The OB:Greatest Moments in Orange Bowl History-"The Epic in Miami"

In 5 days, the Miami Orange Bowl will hold its final event as the Miami Hurricanes host the Virginia Cavaliers. To honor the legacy of this amazing stadium, I am doing a countdown of the greatest moments in Orange Bowl History. Here is a complete recap.

5.The 1995 Orange Bowl
4.Miami/Boston College 1984
3.Miami/Maryland 1984

Our next moment comes from the NFL. It is the Epic in Miami between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins. This game will is remembered for it's hard play and battle between two great teams. Our story begins in 1972.

It was the 1972 season that the Miami Dolphins finished 17-0, the only team in the modern era(1970-Today) to have accomplished such a feet. The 1973 team went 12-2 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs en route to a 24-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII. However, a last second lost to the Oakland Raiders in the Divisional Playoffs would be the beginning of the end of the Dolphins' dynasty. In the 1975 offseason stars Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, and Jim Kiick would leave the Dolphins to joined the short-lived World Football League.

In 1980, Miami drafted a Quarterback, David Woodley out of LSU to take over for an aging Bob Griese. In 1981, the Dolphins went 11-4-1 alternating between Woodley and Don Strock. Meanwhile in San Diego, the Chargers led the NFL in points scored en route to a 10-6 record with Quarterback Dan Fouts and Coach Don Croyell. The stage was set for a January 2nd meeting in the Orange Bowl.

The Chargers scored quick to take a 3-0 lead. The Chargers defense stopped Miami and Receiver Wes Chandler ran it back 56 yards to make it 10-0. San Diego then kicked an onside kick to get the ball back en route to making it 17-0. On the following drive, Woodley threw a pick and 1 play later, Fouts connected with James Brooks for a touchdown and after 1 it was Chargers 24 Dolphins 0.

At the beginning of the 2nd Quarter, Coach Don Shula replaced Woodley with Strock. Strock managed to drive the Dolphins down field but had to settle with a Field Goal to cut it to 24-3. The Dolphins bounced back on defense forcing a fumble that lead to a Strock touchdown to make it 24-10. With 6 seconds left til halftime, Strock connected to Duriel Harris, who caught the ball and lateraled it to Tony Nathan, who would score a touchdown to make it 24-17. The play was the first ever "Hook and Ladder". At halftime it was Chargers 24 Dolphins 17.

In the 3rd Quarter, Miami rode the momentum and Strock drove them 74 yards to make it 24-24. Suddenly San Diego's big lead was gone. With more urgency, San Diego responded with a touchdown of their own when Fouts connected with Kellen Winslow(yes the guy on the Browns' father played football too(and did a better job too))to take a 31-24 lead. Strock drove them back down again completing 6 straight passes to tie it at 31. At the end of the 3rd Quarter it was Chargers 31 Dolphins 31.

The 4th Quarter began with Miami's first lead of the game off a 12 yard run by Tony Nathan to make it 38-31. Miami tried to run the clock out, but Andra Franklin fumbled the ball to give it back to the Chargers at the Chargers 18 with 4 and half minutes remaining. Fouts lead the team to the Miami 9 and connected with Brooks to tie the game and send it to overtime. At the end of regulation it was Chargers 38 Dolphins 38.

By this point, nearly all players on both sides were exhausted from the play. The Chargers won the toss and drove to the Miami 9 before a bad snap killed their Field Goal opportunity. Miami managed to drive down field too but the kick was low and blocked. The Chargers took over at their own 16 and drove to the Miami 10 and it was over as Rolf Benirschke's 29 yard field goal was good to give the Chargers a 41-38 victory.

It was over, Miami had came from behind only to fall short. In the locker room San Diego's players celebrated quietly due to the exhaustion the game caused for the players. The Miami Herald dubbed it "The Miracle that Died" while Sports Illustrated called it "The Game No One Should Have Lost". The next week, San Diego went from an 80 degree Miami to a -59 degree(wind chill) Cincinnati and a 27-7 loss to the Bengals. Following the loss to Cincinnati, San Diego would not have another winning season until 1992.

Meanwhile the game meant as a resurgance for the Dolphins. They would bounce back the next year only to lose to the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. In this time, Miami would lose Strock and Woodley and gain Dan Marino who would lead the team to multiple winning seasons over the next 15 years.

As for many of the players and coaches, Dan Fouts would play 4 more seasons before retiring in 1987. Charlie Joiner would play 3 more seasons in San Diego, retiring in 1986. Star Tight End Kellen Winslow would have his first child Kellen Winslow Jr. in 1983 and retired in 1987.

As for the Dolphins, Coach Don Shula was in Miami for 13 more years before retiring in 1995 as the All-Time Winningest Coach in NFL history. David Woodley would play mediocre in Super Bowl XVII and was sent to Pittsburgh in 1983 and was retired by 1985. On May 4, 2003, David Woodley died of kidney and liver failure at age 44. Don Strock would leave Miami in 1988 and was sent to Cleveland, where he played 1 season. Strock would finish his career in Indianapolis in 1989. In 2002, Strock was hired as Coach of Florida International, but was fired in 2006 going 15-41.

The Epic in Miami is considered by some to be the Greatest Football Game of All-Time. But if there is one picture that defines it, it is the picture of an exhausted Kellen Winslow being carried off the field by his teammates(pictured below).