STILLWATER — A photograph taken by The Associated Press perfectly captures one moment that defined the 2012 Fiesta Bowl.
Nigel Nicholas looks like he's flying as he hurls himself over the left shoulder of a Stanford lineman. Davidell Collins' right hand is thrown into the air near the middle of the shot. Brodrick Brown is barreling toward Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson's left side.
And Williamson is about to strike the ball with his right foot.
Seconds after this photo was taken, Williamson's 43-yard field-goal attempt would go wide left — again — on Stanford's first overtime possession. Then, Oklahoma State would take the ball, nearly score the game-winning touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Brandon Weeden to Colton Chelf and then clinch the 41-38 victory on a chip-shot field goal by Quinn Sharp.
Here's what the play in the photo was like for Collins and Brown, in their own words.
BEFORE
Collins: “Our hearts were set on blocking it. They told us it was all up to us. We had in our mindset that we had to do this for the team. We had to go all out, give our bodies no matter what.”
