to watch until the last seconds of a game, waiting for that clutch miracle win.