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While I've read most of the other threads about the game, I have a couple of thoughts that haven't been mentioned yet.

1) What happened to our big play capability? It feels like we are trying to baby Jacobs and have him throw everything short and safe, which is fine to a degree, but how about we take a shot down the field every once and a while! This forces the defense to cover the entire length of the field and not bunch all 11 defenders within 15 - 20 yards of the LOS. I would have loved to see us come out after half time and take a shot on first down for that big play. We did it once and jacobs over threw him by 10 yards. He has the arm lets use it.

2) I was at a bar and didn't hear the explaination on the illegal formation call, can someone please tell me what happened? That call cost us 4 points! From the replays I saw I didn't see any pentaly.

3) The problem that I have with the fumble that resulted in TD was the replay showed 2 Refs looking at the play and NEITHER of them made the correct call. ::puke::

4) Our Wide Recievers need to catch the ball

5) I haven't taken the time yet to look at the official stats but it didnt seem like NIU had any pentalities. I noticed quite a few holding calls that were never called. Now with that being said I will never ever blame a lose on the officials. I understand that the calls go both ways.

6) We got no pass rush and when we did get a rush it was always 1/2 a step late. Part of that is a result of the NIU game plan and short passing plays, but it was dishearting watching the game and our defense always being a step slow/late/behind

7) On a positive note, the Charlotte Alumni Chapter is a pretty good group to hang with and it watch a game with. We had 10 or so people show up to watch the game.

CharlotteFalcon wrote:While I've read most of the other threads about the game, I have a couple of thoughts that haven't been mentioned yet.

1) What happened to our big play capability?

2) I was at a bar and didn't hear the explaination on the illegal formation call, can someone please tell me what happened? That call cost us 4 points! From the replays I saw I didn't see any pentaly.

3) The problem that I have with the fumble that resulted in TD was the replay showed 2 Refs looking at the play and NEITHER of them made the correct call. ::puke::

1) Because the logic of "lets keep the defense off the field" (which I agreed with and made sense after the first two games) has turned into "God, I hope our offense doesn't make a mistake." PJ's a great runner, but when 9 out of 10 running plays are a delayed inside handoff from the shotgun, how many yards can you really expect him to get? Especially against a quick defense that is getting into the backfield quick?

2) There were only 6 men on the line of scrimmage. Apparently one of the WR's wasn't up on the line when he was supposed to (or, the ESPN commentators - more in a minute on those two - thought maybe the refs didn't think one of the O-linemen were actually on the line of scrimmage). Definitely killed rhythm on that drive, and was the beginning of the end, IMO.

3) Yup. I kept waiting for the replay to show that he got control with his finger tips after he crossed the goal, but it never happened.

Oh yeah, as for the ESPN commentators. I know that we (BG and the MAC as a whole) don't have much of a reason to thump our chests this year, but it seems to me (and it pisses me off) that every game the MAC gets on TV turns into a "this is what the 'BCS Busters' can do, so lets talk about Utah/Boise State/Fresno State".

First off, I HATE that term BCS Busters, and I'm just about tired of ESPN shoving new terms down my throat. If a "BCS Buster" earns their way into the BCS, they're not "busting" anything, they're proving that they can kick enough ass to belong. It makes it sound like if a team like Miami(OH) last year or any of the three above this year, goes undefeated and beats everyone by 30 points, that getting a spot in the BCS is going to mess everything up. (Which it will for the fans and alumni of some 9-2 major conference team who thinks they belong in a BCS at-large game.) Big difference to me between "busting" and "EARNING" your way into the BCS.

I know they can't spend a WHOLE game pumping up the schools that are playing if they've had less than stellar starts, or the school with a *decent* start is losing by 20+ in the third quarter, but taking every opportunity to talk about what a great thing Utah or Boise State is for college football is just disrespecting the two teams on the field and their fans who tuned into the game.

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5) I haven't taken the time yet to look at the official stats but it didnt seem like NIU had any pentalities. I noticed quite a few holding calls that were never called. Now with that being said I will never ever blame a lose on the officials. I understand that the calls go both ways.
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you hear every now and again from veteran linemen (both defensive & offensive)

"it ain't holding if it isn't called"

huskiealum03 wrote:

5) I haven't taken the time yet to look at the official stats but it didnt seem like NIU had any pentalities. I noticed quite a few holding calls that were never called. Now with that being said I will never ever blame a lose on the officials. I understand that the calls go both ways.

you hear every now and again from veteran linemen (both defensive & offensive)

"it ain't holding if it isn't called"

It certainly isn't holding when you are already controlling the player.

