The KO Classic was one of two CFB games that weekend. We got beat pretty good, but competed well. If that makes any sense.
The Michigan State game was at night. We rallied in the 4th quarter. Took the lead, then had it won, but a penalty negated the win.
From LA Times:
The late kick let Michigan State weather a 13-point fourth-quarter rally that had given Syracuse a 23-20 lead.
Langeloh's kick came after it appeared the Orangemen had taken over on downs with 11 seconds remaining. But the Spartans (1-0) gained a reprieve when Syracuse (1-1-1) was penalized for being offside, and quarterback Dan Enos used the break to hit wide receiver Courtney Hawkins with a 17-yard pass to the Syracuse 26.
Kicker John Biskup had given Syracuse a 23-20 lead with 1:25 to play with a 27-yard field goal, his third of the game.
The Pitt game was a Nooner. SU scores a TD to go up, 20-10. We get the XP blocked and returned for 2 points (which was sort of a new rule). Gulp!. Then Pitt drives 70-80 yards, methodically, behind Alex Van Pelt, for a TD and they get the 2-point conversion.
From Syracuse Newspapers:
Pitt's Mark Gunn blocked an extra point, and the Panthers returned it 90 yards for two points.
Then late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Alex Van Pelt threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Olanda Truitt with 1:30 left and converted the two-point conversion to tie the score.
Someone said it correctly in this thread. MSU really outplayed SU for most of the game and even though the Orangemen rallied, kindsa felt fortunate to get the tie. The Pitt game was one we should have won by 10-14 points.
In both games, in the last few minutes, SU somehow snatched a draw from the jaws of victory.
The easy win at BC essentially ended Jack Bicknell's tenure at BC. The Tulane loss was a joke (sorry, have to say it) and we did not really compete at Miami.
This was when SU was still known for its physicality in bowl games. We shocked Arizona that Christmas Day.