*All athletes have that one game, that one contest, that ranks as the most unforgettable of their lives. It can be memorable because of a personal or team achievement, a dramatic finish, a sentimental moment, or a number of any other factors.
Continuing a series begun last summer, Packers.com caught up with the members of the 2008 draft class to ask them about the game they'll never forget. It could be a game at any level of competition that took place at any time. They're all hoping their new NFL careers will give them new memories and new games to cherish, but for now, these rank at the top.*
When cornerback Pat Lee was drafted by the Packers in the second round (No. 60 overall) this past April, he joined a defensive backfield that included a Heisman Trophy winner in Charles Woodson.
Last season, Lee was on the other side of the line of scrimmage from a Heisman winner and made one of the most memorable plays of his college career.
With his Auburn Tigers on the road in Gainesville, Fla., against the fourth-ranked Florida Gators last Sept. 29, Lee intercepted a deep ball thrown by Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the eventual Heisman winner. The third-quarter turnover set up an Auburn field goal that gave the Tigers a 17-3 lead in their eventual 20-17 upset of the defending national champions.
"I made a lot of plays that game, against good players - Percy Harvin, Andre Caldwell, Tim Tebow - I felt I really stood out that game a lot," Lee said. "It gave us confidence for the rest of the season."
Lee's pick of Tebow began a stretch during which the cornerback posted interceptions in four of five games, which put him more prominently on the radar of NFL teams.
The interception wasn't the only play Lee made against Florida, either. A native of Miami, Lee said he had anywhere from 15 to 20 family members and friends in attendance, and he was pumped to have such a good game. He returned a kickoff 28 yards, and he also had a hand in forcing a key fumble by Florida late in the first half in Auburn territory that helped the Tigers maintain their early lead.
College football fans remember Auburn's big road win for how it ended, more than anything. Florida had rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the score at 17, and then Auburn moved into field-goal range in the waning seconds.
Auburn kicker Wes Byrum nailed a 43-yarder as time expired, only to have it not count because Florida head coach Urban Meyer had called a timeout just prior to the snap. Then Byrum made good on the second try and celebrated by running past the Florida sideline doing the "Gator chomp" motion with his arms.
"He got a whole bunch of attention for that," said Lee, noting the play was all over the national highlights that night, and in the weeks to come. "He made two back-to-back field goals, so that was good."
Lee was on the sidelines during the deciding kicks, and said he wasn't even watching.
"I saw everybody on the team cheering, so I knew he made it," Lee said. "We were just running around, all happy. It was great. We quieted the crowd basically."
{sportsad300}It was especially gratifying to leave the vaunted stadium known as "The Swamp" with a big victory, and it was Auburn's second straight over Florida. The home-state opponent must have brought out something special in Lee, who had a couple of big plays in Auburn's 27-17 win the previous year, which turned out to be the Gators' only loss on their way to the national title.
In that contest (Oct. 14, 2006), Lee had a crucial tackle-for-loss in the third quarter, getting Harvin 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage on a running play. Two snaps later, Auburn blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown, swinging the game the Tigers' way.
Lee then added the final touch to the victory, returning a fumble 20 yards for a score as time ran out.
"It meant a lot, because it was Florida," Lee said.
