Football News
Releases
Access
the News Release archive
Cornell-Northwestern clip airs on ESPN
The bizarre ending to Cornell’s 31-30 win over Northwestern Saturday in St. Paul, Minn., is scheduled to air today at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN’s College Football Live, according to college football assignment editor Daniel Kramer.
Kramer said the clip may also run during halftime of tonight’s 6:30 p.m. Oregon State-Cincinnati game on ESPN and on the network’s other highlight shows throughout the weekend.
“Anytime you get on ESPN, it’s significant,” Cornell head coach Matt Dillon said. “They are the four-letter word in our sports society today.”
Northwestern’s Josh Lundeen scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception to pull the Eagles within one point with 51 seconds remaining in the game. As an injured Northwestern player was tended to in the back of the end zone, the home field’s sprinklers turned on in the middle of the field and caused a 15-minute delay. When play resumed, Cornell senior linebacker Chris Gustafson ( Lakewood, Colo./Bear Creek) shot through the middle of the line and blocked Cody Crum’s potential game-tying extra point to save the Rams’ victory.
“It was kind of surreal,” Dillon said. “For one, (the delay) iced their kicker. And two, I think it gave our guys a chance to rest and recover a little bit because we were reeling at that time.”
Gustafson also blocked a PAT after Northwestern’s first touchdown early in the second quarter.
“It’s a designed play, something we have in our package,” Dillon said. “Usually you’re not lucky enough for it to happen twice in the same game.”
Cornell also gained national exposure earlier in the week on ESPN.com in a college football column by Pat Forde with an insert “It Could Be Worse… Well, Maybe.” Click here to view the story.
Last week’s wild finish gave Cornell (1-0) its eighth consecutive season-opening win. The Rams play host to Alma ( Mich.) at 12 p.m. Saturday at Ash Park Stadium.
|
