Tip-in wins MAC title
As the ball balanced on the rim for what seemed like an eternity, Leon Williams knew he did his job and it was up to gravity to do its part.
For what actually was a split second, all of Ohio's NCAA Tournament dreams relied on this one moment. The crowd fell silent in Gund Arena as the ball began to slide into the hoop and Bobcat athletics knew no higher level of drama.
In terms of drama, this basket was the knife that cut the tension and sent Bobcat fans into the biggest celebration since the days of Gary Trent.
Leon's tip-in eclipses Dion Byrum's game-winning interception and touchdown play by length's that are immeasurable. This is because his pick was not a moment of drama but of pure jubilation. If anything, every fan in Peden thought the Bobcats were going to let the game slip away, but when Byrum ended up with the ball with an open route to the end zone, drama was forgotten and insanity began.
Another factor making Leon's game-winner more dramatic was the fact that his game was for a championship and meant so much more than a week two out-of-conference game. The MAC Championship victory put Ohio on the sporting world's map for a week as the Bobcats graced multiple television stations and newspapers around the country.
So, while Athens is currently in a new found football frenzy with the upset victory over Pitt and Byrum being thought of as a top defensive player in the nation, let's not forget about the real moment that truly marked the turn for the better in Ohio athletics.
Pick caps overtime upset
I know what I'm up against. Nick will try to argue that Leon's tip-in was more dramatic because of what it achieved for Ohio or the way that it hung on the rim before finally falling in to clinch the victory. But Dion Byrum's interception-return for a touchdown in overtime to beat Pitt held more drama for a number of reasons.
Leon's tip-in and Dion's interception have some similarities. Both won the game for their respective Bobcat teams in overtime. Both games were being watched nationwide on ESPN2. But there are other facets to Dion's feat that make it more sensational.
Anticipation for the Pitt game had been building since Dec. 17, 2004 -the day coach Frank Solich was hired. He's a big-name guy with loyal supporters all over the country who, along with Ohio fans, had been looking forward to his first win as a Bobcat for almost nine months.
An opening-week loss at Northwestern only increased the drama factor for the home opener and put extra pressure on Solich and the team. The atmosphere in and around Peden all day Friday was indicative of how important this game was for the program and the entire school.
I know it sounds over the top, but Solich's credibility and the tone for the rest of the season were going to be determined by the outcome of the Pitt game.
Sure, both games were in overtime, but the extra period in football is much more dramatic than in basketball. There is no time limit, and the game is on the line with every snap, as Dion proved by snatching Tyler Palko's pass and running it in to seal the deal.
So while Leon's put-back was definitely dramatic in its own right, Dion's game-winner wins this one.
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Nick Miller
