What is the most gut-wrenching Sporting Event...

that you've attended in person, where the outcome just made you sick? :roll:

Mine was BYU vs. USC in football a few years back in Los Angeles. BYU got down 21-0 in the first quarter, and i had like 5 polynesian guys right behind me letting me know all about it. At halftime it was 21-5...then they scored 13 straight to get to 21-18 with a lot of momentum, and me and 20,000 other Cougar fans sitting in that end zone let those 5 dudes know about it. USC got the momentum back drove the football about 80 yards...a methodical drive that ran the clock down. They ended up tacking on another TD and won 35-18. What made it so heartbreaking especially was USC forced 5 turnovers and scored 21 points off of them. The icing on the cake was those 5 dudes while we were leaving saying "I can't believe those idiots thought they could actually beat us." hahahaha....they were right...what were we thinking.


on a side note...USC went on to win the National Championship that year...and BYU spiralled down to the cellar of the MWC and never got out unitl this last season.

 

Most of the "gut wrenching" or "nail bitting" games I have attended were either back in high school or college football games. When I was in High School we made it to the state basketball championship and were heavy underdogs to Pike and we inevitably lost, but it was a fantastic experience. The build up of sectional, regionals and semi state were fantastic...Most fun I've had watching basketball in my life.

When I was at IU we had some great games against UNC, Ohio State, Notre Dame and of course Purdue. Wasn't too big into IU football...Ball State University had a great game against IU this past football season and we actually sold out the stadium. Coulnd't believe it. Great game, but again on the losing end.

So, those events stick out in my mind as the most gut wrenching events I've seen in person. On TV though...final fours and buzzer beaters are great...but nothing lives up to the Champions League Final of 2005 followed by the FA Cup Final of 2006.

 

2004 Southern Miss at nebrasksa. In 99?, Southern Miss had come close to beating them in Lincoln. This time around many thought they had the same chance. It was 9-3 USM at half. NU came out in 2nd half and scored two quick touchdowns and took the lead 17-9. USM scored and missed 2-pt conversion for 17-15 score. USM then scored midway in the 4th quarter and managed to hold on for the 21-17 win. I say this game mostly because it's freshest in my memory. There are two more that were just as huge that I attended. Southern Miss beating Bear Bryant in his last game ever home game at Alabama. And Southern Miss beating Florida State when FSU was #2 in the country and USM had a QB named Brett Favre.

 

dtwondough...I use to be an avid Husker fan due in part to a majority of my family living in Omaha. Thanks for bringing up that troubling memory again. Terrible game.

I have over the past few paid less and less attention to football, baseball and basketball. Basically I am consumed by the world's game.

 

This is.

 

May 1975 Wembley losing to West Ham FA Cup Final

 

BC vs. Miami 2001. BC blew a huge first half lead in the 4th quarter, then marched down the field in the last minutes of the game. Needing a touchdown, the Eagles had 1st and goal at the Miami 4 with just over a minute remaining. Least creative coach ever, Tom O'Brien, called off tackle left three times in a row, netting 1 yard. But wait! Penalty on Miami on 3rd down! BC now had 1st and goal at the 1 yd line. Completely expecting O'Brien's pathetic play calling, Miami's defense was shifted right and their strong safety was sitting right in the gap between the tackle and guard. So what does O'Brien call? Play action? Nope. Screen right? Nope. QB sneak? Not a chance. Off fucking tackle left 4 straight times???? You got it! Naturally, every try was stuffed, BC lost, and half the crowd attempted to pitch themselves off the top row of Alumni Stadium.
Thankfully, O'Brien is finally gone, giving us hope of a playbook that's more than one page long.

 

Wow did this catch me off guard on a slow wednesday. Well along w/ now being the proud new owner of a Fulham season ticket, I've been Eagles season ticket holder for almost 15 years. I've witnessed them mess the bed 3 times w/ a trip to the superbowl on the line, but 02 against the Bucs was by far the toughest. I still see Ronde Barber streaking down the field in my sleep. Great thread!

 

Congrats on the season tickets phillybiz. Look forward to seeing another FulhamUSA member at CC. Sorry for the misfortune with the Eagles...is McNabb still rumoured to be joining the Bears?

 

man...i remember that game...i was sick for a week after. the eagles just can't get over the hump, can they?

 

Hey Team_of_Carraghers... I knew I didn't like you for a reason DAMN Hoosier!!! Get ready to have many years to come of "gut-wrenching" basketball games when IU plays the New and improved Boilers!!!!!!! haha just bustin your chops!!!! But seriously Purdue will reign supreme over the inferior IU basketball program for the next 4 years (at least)!!

