If you want last-gasp sporting drama, turn on college sports finals.
The breathless March Madness basketball win by Villanova last year was beyond belief and almostincomprehensible in its brilliance.
Yet step forward the Clemson Tigers, South Carolina’s football finest who lifted their first national title for 36 years last Monday with a similarly incredulous recovery, scoring in the very last second to cap an amazing comeback and win 35-31.
It was magical stuff.
All the ingredients were there in the first ever final to be a repeat of the previous year’s encounter. You had the might of Alabama, who’ve won four of the last seven national titles. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, the native Alabaman and former player, leading the charge against his alma mater.
Millions spent on their sporting programme with only hard luck tales to show for it. Indeed, such was the regularity of things not going to plan on the field, the word ‘Clemsoning’ was invented.
Yes, it got that bad. The programme was laughed at, changes were forever being made. Their home, dubbed ‘Death Valley’, never felt so aptly named.
Nine players were lost in the last NFL draft – a large number which was just behind powerhouse Ohio State’s 12 – though expectations of another glory push remained high mainly thanks to star quarterback Deshaun Watson’s magic arm.
Alabama were physically and mentally imposing, riding the Crimson tide on a 26-game winning streak while the supremely talented Watson had felt snubbed by being overlooked for the Heisman Trophy.
Revenge was also desperate to be served. Last season’s 45-40 defeat at the same stage still desperately hurt. So close, yet so far.
The stakes were sky-high. Clemson have invested too much not to see results. And so it eventually came to pass in the most Hollywood manner possible.
The fourth quarter in Tampa was excitement personified. The lead changed four times, though Watson had the final say. He found Hunter Renfrow for that vital score, was the dominant force and ultimately the difference.
A bright future surely beckons both for the player and his soon to be former team.
The reason college football is loved in the US is because of the never-say-die attitude of the players. Most won’t make it to the NFL. Most will fall back into obscurity and carry on their lives.
Yet for these magic moments, everyone is a sporting superstar.
And the results are excitement, passion and carefree action which brings sensational attendances throughout the country and makes college sports the billion dollar industry it is.
It’s an alien concept to people outside the US, yet a proud staple of the sporting landscape for those who live here.
“Eight years ago we set out to put Clemson back on top,” said Swinney.“We came up a little short last year, but today on top of the mountain, the Clemson flag is flying. When I got the job, there were lids on the programme like, ‘OK, Clemson, you can only do this, but don’t go any higher than that.
“You can win nine, but let’s don’t win 10’. We just have slowly knocked off the lids off the programme, and this was the last one.”
Of course, now the pressure is on the Tigers to keep the momentum flying although with a roster deep with emerging talent, all bodes well in that regard.
Yet it’s not only the work on the field which has helped Clemson realise their dream. Their recruiting has been spot on – they have been able to attract some of the best high school players who are then trained expertly, thus ensuring the talent pool never runs dry.
Of course, state of the art facilities help. Deep pockets full of cash are handy too. This, however, is a tale of hard work, dedication and never giving up.
Clemson are proud with over 70,000 attending a victory parade.
It was some party. And rightly so.
