So, as I tend to always do during this time of the year, I watched a bowl game last night - the Sugar Bowl between Michigan and Virginia Tech. Both were controversial at-large selections for a BCS game and they did battle last night in New Orleans. I watched the game in its entirety and I still think I'm being delusional when I look at the final score, which was Michigan 20 Virginia Tech 17 in overtime.
For any unbiased person whom watched the game will say, Virginia Tech dominated from start to finish. They were the better of the two teams, without question. Let me roll off some numbers here:
First downs: Michigan - 12, Virginia Tech - 22
3rd down efficiency: Michigan - 4/13 (30.8%), Virginia Tech - 6/15 (40.0%)
Total Yards: Michigan - 184, Virginia Tech - 377
Passing Yards: Michigan - 128, Virginia Tech - 214
Completions - Attempts: Michigan - 10/22 (45.5%), Virginia Tech - 19/28 (67.9%)
Yards per pass attempt: Michigan - 5.8, Virginia Tech - 7.6
Rushing Yards: Michigan - 56, Virginia Tech - 163
Yards per rush: Michigan - 1.9, Virginia Tech - 3.4
Total plays from scrimmage: Michigan - 52, Virginia Tech - 76
Yards per play: Michigan - 3.5, Virginia Tech - 5.0
Time of possession: Michigan - 23:10, Virginia Tech - 36:50
I ask again, how in the world did Michigan win? Michigan scored one of their two touchdowns on a 96-yard drive. Outside of that one drive, they gained a total of just 88 yards for the game. Michigan had luck and fortune on their side for the entire duration. Toward the very end of the first half and down 6-0, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson threw up a prayer on 3rd and 17, which could very well have been intercepted, but receiver Hemingway somehow found a way to catch the ball, maintain possession and then waltz into the end zone. Tech intercepted Robinson for a second time in the 2nd half which would have given the Hokies a golden opportunity to go into the lead, down 10-6, when cornerback Hosley appeared to pick off a pass. However, upon further review, Hosley did not maintain control of the ball when it hit the ground and was therefore ruled incomplete. I counted the number of times Robinson could or should have been picked off. I counted 5 occasions, including once in the end zone, where the quarterback should probably have been intercepted and a 6th time which would have made for a more difficult play by the defender. On Robinson's second touchdown pass, he threw up another prayer at the back of the end zone. It was well defended, but Hemingway again bailed out Robinson, making a spectacular catch and somehow managing to get a food down in bounds before going out of bounds. On what would have been a 3rd interception (if not for the one that was overturned via replay), Hosley picked off Robinson fairly deep in Hokie territory, but it was called back due to pass interference on Hosley. Judging by replay, it appeared to me that both players were pushing off on one another and just playing for the football and it should have been a no call. On the before-mentioned 96-yard touchdown drive by Michigan, this was significantly aided by a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty fairly deep in Wolverine territory. Whether the call should have been roughing or running into, I'm not exactly certain, but can't argue too much with that one. On another play, it appeared as if Hokie tailback David Wilson picked up 4 yards to set up a 4th and 1 from around midfield. The refs called him down at the line of scrimmage and the Hokies failed to pick up the 3rd down. Lastly, in overtime, on 3rd down and 5 from the 20-yard line, Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas appeared to hit receiver Danny Coele in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown to make it 26-20, pending the extra point. As both announcers pointed out and an insider in replays, it appeared as if Coele had possession before the ball touched the ground and the ball didn't move once it touched, signifying that it did not aid him in making the catch and would therefore be ruled a catch. Also, his left elbow touched in bounds first before any other part of his body went out of bounds. Since the call on the field was a touchdown, all three individuals (and other columnists/sports analysts I've read articles from today) said it was a catch, that the play should stand, because there wasn't enough evidence to overturn it. Guess what? The referees decided to overturn the call and forced Tech into a field goal attempt, which they missed. Michigan went on to kick a 37-yarder of their own for the victory.
For 60 minutes, Tech dominated. I don't believe I've ever seen a game that one-sided, yet the team who was so dominated found a way to win. As far as I see it, Michigan didn't win the game. Virginia Tech and the referees lost it for the Hokies. Virginia Tech can't solely blame the officials, even though they appeared to majorly mess up on a few critical calls. Tech made some critical mistakes of their own: The roughing the punter penalty, the fumble at the end of the first half on a kickoff return which set up a field goal for Michigan and the fake punt midway in the 4th quarter which set Michigan up for a game-leading field goal. Tech was awful inside the red zone on offense. They had to settle for field goals on three different occasions in regulation and failed on a 4th and 1 inside the 5-yard line on another, turning the ball over on downs. So, like I said, Tech can blame themselves as much as the referees. However, the refs did play a factor in the outcome. It never should have gotten to that point in overtime. Tech should have won the game in regulation if not for their miscues. But, the touchdown catch by Coele should have stood. I would have said the same thing if the refs called the pass incomplete. I still would have thought it'd be a catch, but don't believe there would have been enough evidence to have overturned it and call it a touchdown. Whatever the ruling on the field was, in this case a touchdown, I believe should have stood due to that lack of indisputable video evidence. Again, Tech should have won the game in regulation for how much they dominated it, but the refs still shouldn't have overturned that call in overtime.
In any case, controversial call or not, I still can't believe the game I watched last night. Michigan's offense, without the aid of penalties and turnovers, couldn't move the ball on Tech's defense. Tech, meanwhile, seemed to have no trouble, especially in the passing game, of moving the ball on the Wolverines. Tech's coverage team was solid all day, as was their 3rd string place kicker. The running game was slow to start, but picked up some momentum in the 2nd half. The run defense was superb, as was the pass defense. 20-17, Michigan. Every time I see that, I still can't believe it. Wowsers...
