Today in College Football History: Reaction to 9/11

What does Nov. 24 have to do with Sept. 15? That Thanksgiving weekend Saturday is game entry for Today in College Football History.

It’s hard to believe an entire decade has past since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks rocked our nation. The combustible combination of feelings, ranging from shock, sadness, anger and confusion that first week afterward are difficult to replicate, thus difficult to understand when reminiscing on them. I wrote in Sunday’s Post-Amble that sports’ place in society became oh-so-important in the weeks, and even months following 9/11. Sammy Sosa and President Bush were both part in iconic moments celebrating our nation not long after the attacks.

But Major League Baseball, the National Football and yes, college football, all shut down in the days immediately following. College football’s shutdown was a source of some consternation, as the decision to cancel all games scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 13-15 was not met unanimously.

Yes, what would have been Week 3 was postponed across the board, but not without indecision and in-fighting at a time when everyone was joining together. The public scuffle was one of the early black eyes on the Bowl Championship Series.

One of the marquee match-ups slated for that week was Washington’s first trip to the Orange Bowl since snapping Miami’s hallowed home win streak six years earlier in the “Whammy in Miami.” The date was remade the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24. UW was coming off what is its last Rose Bowl berth that 2001 season, and probably would like that date to have been cancelled altogether.

The Whammy was paid back in full, as the unstoppable force that was The U handed Washington a 65-7 drubbing for its troubles. At the forefront was running back Clinton Portis. For all you fantasy football players who read that name with scorn, ignite your ire with this stat line: 12 carries for 105 yards, two rushing touchdowns and one reception for a score (all in the first half).