In light of the excitement we just experienced, I am bringing back an old post. Share your story with us.

Do you remember when you fell in love with college football? I do. I was in 5^th grade when it all came together for me. I had always loved football, but the game took on new meaning in my life on November 23, 1984.

Until then, I had thoroughly enjoyed playing football. It seems that most of the pictures my family took of me in my first 10 years of life included some combination of a helmet, shoulder pads and/or a football. I also enjoyed watching NFL football with my father, but that was more about spending time with him. At this time in life, I knew very little about college sports. I did sense, however, that bowl games were somehow more important than the others. So, I decided to watch the Orange Bowl. I was glued to the TV the entire time. It was a high energy game with Miami’s Bernie Kosar and Boston College’s Doug Flutie passing for well over 400 yards each. Miami had just driven down the field and scored to take the lead 45 – 41. Many fans and half the players began to celebrate Miami’s victory. However, there were still 28 seconds left to play when BC got the ball at its 20 yard line. Two passes and 22 seconds later, the ball was just past midfield. At this point in the game, I still didn’t realize that my pre-teen hero was on the verge of taking that prestigious and impressionable position in my life. Until now, a Hail Mary had something to do with Catholicism and nothing more. Flutie takes the snap, scrambles around for a couple of seconds and slings the ball toward the goal line with everything his 5’9” frame has to offer. The ball sails into a crowd of 6 clashing jerseys. Amazingly, Gerald Phelan comes down with it secured in his hands! Suddenly, the score was 47 – 45 in favor of BC. An odd moment of silence followed in the stands and my living room. After just a few seconds, we all realized what had just happened. What a game!

In looking back, I think of those last 6 seconds of the 1984 Orange Bowl as a countdown to the beginning of a lifelong experience. I believe this was the topic of every playground and lunchroom conversation that Chris Morelock, Denny Maxwell and I had until school let out for Christmas break. And when we weren’t talking about it, we were reenacting the greatest football play in history over and over again. I am forever thankful to Doug Flutie for being the catalyst to my love affair with college football and all the positive relationships that have ensued among the fellowship of those who are consumed with the sport since that time.

Here’s to you – short man with a good arm.

I would love to hear about your favorite college football play of all time. Share your love story here.