Paul Finebaum: What's a loss from your favorite sports team you still can't get over?

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I have to admit, the 2005 punt against Wisconsin and Wisconsin 2019 were what immediately leapt to mind.

I kept wondering "Michigan 2003? What was so big about that game?"
I must have completely blocked it out of my memory because I just looked up the game on Youtube and the memories all came flooding back. :(

I was living in Bozeman at the time and what a time to be a Gopher fan. We were good enough to actually get games on ESPN/2 so I could watch them from afar!

One thing I remember about that game is that Mark May and Trev Alberts were in the pre-game show and the half time show. During the pre-game Trev was just bashing the Gophers and saying Michigan was going to have no problem. But with the score 14-0 at half (and however lopsided the stats were) Trev changed his tune and admitted he was wrong and that the Gophers were in control...and were going to win. In my recollection that's when the Gophers were cursed. :)

What a sickening experience that second half was.

Anyway, thanks everyone for helping me remember that game. :D
 

Sparlimb said:
There was a game I was at in the mid 80s were we were up something like 35-7 over Ohio State and choked it all away in the second half. Just went from dominating to playing like total crap. But the Michigan game on Halloween, where I looked at my wife and said we're going to win this game, only to see us choke choke choke. I'll never forget it.
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In 1989, we were beating Ohio State 31-0 late in the second quarter and had forced a punt to give us the last possession of the half. Instead, we committed a penalty (too many men on the field; roughing the kicker—can’t remember) and the Buckeyes retained possession. They scored a touchdown with a two point conversion setting the stage for our second half collapse. Amazingly, we have twice blown 31 point leads: 38-7 in the Texas Tech game which cost Glen Mason his job.
 

caliGopher said:
Lost by a field goal in overtime - old rules overtime....the closest we've been to a first place finish in the B1G and a trip to the Rose Bowl since 1967—brutal lost opportunity.
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If I recall correctly, we got the ball first in OT. We were called for a hold on a freaking dive play. I think that was our fist play from scrimmage in OT. Anyway, we got backed up, and we ultimately did not score. All the Badgers had to do was run a few plays and kick a field goal to win it.
 

upnorthkid said:
2019 Iowa also on there as it was a classic losing to iowa where we outplay them in almost every facet but find a way to lose despite having a more talented team followed by the blowing college gameday. post psu high, still remember seeing the signs hanging in the dorm windows for the win total at 9-0 and thinking maybe this could be one of those magic years, only for it to get dashed followed by the little bit of hope with the NW win only to be killed again by WI.
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Minnesota never lead that game. Iowa had a double digit lead for the entire 2nd quarter and again in the 4th quarter.

Minnesota had 9 possessions in the game. 5 of which started when they were down double digits.

Minnesota had 2 possessions the entire game in which a TD & PAT would have given them the lead. Their first and last possessions of the game.

Not sure how you can outplay someone in almost every facet and never be in the lead and be down 10-17 points for extended periods of time
 



Xerxes_ said:
Minnesota never lead that game. Iowa had a double digit lead for the entire 2nd quarter and again in the 4th quarter.

Minnesota had 9 possessions in the game. 5 of which started when they were down double digits.

Minnesota had 2 possessions the entire game in which a TD & PAT would have given them the lead. Their first and last possessions of the game.

Not sure how you can outplay someone in almost every facet and never be in the lead and be down 10-17 points for extended periods of time
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by being disgustingly inefficient. hence how iowa has won games for years.
drive one 47 yards and a missed FG
drive two 87 yards and a 24 yd FG
drive three 50 yards but you get sacked and knocked out of the redzone and punt from iowa's 33
drive four 44 yards and riley moss, who is a very smart player, takes a PI in the end zone and PJ opts to kick a FG with no time on the clock from the 2

Half break
drive 5 66 yd TD drive
drive 6 is 76 yards and a turnover on downs on that weird TJ hit sequence for a late hit on 4th down but its a dead ball so we turn it over and then PJ runs on the field and gets his unsportsmanlike
drive 7 is probably the only "bad" drive of the game where we go 3 and out
drive 8 78 yard TD drive
drive 9 pick after morgan gets crushed and game ends

we ran 38 more plays, 140 more yards, but were grossly inefficient (and at times timid) when it mattered as well as committed stupid penalties (the kick catch interference that basically gave IA its only points in the last 36 minutes of the game).

the drive flow of that game felt like we should've been up (and some of this is biased from being there). More an emotional feel I understand (like what the post was about), particularly given the circumstance for us and getting to see the smug smile on Ferentz face knowing he did it to PJ once again.
 

