On the heels of being inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame, Lindsey Young offers up five memorable events in a writing career that is in its 38th year.
1. Super Bowl XXXIV: Oh so close
Atlanta was gifted a Super Bowl and, of course, of all things, an ice storm tried to circumvent the nation's biggest sporting event. I was fortunate enough to be paired with the legendary Mark Wiedmer for the week's coverage, which just happened to include the Tennessee Titans.
I remember writing about, among other things, Steve McNair's turf toe and the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" offense. It was the game — named the NFL's 16th-best of all time — that stood out as a pair of teams coming off long non-winning season streaks put on a show that came down to the very end. And half a yard.
The Titans trailed 16-0 after three quarters before McNair engineered three scoring drives to tie the game with under three minutes to play. However, Kurt Warner hit Isaac Bruce on a 73-yard TD pass on the game's next play as the game took another dramatic turn.
McNair, though, wasn't finished and made some clutch throws to reach the St. Louis 12 with time for one play. As the play unfolded, no one in the Georgia Dome was sitting. The Titans cleared the middle of the field with out patterns as Kevin Dyson slanted into the vacant area, caught a quick pass and headed to the end zone.
Rams' linebacker Mike Jones foiled the play with a perfect tackle at the 3, with Dyson stretching to the 1 as the final horn sounded.
2. GHSA 2011 Class AA football championship: Redemption
The Georgia Dome had been a house of horrors for Calhoun as coach Hal Lamb's talented Yellow Jackets lost three consecutive title games to Buford. The two met again in 2011, each undefeated and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state. The Wolves, though, were ranked nationally in several polls and expected to continue to add to the Yellow Jackets' misery.
However, behind perhaps the state's best defense, Calhoun led by 14 points late when disaster struck as Buford — after a game-ending interception was overturned due to penalty — scored on a TD pass with 1:12 remaining.
Calhoun recovered the onside kick, but went three and out and watched in horror as Buford blocked the ensuing punt and returned it for a game-tying touchdown, sending the game into an improbable overtime.
The Jackets' defense, though, bailed them out as linebacker Hunter Knight forced a fumble on Buford's first play and All-American kicker Adam Griffith nailed a field goal to send the Calhoun sideline and the thousands of fans into a frenzy.
3. 1999 AFC Wildcard game: Titanic ending
It's interesting that two of my most memorable moments in sports writing came a few weeks apart and involved the Tennessee Titans. Getting to cover an NFL playoff game is a treat, but none of us in Nashville that day had any idea what was coming.
The Titans' first winning season since moving from Houston was about to end after visiting Buffalo scored in the final half minute to take the lead. One stop on the kickoff would do it, but we all know how that ended.
The kickoff was short, which nearly ruined the Titans' trick-play hopes. Tight end Frank Wycheck, who was in as a blocker, caught the kick and threw a lateral pass (it was close) to Kevin Dyson, who followed a wall of blockers all the way to the end zone to complete the Music City Miracle.
It was voted as the No. 4 moment in NFL history.
Boy, talk about having to do a complete rewrite!
4. 2015 GHSA Class A softball championship: Iron woman
By this point, the Gordon Lee softball program was in the middle of one of the most successful runs in state history. However, a loss in game two at the state tournament in Columbus left the Lady Trojans vulnerable.
Ace pitcher Emily Armour had pitched every meaningful inning for Gordon Lee that year, but could she win five games in two days? The answer was a resounding yes as she pitched all but one inning and capped the title with back-to-back two-hitters in the title round against Vidalia.
5. The Ringgold-Columbus trilogy: Baseball agony
Sometimes memorable moments in this business don't end as we would wish. Ringgold and Columbus met three consecutive years in the GHSA Class AAA baseball playoffs (2010-2012), each ending in agonizing defeat for Brent Tucker's Tigers.
Twice, in 2010 and 2012, state titles were on the line. Ringgold, behind sophomore studs Matthew Crownover and Colton Cross, won three road series to make it to the title round, where they faced another sophomore star in Columbus' Kyle Carter. Though the home team swept a pair of games, 2-1 and 13-6, a rivalry was born.
The teams faced off in the semifinal round in 2011 and Crownover pitched one of the best games I've seen in a 3-1 win over Carter in game one. He struck out 12 and allowed three hits while also delivering a two-run homer.
Ringgold appeared to have the series in hand with an 8-3 lead in game two, but a myriad of mistakes led to a deflating 9-8 loss to force game three. In that deciding game, Carter, held in check offensively to that point, hit three solo homers and earned the pitching save in a 7-3 loss.
Ringgold was the host in 2012 and the place — rebuilt after the 2011 tornado strike — was packed and ready to erupt. Carter and his mates, though, spoiled the party with a 6-3, 11-1 sweep.
Ringgold, at least, got a measure of revenge by winning this past season's postseason series.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com