I was a little surprised to jump on the boards last night and see so much negativity. Obviously it was much closer than we thought it would be, but I thought I was missing something based on the reactions.
I suppose I get it, and I left the game last night thinking, "hmmm, things looked a bit different in that one and I have some new concerns..." but isn't that football? I am not doom and gloom as some others and this didn't "feel like a loss" to me. We knew coming into this game that this team isn't perfect, but it is still **** good.
A few points:
Momentum is a powerful thing, and VT definitely gave us a gift with that fake FG (but Bryant made an amazing play - he doesn't shoot that gap, that's the nail in the coffin). With that said, and regarding momentum, the holding call on Bell, which in my mind was a little weak, took a TD off the board on a play that was another amazing highlight by Cam. That in and of itself didn't cause the shift, the INT on the next play was the culprit there, but that DB made a great play disguising and on that play, he won. He outmaneuvered Cam. It happens.
Styles make fights. VT came out with a great gameplan. Were we outcoached? For sure, but see above. What does that game look like if it is 21-7 and the stadium is going crazy after Cam once again finds George? We don't know, but I suspect it would be another runaway. I also think Vtech is going to end up better than we originally thought and this win will look different. Could be wrong, but that's the sense I get. They're physical and have a lot of heart.
VT Field Goal before the half - they had two 17s on the field - should have been wiped off. Refs...
Jalen Rivers - underrated, though I do think he's starting to get his due, is sorely missed. Bell played pretty well in the USF game, but in my post after leaving that game, I mentioned Cam being special for HOW he looks doing going about his business. He makes it look so easy. ...I will say the inverse with Bell - even in the USF game, and certainly this game, he doesn't look comfortable. I really hope that the light comes on and he's our LT of the future b/c he clearly has exceptional traits, but the way he goes about it just doesn't scream tactician.
OJ Frederique - a play not talked about much is when he sniffed out that screen. My god - he's going to be a player. Also, BS on that PI call - another major momentum shift that would have gotten the defense off the field on another great play made by the true freshman...instead, the POS line judge throws a flag from 35 yards away, on a call that isn't his to make.
Also, I counted and that flag was thrown 5 second after the play...which triggered my Terry Porter PTSD (...who to this day I want brought right here! With a big ribbon on his head! And I want to look him straight in the eye, and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d1ckless, hopeless, heartless, fat-***, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey **** he is! Hallelujah! Holy ****! Where's the Tylenol? )
Hail Mary - joke that that was called a TD on the field. Same as D1ckless Terry Porter, there is NO WAY he saw possession to make that call. They got it right in the both. It was a loose ball and it was touched by a player who was out of bounds. No catch.
Last point: yes this is football, and sometimes these things happen...but we won. We still won. We played a bad game. We coached a bad game. VTech believed. But the Canes didn't quit. The kept grinding and won. I can't say that for any of our teams the past 18 years.
Okay, for real last point: Ole Miss lost at home. Georgia almost lost two weeks ago. Football is weird. Enjoy the win.
