Sunday, September 7, 2014

OSU postgame

We're well into the CFB season now and this week was chocked full of "cupcake games" that involved powerful teams playing so called "body bag games" against grossly inferior opposition. The games serve as tune up games for the stronger teams and as economic relief for the weaker ones.

Last night's game was not one of those despite what many (a term you may not associate with attendance this season) in attendance and watching on national TV may have felt halfway near the end of the 3rd quarter. The score was 38-7 and were it not for a miraculous interception of an ill-advised pass by OSU QB Sean Mannion, a complete whitewash would have been more representative of the lopsided game that was unfolding.

The Warriors played a 23-0 rally in the 4th quarter to make the final 38-30 score seem like a fairly respectable game had been played. It wasn't that close but then again maybe it was...

Evenly matched teams often need an unusual special teams play, a bit of luck, a funny bounce of an oddly shaped ball or an inexplicable call from a referee to gain an advantage for victory. In many games these gifts of fortune come throughout the game and can help a slightly less athletically-blessed team or hurt a better team to yield an upset or at least a closer than expected contest.

Maybe:

- if Iosefa didn't fumble on the opening drive they go on to score first again;
- if there is a blocked punt in the 1st half;
- if there is a forced fumble on an earlier kickoff;

it's a closer game earlier on and not so many people would have gone home after 3 quarters.

Then, the focus can be on improving pass accuracy. But that's for another conversation.

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