For any unbiased person whom watched the game will say, Virginia Tech dominated from start to finish. They were the better of the two teams, without question. Let me roll off some numbers here:
First downs: Michigan - 12, Virginia Tech - 22
3rd down efficiency: Michigan - 4/13 (30.8%), Virginia Tech - 6/15 (40.0%)
Total Yards: Michigan - 184, Virginia Tech - 377
Passing Yards: Michigan - 128, Virginia Tech - 214
Completions - Attempts: Michigan - 10/22 (45.5%), Virginia Tech - 19/28 (67.9%)
Yards per pass attempt: Michigan - 5.8, Virginia Tech - 7.6
Rushing Yards: Michigan - 56, Virginia Tech - 163
Yards per rush: Michigan - 1.9, Virginia Tech - 3.4
Total plays from scrimmage: Michigan - 52, Virginia Tech - 76
Yards per play: Michigan - 3.5, Virginia Tech - 5.0
Time of possession: Michigan - 23:10, Virginia Tech - 36:50
I ask again, how in the world did Michigan win? Michigan scored one of their two touchdowns on a 96-yard drive. Outside of that one drive, they gained a total of just 88 yards for the game. Michigan had luck and fortune on their side for the entire duration. Toward the very end of the first half and down 6-0, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson threw up a prayer on 3rd and 17, which could very well have been intercepted, but receiver Hemingway somehow found a way to catch the ball, maintain possession and then waltz into the end zone. Tech intercepted Robinson for a second time in the 2nd half which would have given the Hokies a golden opportunity to go into the lead, down 10-6, when cornerback Hosley appeared to pick off a pass. However, upon further review, Hosley did not maintain control of the ball when it hit the ground and was therefore ruled incomplete. I counted the number of times Robinson could or should have been picked off. I counted 5 occasions, including once in the end zone, where the quarterback should probably have been intercepted and a 6th time which would have made for a more difficult play by the defender. On Robinson's second touchdown pass, he threw up another prayer at the back of the end zone. It was well defended, but Hemingway again bailed out Robinson, making a spectacular catch and somehow managing to get a food down in bounds before going out of bounds. On what would have been a 3rd interception (if not for the one that was overturned via replay), Hosley picked off Robinson fairly deep in Hokie territory, but it was called back due to pass interference on Hosley. Judging by replay, it appeared to me that both players were pushing off on one another and just playing for the football and it should have been a no call. On the before-mentioned 96-yard touchdown drive by Michigan, this was significantly aided by a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty fairly deep in Wolverine territory. Whether the call should have been roughing or running into, I'm not exactly certain, but can't argue too much with that one. On another play, it appeared as if Hokie tailback David Wilson picked up 4 yards to set up a 4th and 1 from around midfield. The refs called him down at the line of scrimmage and the Hokies failed to pick up the 3rd down. Lastly, in overtime, on 3rd down and 5 from the 20-yard line, Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas appeared to hit receiver Danny Coele in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown to make it 26-20, pending the extra point. As both announcers pointed out and an insider in replays, it appeared as if Coele had possession before the ball touched the ground and the ball didn't move once it touched, signifying that it did not aid him in making the catch and would therefore be ruled a catch. Also, his left elbow touched in bounds first before any other part of his body went out of bounds. Since the call on the field was a touchdown, all three individuals (and other columnists/sports analysts I've read articles from today) said it was a catch, that the play should stand, because there wasn't enough evidence to overturn it. Guess what? The referees decided to overturn the call and forced Tech into a field goal attempt, which they missed. Michigan went on to kick a 37-yarder of their own for the victory.
For 60 minutes, Tech dominated. I don't believe I've ever seen a game that one-sided, yet the team who was so dominated found a way to win. As far as I see it, Michigan didn't win the game. Virginia Tech and the referees lost it for the Hokies. Virginia Tech can't solely blame the officials, even though they appeared to majorly mess up on a few critical calls. Tech made some critical mistakes of their own: The roughing the punter penalty, the fumble at the end of the first half on a kickoff return which set up a field goal for Michigan and the fake punt midway in the 4th quarter which set Michigan up for a game-leading field goal. Tech was awful inside the red zone on offense. They had to settle for field goals on three different occasions in regulation and failed on a 4th and 1 inside the 5-yard line on another, turning the ball over on downs. So, like I said, Tech can blame themselves as much as the referees. However, the refs did play a factor in the outcome. It never should have gotten to that point in overtime. Tech should have won the game in regulation if not for their miscues. But, the touchdown catch by Coele should have stood. I would have said the same thing if the refs called the pass incomplete. I still would have thought it'd be a catch, but don't believe there would have been enough evidence to have overturned it and call it a touchdown. Whatever the ruling on the field was, in this case a touchdown, I believe should have stood due to that lack of indisputable video evidence. Again, Tech should have won the game in regulation for how much they dominated it, but the refs still shouldn't have overturned that call in overtime.
In any case, controversial call or not, I still can't believe the game I watched last night. Michigan's offense, without the aid of penalties and turnovers, couldn't move the ball on Tech's defense. Tech, meanwhile, seemed to have no trouble, especially in the passing game, of moving the ball on the Wolverines. Tech's coverage team was solid all day, as was their 3rd string place kicker. The running game was slow to start, but picked up some momentum in the 2nd half. The run defense was superb, as was the pass defense. 20-17, Michigan. Every time I see that, I still can't believe it. Wowsers...
Comments
Post a Comment