I know, the title doesn't sound like it has anything to do with SEC Football, but bear with me. This is the story of how the fates of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Chicago Cubs, the Miami Dolphins, the WVU Mountaineers, the LSU Tigers & the Michigan Wolverines would all be vastly different had Bartman not caught that foul ball.
I read a thread on CFB Reddit by a user named DisraeliEers, which I can't link here due to profanity in the comments, but I found the post so interesting, that I thought I'd try and convey and expound upon it's ideas here. It's definitely a stretch, but it's a fun idea, and it's a fun off-season topic. Feel free to google the original article.
In game 6 of the 2003 NL Championship series between the Cubs & Marlins, Steve Bartman interfered with a foul ball and made history. The Cubs went on to lose the game and eventually the NLCS sending the Marlins to the World Series.
In 2003, the Marlins and the Dolphins shared the same stadium and since the Marlins were in the World Series, the dirt on the pitchers mound remained on the playing field for a couple extra weeks during the early weeks of the NFL season.
One of those weeks, October 19th, 2003, the Dolphins played the Patriots. Olindo Mare, one of the best kickers in the game, missed 2 FG, both of which were kicked from the area used for the pitchers mound. Both missed kicks were blamed on kicking off of the soft dirt instead of the usual grass. The game went to OT where the Dolphins eventually lost.
The Dolphins finished their season at 10-6, one game shy of the playoffs. This was the second straight season the Dolphins had missed the playoffs, a first since 1996. The team was traded away & free agents were allowed to walk in order to rebuild the team. The next season, the Dolphins started 1-8, their coach, Dave Wannstedt left midway thru the season and became the Pittsburgh Panthers head coach. Nick Saban left LSU for the Dolphins, and Les Miles left OkSU for LSU.
In his 3rd season at Pitt, Wannstedt lead the Panthers to one of the biggest upsets of the decade. At 4-7 and a 28.5 point underdog, they took down the #2 Mountaineers in Morgantown, a team that was poised to play in the 2007 National Title game. This loss propelled a 2-loss LSU team back into the national title game where they eventually won and helped continue the streak of current SEC BCS Championships.
This loss is also what propelled Rich Rodriguez into the Michigan job. Had WVU won, Rodriguez would have stayed. What coach in their right mind leaves for another job when their current team is set to play in the National Title game? If Rodriguez stays at WVU, the SEC, and Alabama might look completely different.
Miles would have probably left for Michigan, leaving the door open for a Saban return to LSU. Remember, this was all during the time Saban was on the verge of leaving the Dolphins. Given the prospects of returning to an already stocked LSU team that he had built, or trying to rebuild a struggling Alabama program, I believe he would have returned to LSU.
The only point of contention is how much did the Dolphins missing the postseason for the 2nd straight year in 2003 really cause in regards to players leaving the team/rebuilding. Most believe quite a bit. Had the Dolphins gone 11-5, they wouldn't have let so many veterans walk away and they most certainly wouldn't have started 1-8 the following season.
Without Bartman catching that fly ball, the SEC wouldn't have 6 straight, and the league wouldn't have the recruiting advantage we currently do. Alabama probably wouldn't have Nick Saban. Either Ohio State or WVU would have an additional National Title. LSU probably wouldn't have Les Miles, Michigan wouldn't have Brady Hoke, WVU would probably still have Rich Rodriguez, etc. The outcry over the current BCS system probably wouldn't exist because 2 SEC teams wouldn't have played in the National Title game last year thus forcing other commissioners to rethink the NCAA postseason. Conference realignment either wouldn't have happened, or it would look much different than what we currently have. Had WVU won the National Title in 2007, I believe they would have been the 14th team invited to the SEC, not Missouri. Heck, the Cubs might even have finally won a World Series!
I read a thread on CFB Reddit by a user named DisraeliEers, which I can't link here due to profanity in the comments, but I found the post so interesting, that I thought I'd try and convey and expound upon it's ideas here. It's definitely a stretch, but it's a fun idea, and it's a fun off-season topic. Feel free to google the original article.
In game 6 of the 2003 NL Championship series between the Cubs & Marlins, Steve Bartman interfered with a foul ball and made history. The Cubs went on to lose the game and eventually the NLCS sending the Marlins to the World Series.
In 2003, the Marlins and the Dolphins shared the same stadium and since the Marlins were in the World Series, the dirt on the pitchers mound remained on the playing field for a couple extra weeks during the early weeks of the NFL season.
One of those weeks, October 19th, 2003, the Dolphins played the Patriots. Olindo Mare, one of the best kickers in the game, missed 2 FG, both of which were kicked from the area used for the pitchers mound. Both missed kicks were blamed on kicking off of the soft dirt instead of the usual grass. The game went to OT where the Dolphins eventually lost.
The Dolphins finished their season at 10-6, one game shy of the playoffs. This was the second straight season the Dolphins had missed the playoffs, a first since 1996. The team was traded away & free agents were allowed to walk in order to rebuild the team. The next season, the Dolphins started 1-8, their coach, Dave Wannstedt left midway thru the season and became the Pittsburgh Panthers head coach. Nick Saban left LSU for the Dolphins, and Les Miles left OkSU for LSU.
In his 3rd season at Pitt, Wannstedt lead the Panthers to one of the biggest upsets of the decade. At 4-7 and a 28.5 point underdog, they took down the #2 Mountaineers in Morgantown, a team that was poised to play in the 2007 National Title game. This loss propelled a 2-loss LSU team back into the national title game where they eventually won and helped continue the streak of current SEC BCS Championships.
This loss is also what propelled Rich Rodriguez into the Michigan job. Had WVU won, Rodriguez would have stayed. What coach in their right mind leaves for another job when their current team is set to play in the National Title game? If Rodriguez stays at WVU, the SEC, and Alabama might look completely different.
Miles would have probably left for Michigan, leaving the door open for a Saban return to LSU. Remember, this was all during the time Saban was on the verge of leaving the Dolphins. Given the prospects of returning to an already stocked LSU team that he had built, or trying to rebuild a struggling Alabama program, I believe he would have returned to LSU.
The only point of contention is how much did the Dolphins missing the postseason for the 2nd straight year in 2003 really cause in regards to players leaving the team/rebuilding. Most believe quite a bit. Had the Dolphins gone 11-5, they wouldn't have let so many veterans walk away and they most certainly wouldn't have started 1-8 the following season.
Without Bartman catching that fly ball, the SEC wouldn't have 6 straight, and the league wouldn't have the recruiting advantage we currently do. Alabama probably wouldn't have Nick Saban. Either Ohio State or WVU would have an additional National Title. LSU probably wouldn't have Les Miles, Michigan wouldn't have Brady Hoke, WVU would probably still have Rich Rodriguez, etc. The outcry over the current BCS system probably wouldn't exist because 2 SEC teams wouldn't have played in the National Title game last year thus forcing other commissioners to rethink the NCAA postseason. Conference realignment either wouldn't have happened, or it would look much different than what we currently have. Had WVU won the National Title in 2007, I believe they would have been the 14th team invited to the SEC, not Missouri. Heck, the Cubs might even have finally won a World Series!
