OT Victory Puts Toledo In the History Books

LAS VEGAS Gary Pinkel didn't know what to expect after Toledo andNevada found themselves going into a historic overtime in the LasVegas Bowl.

This was, after all, uncharted territory for any major collegefootball coach.

"That's the first time I've ever had to play a fifth quarter,"Pinkel said after his No. 25 Toledo team emerged from the first majorcollege overtime game with a 40-37 victory Thursday night againstNevada in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Toledo, capping an undefeated season, assured itself both a spotin the final national rankings and in the history books by putting aquick overtime end to what was a marathon game. It was the firsttest of the new NCAA overtime rules for bowl games, and even Nevadacoach Chris Ault proclaimed it a success.

"Tie games are a crime in college football," Ault said "The oldguard needs to get off their butts and have tiebreakers in allgames."

Ironically, the only blemish on Toledo's 11-0-1 record was a28-28 tie with Miami of Ohio midway through the regular season.

"This is the best way to do it," Pinkel said. "It gives eachteam an opportunity to win it."

Nevada had that opportunity first, after Toledo won the cointoss and elected to go on defense to begin the overtime.

Unlike the NFL, where the first team to score wins, the collegeovertime is decided after one team scores more points after an equalnumber of possessions. Each team gets the ball at the opposition's25-yard line.