Xerxes_ said:
Minnesota never lead that game. Iowa had a double digit lead for the entire 2nd quarter and again in the 4th quarter.

Minnesota had 9 possessions in the game. 5 of which started when they were down double digits.

Minnesota had 2 possessions the entire game in which a TD & PAT would have given them the lead. Their first and last possessions of the game.

Not sure how you can outplay someone in almost every facet and never be in the lead and be down 10-17 points for extended periods of time
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We outgained Iowa by about 140 yards that game.
 

Some guy said:
A game not seen yet is 1999 Wisconsin

Had they won that game in OT and everything else been the same 1999 is a rose bowl year
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BS holding call against us on a running play in OT killed us. Tyrone Carter was knicked-up & missed a defensive possession and UW scored a touchdown. Never understood why the football gods smiled upon Barry Alvarez other than AD Richter & President Shalala had the audacity to dream big for Badger sports.
 

LesBolstad said:
Remember, it's a Minnesota sports team so if we take a safety WI scores a TD on the last play anyway.
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giphy.gif
 



pregameatblarneys said:
I’d add the ‘05 Wisconsin game at the Dome where a fumbled snap in the end zone lead to a TD and a 4 pt loss. Could have taken the safety and still won
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The added insult to injury was Grinnin' Glen saying afterward "well, we didn't discuss what to do if the punt was blocked or if there was a fumble..."

Best running game coach ever, worst everything else.
 

The game against Iowa where Mo fumbled as we were near the go-ahead score.
I drank way too much that game, and once this misery of that loss set in it was amplified by alcohol and I just felt awful.
My buddy snuck a flask of fireball in and we were suckin on that poison all game. Not proud - but this is how learning is done.

Losing to Purdue at home a couple seasons ago pissed me off to no end.
Losing to Illinois at home was brutal.

I was also gutted by the Michigan collapse some 20 years ago.
 

The loss to South Dakota was probably the lowest of the low for me. USD went 3-6 against FCS teams that year.

I couldn't believe how bad of a place the program was at that point.
 

2019 football at Iowa. Win and we’re in Pasadena for the first time in 59 years. Then PJ’s nuts suck up into his body cavity and he loses all will to win with the most talented Gophers team in my lifetime.

1989 hockey natty in front of a rabid home crowd at the Civic Center. Randy Skarda misses a title by 2 inches off the pipe and we lose to Harvard (Harvard!!) a minute later.
 



WindyCityGopher said:
2019 football at Iowa. Win and we’re in Pasadena for the first time in 59 years. Then PJ’s nuts suck up into his body cavity and he loses all will to win with the most talented Gophers team in my lifetime.

1989 hockey natty in front of a rabid home crowd at the Civic Center. Randy Skarda misses a title by 2 inches off the pipe and we lose to Harvard (Harvard!!) a minute later.
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I mean that loss definitely sucked but I'm not sure what this line means?
 

Married@SiebertField said:
In 1989, we were beating Ohio State 31-0 late in the second quarter and had forced a punt to give us the last possession of the half. Instead, we committed a penalty (too many men on the field; roughing the kicker—can’t remember) and the Buckeyes retained possession.
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Too many men on the field.
Married@SiebertField said:
They scored a touchdown with a two point conversion setting the stage for our second half collapse. Amazingly, we have twice blown 31 point leads: 38-7 in the Texas Tech game which cost Glen Mason his job.
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I was at this game. Perhaps the stupidest play calling ever. At one point we passed three times in a row, two incompletes and one complete but Decker was near the sideline and his momentum easily took him OB. Three key/free TO's for TTU. God I was pissed.
 


MilosRevenge said:
Two lessers but I still think about.

1993: loved Wacker. Won three in a row 59-56 vs Purdue, beat rising Northwestern, kept Wisconsin from a national title. Led 21-9 at Illinois with less than five minutes to go. Lost 23-21. Could’ve been 4-2 in the B1G.

2008: this board was electric. 7-1, ranked #20 hosting 6-2 Northwestern. Reusse was eating crow over Brewster. Tied game in third quarter. Eight minute, 19 play drive to the two yard line. Monroe misses 20(!) yard field goal. Lose on pick six on final play.