HuskieDan wrote:

huskiealum03 wrote:

5) I haven't taken the time yet to look at the official stats but it didnt seem like NIU had any pentalities. I noticed quite a few holding calls that were never called. Now with that being said I will never ever blame a lose on the officials. I understand that the calls go both ways.

you hear every now and again from veteran linemen (both defensive & offensive)

"it ain't holding if it isn't called"

It certainly isn't holding when you are already controlling the player.

RIGHT! Just like, "It's a touchdown if they rule it a touchdown." Still trying to figure out how you fumble on the three, and get a touchdown...Homer.

yes well, "its an INT if they call it one" doesnt fly for that one-hopper INT the suckeyes had last season, I dont care how many officials called it one.

Thanks for the comments on the illegal formation call.

I was watching the OSU vs NC State game last year with a HUGE NC State fan and he was no happy about the call or the loss, but I thought it was funny cause the guys a bit of a jerk. But thats besides the point. The real point is that HORRIBLE calls happen in every game you just need to expect and overcome them. Thats what CHAMPIONSHIP teams do.

MotownFalcon wrote:RIGHT! Just like, "It's a touchdown if they rule it a touchdown." Still trying to figure out how you fumble on the three, and get a touchdown...Homer.

Can't help you there. Suffice to say that we know that MAC refs suck.

In our Maryland game, our MAC refs spotted the ball on an in-bounds play with about 25 seconds left with the clock running. They then started talking, the umpire moved the ball half a yard and finally moved away with about 8 seconds on the clock - all while the clock was moving! Our young QB didn't spike the ball to give us a long FG try as he apparently didn't realize what that screwup did to the time. We took MAC refs so we didn't get homered, so we got out-stupided.

Holding happens on every play, by the strict definition of the rule. The key is whether it helps you gain an advantage that you don't already have, such as when you're getting beat and you grab a guy. Last year, Turner had a 50 yard TD run called back on a hold. It was a good call - our TE had the LB's jersey and it helped him gain an advantage. I don't believe it would have stopped Turner from getting the corner, so it probably wasn't needed to spring the play, but it was a good call.

I do want to say, that I do not BLAME that out come of the game on the refs. There were plenty of missed opportunities on our side, and you guys came out there on a mission. But, the refs are just horrible! Why are they so old? When you become a college ref, is there some age qualifier? They're old, not mobile, and can't see crap!

One last plea to Coach Brandon...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE OPEN UP THE OFFENSE!!!!

HuskieDan,
Agree that holding could be called almost every play, but tha could get crazy. But I disagree on your interpretation on when to call it. You are asking the referee to make a judgement call call as to whether the hold effect the outcome of the play. It is either holding or it is not. When a DL gets tackled on the way to the QB and QB throws an incompletion, the holding surely didn't have an impact on the pass. But it was still holding. And backing the offense up ten yards will have an impact. I am not making excuses, but just pointing out that there were several times where the NIU WRs appreared to be holding our DBs down the field. Of course, we never would have seen this if the DL or LB could have made a tackle. Maybe our guys do it to, but we didn't see that since Pope never got that far down the field. My point is that you can't ask the official to make an interpretation as to whether or not a defender could have made the play or not. I disagree with that logic.

It seems that officials won't call holding on a wr if he keeps his body more or less square to the db and his arms inside the db's arms. Even if his arms are extended and he has two handfuls of jersey, they won't call it.

They will call it if he's to one side or the other or grabbing the outside of the db. The same rules often apply to OL/DL play as well.

Flipper wrote:It seems that officials won't call holding on a wr if he keeps his body more or less square to the db and his arms inside the db's arms. Even if his arms are extended and he has two handfuls of jersey, they won't call it.

They will call it if he's to one side or the other or grabbing the outside of the db. The same rules often apply to OL/DL play as well.

Flipper, I think you got it. As long as your shoulders are square to the defenders, they probably won't call it. Once it looks like the defender has you beat and they see something fishy, then the flag comes out.