Anywho, gut wrenching was watching OSU score a 40 yard 4 down 2 yards to go winning touchdown against Purdue!! OSU was number 1 in the nation at the time. I was in the student section. Probably the quickest mood switch I ever experienced!!

 

The sad sad boiler fans always attempting to knock the Hoosiers off the top. Have a bit too many last night? If you guys couldn't win with Keady you won't win with anyone else.

Now coming to football...I am heart broken for Coach Hep's family, friends and the entire university. He was a great man with a fantastic personality. He will be dearly missed. Coach Hep had IU improving and it is my belief that they are a sleeper in the Big Ten. Ready for James Hardy's blistering speed mixed with size and hands? Didn't think so...Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers...

 

I've got two...

First... KU vs. Arizona in Birmingham, AL, Sweet Sixteen in '97 (my senior year... I was in the band... front row for the game). KU had a STACKED team... LaFrentz, Pierce, Pollard, Vaughn... there was no way they weren't getting to the Final Four that year. Four years of devoted following of the 'Hawks and this was their best shot at the Final Four... Then they ran into Mike Bibby and the juggernaut that was Arizona that year. As a 4-seed to rip through three No. 1s on their way to the title... I remember seeing Roy Williams in the tunnel after the game and he couldn't even speak. Just awful...

Second... My freshman year at Kansas... KU vs. Nebraska in Lawrence. KU hadn't beaten Nebraska in 25+ years... KU scores a TD with under a minute to go to come within one point... Glen Mason, not being one to tie at home, goes for two... and it goes just off the fingertips of the TE in the end zone... couldn't have been any closer to being caught except the big lug Trev Alberts happened to be in the wrong spot at the right time and barely tipped it... I've never felt energy go out of 55K like that so fast... The cops were already around the goalposts in case they converted the try.

 

mnlandshark, one person's torture is another's bliss. As a AZ Wildcat, that 97' game (I wasn't there) and tourney run was amazing, that KU team might have been Williams' best team and I remember Jason Terry talking payback before the game (KU knocked us out of the Sweet 16 the year previous), I just wanted him to shut up.

My 2 games, first on the college b-ball level..1992 my buddies and I did a roadtrip to from LA to SLC for what we assumed was going to be 3 days and Arizona lost to a Santa Clara (15th seed) in the first round w/a 6'7'' surfer dude for a center & a pimple-faced freshman point guard by the name of Steve Nash, we were so bummed out we didn't even stay the night (nice 15 hour roundtrip).

Game 5 ALCS Angels vs Red Sox. October 1986 at the Big A. My dad found a couple of tickets to see the Angels clinch their first pennant, Gene Mauch about to get the monkey off his back. They get w/in 1 strike of winning it and can you say DAVE HENDERSON. What non-Angel fans forget is that the Halos fought back and tied it in the bottom of the 9th and had a man on 3rd w/1 one out and Doug DeCinces popped out on the 1st pitch that was over his head. Boston won it in extras, were going to end the curse by beating the Mets...then Holy Bill Buckner (I wonder if he would have preferred it they had just lost to the Halos like they should have).

 

If someone brings up the Cubs blowing the series to the Marlins and the Steve Bartman incident as their most gut wrenching moment I think I will lose it...

 

man....you had some down times w/ Roy Williams and all those GREAT teams he had at Kansas that could never get over the hump. That particular year for sure I thought they could win it all with that stacked team. A few years earlier...can't remember if it was '94 or '95, they had a real good team too. got beat in the Sweet 16 by Virginia...and the sick part is the game was played in Kansas City...it was a for sure shoo in to the Final Four because they had such a home court advantage (this was before the pod system) and I remember alot of people complaning about that. But, it didn't matter cuz UVA knocked them out. I feel your pain bro.

 

I was at that game, too... would have been in '96, if I remember correctly.

Yeah... those were some bad bad bad tournaments...

 

For me, it was the Illinois vs Michigan NCAA basketball final back in the day (can't remember the year---late 80's I think). Illinois was ahead and lost on a last second rebound and put back by Michigan. All the Illinois player had to do was block that guy out.

Actually, I take that back, the most gut wrenching moment was when my high school football team was in the playoffs and the QB and I (running back) had a bad exchange and fumbled the ball with a minute left. We were behind by 3 points and were marching on them. Ended my senior season. Haven't watched the game to this day.

 

Were you playing football in Indiana? If so, what High School? I use to pay fairly close attention to HS football.