everything that's on my mind
(as if there's not already enough people doing this)Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Texas
The hype started before the season did. Everyone was expecting USC and Texas to be playing in the Rose Bowl tonight, and that's what we got. Most seemed to think it would be a great, hard-fought, high-scoring (but close) game. They were right.
My prediction was USC by 9. I thought Texas - despite the talk of their defense - would not be able to stop USC enough times to win. I thought it would be high-scoring (and it was) and that USC would score a little more. When they went up by 12 in the 4th, I thought it was pretty much over, because Texas' defense had not stopped them yet in the 4th quarter. They'd scored 4 straight touchdowns since halftime, and didn't seem to be slowing down. But the much talked about Texas defense finally came through on the 5th USC possession in the second half, and stopped USC on 4th and 1 to set up a game-winning drive in which Vince Young - who was outstanding - ran for the winning score.
So, time to retire all of the "Mack Brown can't win the big one" comments and jokes. Mack finally did it. Well, maybe it's more likely that Vince did it, and Mack was just along for the ride. But Mack will still get some credit, too.
One of the things that stood out to me in the game was that there were several bonehead plays. The first was Mack Brown's decision to go for it on 4th and 1 in the first quarter around mid-field. What was he thinking? USC had just capitalized on a Texas fumble near mid-field to take a 7-0 lead, and now you risk giving it back to them around mid-field again? They were fortunate - after not making it - that USC stalled on their own 4th and 1 a few plays later around the Texas 20.
The last couple of bonehead plays belonged to USC. First was the decision again to go for it on 4th and 1 at the Texas 45, with 2:00+ remaining. I think I would've had to punt and make Texas go the length of the field if it was going to win the game, instead of only 55 yards. Sure, if they'd made it, they likely would've kept moving the ball and won the game (either by eventually running out the clock or scoring again.) But why risk it? The other bonehead play was using their last timeout prior to Texas' 2-point conversion - a timeout they could've used with only 19 seconds on the clock. Not sure what happened there, but that could've cost them an extra play at the end.
However, the bonehead play that wins the prize belongs to Reggie Bush in the first half when he tried to lateral the ball to a teammate after a long run. He was inside the Texas 20 and, in the midst of being tackled, he chose to lateral?? That play probably cost them a touchdown, or at least a field goal. And perhaps the game. I still can't figure out what he was thinking. I was reminded of George's comment in a Seinfeld episode: "I am Costanza - Lord of the Idiots." That was just a horrible, idiotic decision.
One thing I heard after the game: during Matt Leinart's on-field interview after the game, he made a comment something like "I still believe that we're the better team, but we just didn't make the plays." After watching the game, I'd say both teams could make the claim they're the better team, no matter who won. But that was a stupid comment. It makes you look like an ungracious loser. Be proud of what you've done, but accept the loss and give Texas some credit. Who does he think he is - Al Gore?
So, despite some questionable judgment by coaches and players, this was one of the best championship games I've ever seen. Lots of scoring and exciting to the end. I was hoping USC could pull off a miracle and get in field goal range and send it into overtime. I wanted it to keep going. Plus, I wanted USC to win, so there was that motivation, too. I'm not sure why - I don't care about either team - but maybe it was the 3-peat / history thing.
But regardless of which team won, I think there's no doubt that the game lived up to the hype. After 5 or 6 months of hype, the game was going to have to be something special. And I thought was.
Now, we can put all of this football nonsense behind us and focus on something that really matters - the Final Four. Let's go Duke!!
My prediction was USC by 9. I thought Texas - despite the talk of their defense - would not be able to stop USC enough times to win. I thought it would be high-scoring (and it was) and that USC would score a little more. When they went up by 12 in the 4th, I thought it was pretty much over, because Texas' defense had not stopped them yet in the 4th quarter. They'd scored 4 straight touchdowns since halftime, and didn't seem to be slowing down. But the much talked about Texas defense finally came through on the 5th USC possession in the second half, and stopped USC on 4th and 1 to set up a game-winning drive in which Vince Young - who was outstanding - ran for the winning score.
So, time to retire all of the "Mack Brown can't win the big one" comments and jokes. Mack finally did it. Well, maybe it's more likely that Vince did it, and Mack was just along for the ride. But Mack will still get some credit, too.
One of the things that stood out to me in the game was that there were several bonehead plays. The first was Mack Brown's decision to go for it on 4th and 1 in the first quarter around mid-field. What was he thinking? USC had just capitalized on a Texas fumble near mid-field to take a 7-0 lead, and now you risk giving it back to them around mid-field again? They were fortunate - after not making it - that USC stalled on their own 4th and 1 a few plays later around the Texas 20.
The last couple of bonehead plays belonged to USC. First was the decision again to go for it on 4th and 1 at the Texas 45, with 2:00+ remaining. I think I would've had to punt and make Texas go the length of the field if it was going to win the game, instead of only 55 yards. Sure, if they'd made it, they likely would've kept moving the ball and won the game (either by eventually running out the clock or scoring again.) But why risk it? The other bonehead play was using their last timeout prior to Texas' 2-point conversion - a timeout they could've used with only 19 seconds on the clock. Not sure what happened there, but that could've cost them an extra play at the end.
However, the bonehead play that wins the prize belongs to Reggie Bush in the first half when he tried to lateral the ball to a teammate after a long run. He was inside the Texas 20 and, in the midst of being tackled, he chose to lateral?? That play probably cost them a touchdown, or at least a field goal. And perhaps the game. I still can't figure out what he was thinking. I was reminded of George's comment in a Seinfeld episode: "I am Costanza - Lord of the Idiots." That was just a horrible, idiotic decision.
One thing I heard after the game: during Matt Leinart's on-field interview after the game, he made a comment something like "I still believe that we're the better team, but we just didn't make the plays." After watching the game, I'd say both teams could make the claim they're the better team, no matter who won. But that was a stupid comment. It makes you look like an ungracious loser. Be proud of what you've done, but accept the loss and give Texas some credit. Who does he think he is - Al Gore?
So, despite some questionable judgment by coaches and players, this was one of the best championship games I've ever seen. Lots of scoring and exciting to the end. I was hoping USC could pull off a miracle and get in field goal range and send it into overtime. I wanted it to keep going. Plus, I wanted USC to win, so there was that motivation, too. I'm not sure why - I don't care about either team - but maybe it was the 3-peat / history thing.
But regardless of which team won, I think there's no doubt that the game lived up to the hype. After 5 or 6 months of hype, the game was going to have to be something special. And I thought was.
Now, we can put all of this football nonsense behind us and focus on something that really matters - the Final Four. Let's go Duke!!
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