Stupid Football 101 - Ohio State v. Illinois

[Udaman]

Just watching the Ohio State - Illinois game. First, after an AWFUL spot on 4th and 1 by Ohio State gave them first down, they ran the ball twice, threw a weak pass and kicked a FG to go up by 7.

Illinois gets the ball and drives down the the 14 yard line, where they have 4th and 6.....AND THEY KICK A FIELD GOAL???? Game over. You have to score a TD anyway, and if you go for it, at least Ohio State is pinned deep. Instead, they made it, then had a bad kickoff that Ohio State ran back to the 32, and they got a 15 yard penalty, so Ohio State had it near mid-field. 6 plays later, TD.

Illinois played conservatively at home against a better team - that is a recipe for a loss.

GRRRRRR. I hate watching stupid football.

[cf-62]

That's at least understandable. There was hope of a 3-and-out, and to get the ball back.

Tom O'Brien essentially conceded the game after VTech went up 11 with 30 seconds to play.

And that was AFTER running the kick-off back to the 50.

They went for a hail mary, blew 12 seconds, and that was the game when it fell incomplete.

Instead, they should have run a deep crossing out -- catching Vtech by surprise, and going out of bounds at the 30.

THEN kick the field goal - you need one anyway.

Now you onside kick, and THEN throw two hail mary's.

Is it likely to happen? No, but isn't that better than just saying "let's use all our time throwing meaningless hail mary's?

[jimsumner]

That's at least understandable. There was hope of a 3-and-out, and to get the ball back.

Tom O'Brien essentially conceded the game after VTech went up 11 with 30 seconds to play.

And that was AFTER running the kick-off back to the 50.

They went for a hail mary, blew 12 seconds, and that was the game when it fell incomplete.

Instead, they should have run a deep crossing out -- catching Vtech by surprise, and going out of bounds at the 30.

THEN kick the field goal - you need one anyway.

Now you onside kick, and THEN throw two hail mary's.

Is it likely to happen? No, but isn't that better than just saying "let's use all our time throwing meaningless hail mary's?

This hardly seems to constitute "stupid football." The chances of completing a pass to the 30, kicking a 47-yard field goal, recovering an onside kick, connecting on a long pass and converting a 2-point conversion in 30 seconds is about as close to zero as I can imagine. About the same as completing 2 Hail Marys.

[Olympic Fan]

It's hard to talk abouit somebody else playing stupid football on a weekend that included the LSU-Tennessee game.

Easily the all-time worst game from a standpoint of dual stupidity in the closing seconds.

[JasonEvans]

It's hard to talk abouit somebody else playing stupid football on a weekend that included the LSU-Tennessee game.

Easily the all-time worst game from a standpoint of dual stupidity in the closing seconds.

I think it is generally agreed that the end of that game makes people dumber just watching it. If you dare, click here to see the entire final 30 seconds (http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2010/10/2/1726841/lsu-tennessee-finish-video-penalty) of lunacy. It really must be seen to be believed.

-Jason "funny comment-- Les Miles is 2-0 when CBS shows his losing a game 14-10 -- that guy is a terrible coach but incredibly lucky" Evans

[cf-62]

This hardly seems to constitute "stupid football." The chances of completing a pass to the 30, kicking a 47-yard field goal, recovering an onside kick, connecting on a long pass and converting a 2-point conversion in 30 seconds is about as close to zero as I can imagine. About the same as completing 2 Hail Marys.

My point is that the chances of either of the following sequences occurring is slim:

It's not "stupid" necessarily. I just don't get why coaches that need a TD and FG won't optimize their time and take their field goal first. You can always run that "last play with 1 second left, even if it takes 10 seconds to play it.