The 'Kick Six', #4 Auburn's 109-yard return of a missed field goal to knock off #1 Alabama in the 2013 Iron Bowl, is often regarded as the most shocking, insane, and wildly entertaining end to a college football game in the history of the sport.
It had all the right ingredients to earn such a title: It was a nationally televised contest featuring the sport's most heated rivals with massive national title implications. Mix in a final play almost too unbelievable to comprehend, and Auburn's 34-28 win over the Crimson Tide will always make the list of the most amazing college football endings ever.
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But did you know there is a final play in 1999 between Baylor and UNLV that is more ludicrous and unfathomable than 2013's Kick Six?
The Setup
It was the second game ever for UNLV head coach and former USC and Los Angeles Rams legend John Robinson. The Rebels had knocked off North Texas 26-3 the week before to end a 16-game losing streak.
Baylor head coach Kevin Stelle was attempting to turn around a program of his own. The Bears were coming off back-to-back 2-9 seasons and had lost the week before to Boston College on a missed PAT in overtime.
A contest clearly off the national radar, no national or local networks broadcast the game on television.
The Bears had the ball on UNLV's 8-yard line with 28 seconds to play and a 24-21 lead. All quarterback Jarmaine Alfred needed to do was take a knee to secure the home victory.
But coach Stelle, determined to instill a more cut-throat mentality in his squad, ordered a run play as time as about to expire.
The Play
Alfred handed the ball off to tailback Darrell Bush. Charging between the tackles, the running back looked to score a garbage touchdown to run up the score. Hit initially at the 3-yard line, Bush continued to churn his legs instead of going down and preserving the victory.
As Bush stretched the football to the goal line, UNLV linebacker Tyler Brickell knocked it loose. Future Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Thomas scooped it up, and a shocked-silenced crowd in Waco watched helplessly as Thomas raced down the left sideline 100 yards for a stunning UNLV victory.
It's difficult to track down video of the play, and this is the only known footage that exist to this day, but scroll to the 4:23 mark to see what's become known as The Wonder of Waco.
The Aftermath: In Their Own Words
Tyler Brickell: "You always practice doing those kind of strips. The opportunity presented itself and I went for it.”
Kevin Thomas: “As soon as I picked up the ball, I knew I was going all the way. I just didn't know if there was a penalty. I had a clear path."
Kevin Steele: "We were trying to create an atmosphere where we line up and get after people. It was a one-in-a-million play, the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen. It all rests right here [with me]. It will go down in history as one of the great, 'Why did you do it?' questions."
John Robinson: “The game was over if (Baylor) chose it to be over, and they tried to run an additional play. That should be the film clip for every coach to remind you not to screw it up.”
Meanwhile, here's one of our favorite Baylor bricks, commemorating the infamous 1999 UNLV game: https://t.co/OhDpP7WxeH (ht /u/BaylorOso) pic.twitter.com/4o5glWRTYO
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) May 16, 2017
