The shot was as big as any, coming on national television and keeping Indiana undefeated while giving the Wildcats their first loss of the season. Immediately after the buzzer sounded and the ball went through the twine, the students poured on the court to embrace the win and the team.

Every student who chooses a school for a big-time sports atmosphere wants a chance to rush the field of play after an enormous upset. It is one of the purest moments in sports, letting everything go and leaving it all out there after an exhilarating victory.

But due to the frequency in which college students and fans have rushed onto the field of play, what once was a rarity has lost its flair. It has become commonplace after almost any home team gets a big win.

Indiana is one of the most successful schools in college basketball history. The Hoosiers have won five national championships and reached the Final Four eight times, which is seventh-most among all schools. With countless All-America selections and one of the best coaches the game has ever seen in Bob Knight, Indiana has been there before.

Kentucky is one of its longtime rivals, and the Hoosiers were undoubtedly underdogs coming into the game, but this was no David vs. Goliath matchup. It was expected to be a good game. While the win was big, it wasn't rush-the-court worthy.

Another Big Ten Conference member, Michigan, is guilty of the same offense, rushing the field after defeating Ohio State in its regular-season finale in Ann Arbor, Mich. Yes, it is perhaps the biggest rivalry in college football and the Wolverines hadn't beaten the Buckeyes since 2003, but they were clearly the favorites coming into the game. In fact, had Michigan lost, it would have been a disaster, as it would have cost itself a BCS bowl bid.

This is the same sport in which players are barely allowed to celebrate after scoring a touchdown. These collegiate athletes are expected to act professionally and routinely jog off the field following a score, yet when the the game ends, thousands of fans come streaming onto the field after a routine win.

It is understandable that students at big-time sports schools want to celebrate victories. If you go to a school in the SEC or Big Ten, though, and you have a long, storied history, you're a big dog. Your school brings in the most sought-after, top-notch recruits from around the country, you have the facilities that rival a professional sports franchise, and you probably have a coach who has achieved a lot of success in his career. You're expected to win. That's just the way it is.

There is definitely a place for these types of celebrations, but they are better saved for small, mid-major schools. If a school from the Horizon or Sun Belt conference picked off a No. 1 team, for instance, not only would the celebration be warranted, but necessary to effectively capture the moment.

As with anything else, too much can be a bad thing. But if done just right, storming the field of play can create memorable experiences that last a lifetime.

Photo via Flickr/twittek

It would be wrong to suggest the Patriots lost the game unfairly, as Tom Brady did throw four interceptions and the New England defense didn't play well, but a questionable pass interference call greatly changed the game.

The Bills started a drive with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter down seven points and needing a touchdown. After a 48-yard gain by Donald Jones put Buffalo at the New England 32 yard line, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went for the end zone on first down. David Nelson was the intended reciever, but he was deep in the back of the end zone and ran into a Patriots' defensive player. The ball was underthrown and intercepted by Josh Barrett in the end zone.

It was a big play for New England as they got the ball back and would be able to try and increase their lead. Instead, a late flag was thrown by an official for pass interference, negating the play and putting the ball on the goal line for the Bills.

Buffalo wasted no time capitalizing on their opportunity, as running back Fred Jackson ran the ball into the end zone on the next play, tying up the game.

In this particular situation, the game was impacted signifigantly by a play that wasn't even close. The Bills gained 30 yards and all they had to do was toss a ball towards the end zone. Fitzpatrick, a graduate of Harvard, is smart enough to know that his chances of getting a pass interference call are high enough to justify the throw, even with no one open.

The NFL is a full contact sport. Each week, players leave it all on the line, sacrificing their bodies for the sake of their team in hopes of a victory. But in a game where most plays end in a tackle, it doesn't seem fair for a penalty to be called just for touching an opposing player.

Receivers need to be allowed the opportunity to catch the ball when it is thrown their way, but because the rule is so open ended, defensive players end up getting penalized for inadvertently touching the receiver past the "five-yard buffer zone."

To have the penalty as a spot of the foul infraction gives it much more of an impact when it is called. Officials should only be calling it when they have to, when the defensive player doesn't give the receiver a chance of catching a catchable ball before it gets to him. There should be much more leinancy given to defensive players, whose job is to defend.

With defenders confused about when the penalty will be called and quarterbacks taking advantage of the spot of foul verbage within the rules, the NFL needs to let their players battle it out on the field and stop throwing pass interference flags so quickly.

Photo via Flikr/chrischase