On what was billed as a weak weekend of college football (no Top 25 match-ups) there was still plenty of excitement.
Georgia was one more bad play from losing to FCS team Nicholls. Nick Chubb was stopped over and over again by a defensive line playing their first game of the season. The FCS Southland division has been warned. And Georgia dropped in the polls, as they should.
Oklahoma State also dropped in the polls on a bad play call, that officials later admitted was an incorrect interpretation of the rule book. Were the voters required to drop them? I know the game outcome cannot be changed but can't voters vote by what they know, not the outcome?
And speaking of bad calls...the Holy War between BYU and Utah did not disappoint. I got my scalped tickets money's worth. But seriously, back-to-back targeting calls and ejections with a 15-yarder on the coach sandwiched in between? By all means, eject players who target, and I know replay officials see a lot more footage than the average viewer or attendee, but I saw nothing that merited those calls.
And speaking of bad calls (part 2)...the call to go for 2 by Sitake was admirable; great to see some gumption and some risk taking and some aggressiveness and confidence in his team. But, IMHO, did they really have a play ready that would fool Whittingham? Had they practiced it? Didn't Taysom Hill just complete his best drive and groove of the night? Had BYU not just worn out the Utah defense on a well-called, well-executed 75-yard drive? Taking it to OT would have put groovy Taysom and that same worn out defense back on the field and given you a better shot at the elusive W.
NOTE: I may be a bit of a Sunday Morning Coach (SMC) but deep down, I don't really second-guess those guys. I know they are in the heat of the battle, time constrained, know their players capabilities and weaknesses, plus they have a paycheck riding on real-time, hasty decisions. I don't pretend to know better.
Georgia was one more bad play from losing to FCS team Nicholls. Nick Chubb was stopped over and over again by a defensive line playing their first game of the season. The FCS Southland division has been warned. And Georgia dropped in the polls, as they should.
Oklahoma State also dropped in the polls on a bad play call, that officials later admitted was an incorrect interpretation of the rule book. Were the voters required to drop them? I know the game outcome cannot be changed but can't voters vote by what they know, not the outcome?
And speaking of bad calls...the Holy War between BYU and Utah did not disappoint. I got my scalped tickets money's worth. But seriously, back-to-back targeting calls and ejections with a 15-yarder on the coach sandwiched in between? By all means, eject players who target, and I know replay officials see a lot more footage than the average viewer or attendee, but I saw nothing that merited those calls.
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| There were a few moments worthy of waving the Y flag. |
And speaking of bad calls (part 2)...the call to go for 2 by Sitake was admirable; great to see some gumption and some risk taking and some aggressiveness and confidence in his team. But, IMHO, did they really have a play ready that would fool Whittingham? Had they practiced it? Didn't Taysom Hill just complete his best drive and groove of the night? Had BYU not just worn out the Utah defense on a well-called, well-executed 75-yard drive? Taking it to OT would have put groovy Taysom and that same worn out defense back on the field and given you a better shot at the elusive W.
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| Great venue. |
NOTE: I may be a bit of a Sunday Morning Coach (SMC) but deep down, I don't really second-guess those guys. I know they are in the heat of the battle, time constrained, know their players capabilities and weaknesses, plus they have a paycheck riding on real-time, hasty decisions. I don't pretend to know better.