Perspective - from an "old guy"

[Class of 61]

Like all of you, I was extremely disappointed with what transpired last nite. As my friend and I took the LOOONG ride home to Cleve. after the game, I vented a lot too.

But here's how I see it...after a nite of sleep and unwinding... 1. I was disgusted at the UT student body's behavior during the Natl. Anthem...perhaps that was indicative of what many of you guys bitch about when discussing UT.
2. Like most BIG games, this one had several instances for the 2nd guessers to have a field day... But I've read, in various threads, that we A.didn't run enough with Pope B.Ran when we should've thrown C.Punted when we should've gambled D. gambled on long FG when we should've punted E.were Outcoached (I'm assuming in the 2nd half only) E.2-Should fire OC,DC,HC E-3 Should be thankful for a good staff F.should've onside kicked the 1st one G. should NOT have onside kicked the 1st one and on and on...
That's why we're fans..we hurt when the team loses and perhaps complain too much..and we rejoice when the team wins and perhaps overlook the negatives that took place.
I had 3 separate phone calls on my ans. mach when got home re: the game as I knew I would from friends. One claims that McDougle stepped out of bounds, perhaps even twice on last TD run..Haven't heard ANYONE else say anything about it so I'm assuming it was HIS opinion and not necessarly true.
All I know, is that as a former coach, I said even to the UT people around me ( who were very nice to talk with) that we still had 30 min. of FB to be played and that I would be concerned until the final gun...

Whether we get to a bowl game or not, this has been the most entertaining 4 yrs. of FB I've ever enjoyed at BG since the "golden years" of Doyt Perry. And the folks on AZZ have been a big part of that. Let's get this down to the fact that it's still a game with hopefully another to play and get on with our lives. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!!

[NWLB]

Amen.

[hammb]

Good post '61.

No doubt we all have very differing opinions on what transpired last evening, and what led to our loss. I've been very vocal of mine, and last night did nothing to change my opinion; it simply got me some newfound supporters who won't be supporters as soon as things turn around again.

As for the last TD McDougle certainly looked to have stepped out of bounds at least twice, but any BG fan should realize that we NEEDED him to score that TD. If he doesn't score, they can milk the clock and the game is over. By him running that TD, we got the ball with about 2:15 in the game to score & get an onsides kick, which obviously failed. Letting him go for a TD was our only hope when we couldn't stop the first down...I know I was cheering just as much as any UT fan on that play.

I said as well that we still had a lot of football to play at halftime, even though I was elated with how we looked up to that point. When UT scored their first TD and we went 3 & out I told my friends I was sitting with I thought we'd lose 42-27, having seen similar second half collapses before. I was a little off on the final score, but pretty close on the actual results of the 2nd half.