Followed by no show against Michigan, blown 21-7 lead at Wisconsin and 55-0 against Iowa.
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I was a grad student in Columbia, SC and watched the game in a bar. I was absolutely sick after the game. I wrote Wacker a letter and he wrote one back!
 

denguegopher said:
I was a grad student in Columbia, SC and watched the game in a bar. I was absolutely sick after the game. I wrote Wacker a letter and he wrote one back!
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Was it strongly worded? If so, which one (or perhaps both)?
 

Ski-U-Ham said:
Was it strongly worded? If so, which one (or perhaps both)?
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I wrote a supportive letter, although I was pissed about the game. When Wacker's nephew, Tim Schade, called an audible to a pass (incomplete) that stopped the clock and pretty much provided Illinois with the chance to win. His letter was friendly and apprecialive.
 


topos said:
Michigan 2015 was pretty awful.

Score the go ahead TD with 19 second left, it gets overturned (Wolitarsky knee down) and we couldn't score from the 1/2 yard line.

Was at the game and surrounded by Michigan fans. Brutal.
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In section 243 we had a putz who dressed like Harbaugh who would stand up & bow with expansive gestures after a big Michigan play. He was the subject of much ridicule after the Wolitarsky catch until he got the last laugh, sadly.
 

Married@SiebertField said:
In section 243 we had a putz who dressed like Harbaugh who would stand up & bow with expansive gestures after a big Michigan play. He was the subject of much ridicule after the Wolitarsky catch until he got the last laugh, sadly.
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It was just as ugly in section 112.
 


Here are just a few to pick from

For Gophers football
  • 2003 Vs. Michigan
  • 2005 Vs. Wisconsin
  • 2006 Vs. Texas Tech
  • 2014 Vs. Illinois
  • 2014 Vs. Wisconsin
  • 2019 Vs. Wisconsin
Gophers Hockey
  • 2014 NCAA Title Game Vs. Union
  • 2023 NCAA Title Game Vs. Quinnipiac
Gophers basketball
  • 2013 Vs. Illinois in BTT
Vikings
  • 1998 NFC Championship Vs. Atlanta
  • 2003 Regular Season Vs. Cardinals
  • 2009 NFC Championship Vs. New Orleans
  • 2015 NFC Wild Card Vs. Seattle
  • 2017 NFC Championship Vs. Philadelphia
  • 2024 Wild Card Vs. Los Angeles
Wild
  • 2008 Playoffs, lost first round after winning division title Vs. Colorado
  • 2017 Playoffs, lost first round after a record 106 PT season Vs. St. Louis
  • 2022 Playoffs, lost first round after a record 113 PT season Vs. St. Louis
Timberwolves
  • 2022 Playoffs, blowing a 26 point lead in loss to Memphis
  • 2024 Playoffs, losing first two home games of WCF to Dallas
  • 2025 Playoffs, losing second home WCF game to OKC by 2
United FC
  • 2020 Blowing a 2-0 lead in the MLS Western Conference Final, losing 3-2 to Seattle
 

WindyCityGopher said:
1989 hockey natty in front of a rabid home crowd at the Civic Center. Randy Skarda misses a title by 2 inches off the pipe and we lose to Harvard (Harvard!!) a minute later.
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And wasn’t that the game where the puck inexplicably hit a gap in the dasher board, where the goalie went back to stop the puck and it got kicked out right to in front of the net for an easy goal?
 


pregameatblarneys said:
I’d add the ‘05 Wisconsin game at the Dome where a fumbled snap in the end zone lead to a TD and a 4 pt loss. Could have taken the safety and still won
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This is mine. The paint thinner drinking skunk dick bags sitting around me almost didn't make it home to their families that night.
 



Gophers
2003 Michigan
2005 Wisconsin
2015 Michigan

Vikings
2009 NFC Championship (New Orleans)
1998 NFC Championship (Atlanta)
2017 NFC Championship (Philly)....absolute gut punch after the Miracle

Twins
2006 ALDS Game 1 (Oakland)...it's a crime that 06 team didn't win the pennant.

Gopher Hockey
1989 NCAA Championship (Hah-vahd)
2022 NCAA Championship (Quinnipiac)
 

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