Okay, let’s talk about that 1997 national championship business. It wasn’t really a ‘practice’ like coding or building something, more like a personal experience I remember really clearly, something I went through as a fan back then.
Setting the Scene
So, it’s late 1997, early 1998. College football season’s wrapping up. I was really into it back then, like, really into it. Didn’t miss a Saturday. This particular year felt different. You had these powerhouse teams, especially Michigan and Nebraska, just rolling over everyone. Undefeated. The hype was building up, you know?
The Buildup and the Games
I remember gearing up for the bowl games. It wasn’t like today with a clear playoff structure. Back then, it was the bowl system and the polls, AP and Coaches’. It was messy, but kinda exciting too, lots of arguments with buddies about who was really the best.
So, first, I watched Michigan play Washington State in the Rose Bowl. Nail-biter. Seriously tense game. Michigan pulls it off, stays undefeated. Felt like, okay, that’s it, they sealed it. They were dominant all year, especially that defense with Charles Woodson. Felt pretty clear-cut to me at that moment.
- Got the snacks ready.
- Called up a couple of friends.
- Glued to the TV for the whole game.
- Big celebration when Michigan won. Thought it was settled.
Then Came the Twist
But then, the next day, or maybe it was the day after, Nebraska plays Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. And Nebraska just destroys them. Completely. Osborne’s last game, Tommie Frazier wasn’t playing that year obviously, but Scott Frost was QB and they just looked unstoppable. Powerful running game, just classic Nebraska football.
Suddenly, it wasn’t so clear-cut anymore. You had two undefeated teams from major conferences, both looking dominant in their final games. Michigan won the AP poll, Nebraska won the Coaches’ poll. And boom, split national championship.
My Takeaway Back Then (and Now)
I remember feeling… weird about it. Frustrated, maybe? Like, how can you have two champs? It felt unsatisfying. We spent weeks arguing about it. Who deserved it more? Michigan’s tough schedule and Rose Bowl win? Nebraska’s absolute dominance in their bowl game and Osborne retiring?
It was confusing. It wasn’t a neat little package. There wasn’t one moment, one winner to point to. Looking back now, it was just part of how college football worked then. Flawed? Yeah, probably. But it generated endless debate, which was kinda fun in its own way.
So, my ‘practice’ related to the 1997 championship was really just living through it as a fan. Following the teams, watching the key games intently, feeling the excitement, the tension, and then the confusion and endless debates that followed the split decision. It’s a strong memory of how different things were before the playoff era. You just watched the games, hoped the polls got it right, and argued with your friends when they inevitably didn’t agree. That was the experience.
