TOWSON, Md. - The 2011-12 school year was one filled with memories and highlights for Tiger athletics. The Top 10 Moments from 2011-12 contains some individual highlights in addition to those involving the teams. Make sure to check back each Tuesday and Thursday to see what moments made it.
Every sports fan has that special play or plays that they know and will always remember where they were when it happened. That special play that will live on is the No. 1 moment on the Tiger Top 10 Countdown from the 2011-12 school year.
“4TH AND 29”: In football history, there are certain expressions that refer to memorable games or plays in a team’s history.
In Denver, “the Drive” refers to the Bronocs’ 98-yard drive in the final minutes of the 1986 AFC Championship Game in Cleveland that led to a win. Ask any Boston College fan about the “Hail Mary” and you will be told all about Doug Flutie’s 50-yard TD pass to Gerard Phelan on the final play in a 1984 win at Miami.
The “Stanford Band Play” refers to a five-lateral kickoff return in the final seconds that enabled California to edge Stanford while the Cardinal Band came on the field in 1982. Pittsburgh fans will always recall the “Immaculate Reception” that enabled Franco Harris to score on a deflected 60-yard touchdown pass in a playoff win over Oakland in 1972. When the “Helmet Catch” is mentioned, football fans remember David Tyree’s memorable reception the New York Giants’ 17-14 Super Bowl win over New England. The phrase “Wide Right” brings pain to any fan of the Buffalo Bills, who recalls Scott Norwood’s missed field goal at the end of Super Bowl XXV.
Last year, a new phrase entered the terminology for Colonial Athletic Association football fans - “4th and 29.”
It refers to the miraculous touchdown pass that lifted the Tigers to an improbable 39-35 victory at Old Dominion.
With 1:17 remaining and the Tigers trailing by 35-32, they faced a fourth-down-and-29 play from their own 37-yard line. Quarterback Grant Enders, who had left the game for a play after being sacked on second down, returned to the field for the Tigers’ last chance play.
He took the snap and rolled to his right, getting a terrific block from Dominique Booker. Enders looked for his favorite target, Tom Ryan near the ODU 35-yard line as the Tigers were trying for a first down. Ryan out jumped two ODU defenders, caught the ball and took off for the end zone. He finally made it, dragging safety Paul Morant the final ten yards into the end zone.
It is a play that will long be remembered by anyone in attendance and it gave the Tigers a 39-35 victory that propelled them to the CAA championship.
The Top 10 Moments From 2011-12
June 7 - Honorable Mention Selections
June 12 - No. 10 - Lingmai's No-Hitter
June 14 - No. 9 - Men's Basketball Losing Streak Ends
June 19 - No. 8 - Baseball sweeps James Madison
June 21 - No. 7 - Women's Lacrosse Plays Man-Down to Win CAA Title
June 26 - No. 6. - Football Plays Before Sell-Out Crowd for FCS Playoff Game
June 28 - No. 5 - Men's Lacrosse Pulls Off 10-9 Double Overtime win at Hofstra
July 2 - No. 4 - Women's Lacrosse Wins in Double OT to Clinch Regular Season Title
July 5 - No. 3 - Football Clinches CAA Championship with win at Rhode Island
July 10 - No. 2 - First Family Attends the Men's Basketball Home Opener
July 12 - No. 1 - 4th & 29 Catch Leads Football team to 39-35 Win at ODU
