We were fortunate that Pittsburgh didn't learn from Georgia Tech. If Whipple had switched to a power run game earlier we would have been physically outmatched and worn down. Instead he tinkered around with all the cutesy crossing patterns and similar garbage.
I was never worried about the Pittsburgh offense until the final play of the 3rd quarter. All of a sudden they switched in very subtle fashion to a power look and smacked it down our throat for 7 or 8 yards. Throughout that quarter transition I was thinking back to the Georgia Tech game and how they gained confidence via straight ahead power in the 3rd quarter. That's not Whipple's preference these days but he has used those looks and that style previously.
Seemingly every team has the 4 fingers crap nowadays. But Pittsburgh's version has a very interesting acceleration. They blast a very long and loud version of "Sweet Caroline" on the big screens that includes creatively placed shouts of "Let's Go Pitt!" throughout. The crowd stands and dances and obviously loves it. There was more energy during that segment than any other point during the game. I could see the Pittsburgh bench was energized also.
I told the guy next to me that we could be in trouble on that drive, given the surge in home energy and also that Pittsburgh finally used a power play to end the 3rd quarter.
Sure enough, I think the first two plays of the 4th quarter were something like 15 yards apiece. It didn't feel surprising at all, given the situational backdrop. I don't think Pittsburgh threw the ball once on that drive. Chewed up half the quarter.
Fortunately we held them just short. And the Pittsburgh coach made a similarly idiotic choice as in the Penn State game earlier this season. That game he trailed 17-10 and decided to kick a field goal from the 1 in the middle of the 4th quarter. Here he trailed 10-9. There is no question Pittsburgh had a far superior chance to win if they go for the touchdown instead of the field goal. Mathematically and otherwise. Even if they don't score Miami would be trapped at its 1 yard line with the offense under siege. I was incredibly relieved when they settled for the field goal.
Earlier in the second half Diaz made an idiotic choice to bypass a field goal from the Pittsburgh 25. Too much **** thinking going on. Throw away the overreaction to results. You've got to go back to what you would have done in August. Just because Baxa has missed several kicks doesn't mean he is favored to miss every time. I expect overreaction to results on message boards. The coach should be immune, especially someone who supposedly studies the percentages.
