Executives and entrepreneurs - take notice of what happened last night in Glendale, Arizona at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The powerhouse football team, the Oklahoma Sooners, fell as the overwhelming heavy favorite to the Boise State Broncos. How did this happen? Through pure passion, energy, positive attitude and teamwork.
The Broncos jumped out to a 28 - 10 lead. But the tide turned and with just 1:26 to go in the fourth quarter, the Sooners, down by eight, quickly marched down the field and scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie the score at 28.
After the ensuing kickoff, Boise State's quarterback, Jared Zabransky, made an apparent game-ending blunder by throwing an interception to Sooners' Marcus Walker who scampered untouched for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Just like that in a span of thirty seconds, undefeated Boise State went from leading by a touchdown to trailing by a touchdown. I was really down at this point. The clock had literally struck midnight (in Dallas) and the Cinderalla team's run was about to end. I was disheartened.
And then with seven seconds left, facing 4th down and 18 yards to go for a first down, with the ball at midfield, the unbelievable happened. On a razzle/dazzle play, ESPN called it a hook-and-ladder, Zabransky completed a pass to Drisan James at the 35, who then pitched the ball to Jerard Rabb who sprinted into the endzone. Amazingly, on the last possible play for Boise, against all odds, Zabransky and the Broncos tied the score.
Into overtime the game went tied at 35 - 35.
The Broncos won the coin toss and elected to start on defense. The Sooners scored a touchdown on the first play.
Again, against all odds, down to the last play, the Broncos faced a fourth down and five yards to go for the touchdown. With the quarterback Zabransky lined up wide to the left, the Sooners looked confused. I must admit, so was I. The center hiked to the running back Vinny Perretta, and on a bootleg to the right, Perretta threw a touchdown to Derek Schouman.
Trailing 42 - 41, Bronco's coach Chris Petersen decided to go for two in an attempt to win it all.
Zabransky lined up over the center, with three receivers set wide to the right. Zabransky faked a throw to the right. The Sooners bought the fake. Placing the ball on his left hip, Zabransky executed a perfect Statue of Liberty, handing off to Ian Johnson who went left into the endzone.
Boise State won 43 - 42 in the most exciting college football game I ever saw.
Zabransky's passion, energy, and don't quit attitude carried the team to victory.
The Boise State Broncos are THE national champions. A perfect season. 13 - 0.
A perfect ending. And a perfect lesson for executives and entrepreneurs.
Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive