Biggest Football Heartbreak

[WataugaMan]

Surprised no mention of Vanillanova. But that said, the gumroot game from last year. just couldn't get out of our own way and then started pressing. To quote Shane "Footsteps" Falco: Quicksand.

Or, Florida A&M

[EastHallApp]

I have always disagreed with the criticisms of poor game management against Penn State. Yes we would have had a better chance by running the clock down rather than Moore scoring a TD at that point. But first of all, there's no way you tell him to go down; otherwise you'd just take a knee. And you have to keep in mind the context of how many times our kicking game had cost us big games in recent years before that; that was one year after Wake and two years after Tennessee (among others).

The what-if I think about from that day - besides what if Moore hadn't tip-toed the sideline and stayed in bounds - is the shoestring tackle we just barely missed at the 10 on the ensuing kick return. What if they'd had to go 90 yards instead of 50?

Some people just enjoy complaining and/or second guessing. If Moore had stepped out rather than scoring a TD and then we ran down the clock and missed a FG, the same people would question why in the world Moore would give up the guaranteed points and leave it up to the kicker to win the game.

I agree with you - the error occurred on the kick return.

I think some of it is because Satt had gotten a bit of a reputation by that point due to legitimate game/clock management shortcomings in the losses to Tennessee and Troy in 2016. People also criticized his clock management in the Wake loss even though I thought the coaches and players basically managed the last 2-3 minutes perfectly right up until the FG got blocked.

[EastHallApp]

Surprised no mention of Vanillanova. But that said, the gumroot game from last year. just couldn't get out of our own way and then started pressing. To quote Shane "Footsteps" Falco: Quicksand.

Or, Florida A&M

I did mention FAMU, but you're right, not much mention of that one. I'm surprised the 1995 playoff loss isn't higher on the list, though that was one year before I arrived so I'm less familiar with the specifics of that season.

Seems like the responses are sort of grouped into pre-1995 or so and 2009-present. For whatever reason, mid-90s through early 2000s don't seem to have scarred people as badly.

[asucrazy]

I can lose to anyone but the "STINK", the game where they snapped our 30 game home win streak. If Armanti had got that first down on 4th down at midfield we could have won.

[ASU3432Mi]

The 2011 game @ Blacksburg vs VT. Embarrassing for us Virginia alums. Still stings.

[SpeedkingATL]

The Packer & Durham show on ACC Network was discussing the Biggest Heartbreak Games in recent years for each ACC school. For UNC their loss to Clemson last year was the one they picked as Most Heartbreaking but the loss to Appalachian was also listed as a contender. This made me wonder what folks consider the Most Heartbreaking Losses for ASU over the years.

A few that came to mind were:

09-01-16 Tennessee over ASU 20-13 in Overtime at Knoxville (after ASU was up 13-3 at halftime)

09-23-17 Wake Forest over ASU 20-19 at "The Rock"

09-01-20 #12 Penn State over ASU 45-38 in Overtime at "Happy Valley"

10-31-19 Georgia Southern over ASU 24-21 at "The Rock" (the only loss on an otherwise perfect season and this loss ruined any chance we had at playing in the Cotton Bowl)

Personally, I think the Wake Forest game was the most heartbreaking in my mind...simply because we KNEW we should have won, Wake's coaching staff KNOWS we should have won, and because it was on my BIRTHDAY and it spoiled my day.

You have conveyed my thoughts perfectly. I might have added the playoff loss to Montana in the snow.

[Stonewall]

This season.

[appstate5]

This season by far!!!

[bcoach]

The 2011 game @ Blacksburg vs VT. Embarrassing for us Virginia alums. Still stings.

That never happened.

[AppAlum1]

No question. App vs VMI. No better than a high school team. And we lost a great season and #1 seed in playoffs and home field advantage to a good team with no great players. I think they were 1-10 on the season. It was awful.

[GCappfan]

Its a shame weve never played at VT its a beautiful campus. Maybe we will get a chance to play there one day

[JPatH3292]

Penn state 2018 is without a doubt the most crushing loss I’ve experienced. Was at angry ales in Charlotte with a packed viewing party. It was electric, especially when jalen scored. But once it was over, walking out of there was a depressing scene.
It’s still entertaining to watch the game highlights up until about 1min left

[appfanz]

Surprised no mention of Vanillanova. But that said, the gumroot game from last year. just couldn't get out of our own way and then started pressing. To quote Shane "Footsteps" Falco: Quicksand.

Or, Florida A&M

Or Maine.