Did This Really Happen?

by 78Bruin on Oct 2, 2007 3:55 PM PDT

Forgive me if this has been discussed here already, but my quick check of weekend posts did not find any mention of what I considered to be a huge mistake on KD's part. I was listening to the game on the radio (which often can cause confusion to the listener courtesty of CR) and it occurred on OSU's 2nd TD drive. OSU was flagged for holding on a 3rd and 2 play which went for no gain at around the Bruin 34 yardline. Rather than accept the penalty, moving the ball out of FG range and creating a 3rd and long situation, KD declines and OSU goes for it and, of course, gets the first.

Even the color guy called out KD. I thought it was a no brainer. OSU's QB was even shakier than ours; we were down seven with no signs of life for the offense -- why risk going down by 14? Did KD really think OSU would kick a FG on 4th and 2?

I was really pissed off and even cursed in front of my 13 y/o (which I try hard not to do, but during Bruin games, it's nearly impossible). My son asked me why I was so mad and I told him that OSU would come down and score -- which they did and my anger crested anew.

Later on, after the Bruins won, my son reminded me of my outburst and commented that KD made the right decision since we won. I could only laugh, especially when I realized that is the same logic many Bruin fans use when analyzing KD's coaching ability.

Did anyone have the same reaction to the play?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I Didn't Get To Hear Much

I was at the LA County Fair watching the game. I had the unfortunate circumstance of sitting by nearly 60 USC fans. I think there were about 5 UCLA fans including myself. One group in particular was cussing, shouting, and yelling during the entire UCLA game. So no, I didn't get to hear the commentators diss KD. I missed a lot during that game because I was distracted by so many F-bombs from USC fans.

It was real classy.

by BruinFan1 on Oct 2, 2007 4:05 PM PDT reply actions

I had the same reaction -- it really happened

Horrible, horrible decision.

Just because you wouldn't go for it on 4th and 2 doesn't mean other coaches won't -- the good ones usually do go for it, Karl.

by gilbert on Oct 2, 2007 4:34 PM PDT reply actions

Yeap

Not sure how I forgot about that. But I had the same exact reaction as you. KD expects everyone else to take the easy route.

by Nestor on Oct 2, 2007 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

Same Reaction

At first I thought it interesting that KD did not have enough faith in his defense and he was willing to give up a field goal instead of risking a third and long. Then when OSU went for it on 4th down, I relaized KD was once again, OUT COACHED.

It would be interesting to know what KD was thinking (please, no grief for implying that KD thinks during the game), but I will speculate, he did not even consider the possiblity that OSU would go for it on 4th down. What else would you expect him to think, since given the same set of circumstances he would have kicked the field goal.

by Bruin77 on Oct 2, 2007 5:21 PM PDT reply actions

It doesnt rank up there with

punting on 4th and 2 from the best offensive team in the country's 35 yard line, or forgetting you have a power back to win the game against Colorado. On the KD scale of stupidity, its only a 5.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Oct 3, 2007 10:12 AM PDT reply actions

He still thinks hes in the NFL

He punts inside the 40, and thinks opponents will punt on 4th and short. The man is a moron.

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Oct 3, 2007 11:03 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah, it happened...

... and yeah, I was perplexed for at that moment. "This doesn't make sense," I thought, "wouldn't we be better off with a 3rd and 12 out of field goal range, than a 4th and short just inside field goal range?" Not being well-versed in Football 101, I tried to conjure why it was better, from a risk/reward standpoint, to refuse the penalty - to no avail. "With only two yards to go or looking at a long field goal, the other team quite possibly might go for it from there, which would be a blow to the defense," I thought, "which makes refusing the penalty pretty risky." Which, of course, is exactly how it played out.

Even had the Beavs failed on that next play, or even kciked the field goal, it still seems to me that decision was simply wrong. The reason choices like this example get forgotten is because, as slb pointed out, we're used to poor decisions from KD ranging from questionable to asinine, and this one only ranks somewhere in the middle of that range.

Then again, I have no head football coaching experience nor an able coaching staff to draw upon. Since the Bruins ended up winning the game KD's decision must have been the right one. Even a seven-year-old can figure THAT out.

by haywood nighttrain on Oct 3, 2007 12:46 PM PDT reply actions

That last post...

...was meant to be dripping with sarcasm, but looking back I believe I failed.

Anyway, while I'm posting, you mention CR - how can that guy still have a job?

Now I know we all think we could do a better job than half the idiots calling games on TV and radio - heck, we all do better in our living rooms on any given weekend! The truth is it's a very difficult job to do well, I understand that.

But in addition to not being very exciting or knowledgeable, and sounding like he thinks his audience is wholly made up of seven-year-olds, our guy CR isn't even accurate in descriptions. If you watch a game while listening to him on radio (the delay is intolerable these days, but I used to do it when, say, Brent Mussberger for instance, was assigned to our game) it would confirm this on every other play. Seriously.

He seems like he's a really nice gentleman though.

And maybe we shouldn't expect so much, having a mediocre announcer is acceptable.

I'm seeing some parallels....

by haywood nighttrain on Oct 3, 2007 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

RE: CR

Your comments are right on. I like to listen to the radio when I am at the games so I know who was in on a play and to get some of the mid-game stats. I can't tell you how many times the people around give me that stange look when I hear CR say something that is not accurate and I yell out the correction. More times than not, he doesn't even get the yard line correct.

by Bruin77 on Oct 3, 2007 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions