@GatorInGeorgia
I think it’s obvious that you’re not a fan of Napier to this point, and so you may be nitpicking just a little here. I’ve been there, and I think most of us at some point here at some point since 2010 have as well. There is valid criticism of certain areas, without question. But I think you’re making too much of the 2pt decision. It’s not what cost is the game. And if you’re ok with him doing after a second TD, it’s really no different. The only thing you could rightly claim is that it stalls momentum. But considering we got a stop, another TD, and then played the onside kick to perfection, even that doesn’t really hold water. Simply put, there isn’t a right or wrong with that decision. Two different schools of thought, with both arguably giving us a chance to win.
As I said, I think your distrust of Napier at this point is clear. GBait25 as well. That guy went nuclear Saturday. And we could look back on this in two years and say you guys were completely right. But naturally, you are going to have some here, including myself, that feel there are some positives and are willing to give it more time. I wouldn’t get so bent out of shape.
@soflagator my concerns go beyond the 2 point call & not attempting the FG early in the game from the TN 20 yard line. Looking at the season to date, if we’re being honest, we’re 2 very fortunate plays away from being 0-4 rather than 2-2. Furthermore, if we’re being honest, we got a tremendous amount of help from the refs late in the USF game (one call that jumps out is the 15 yard PF against the USF DB that was battling our O-lineman downfield). Without those calls, we probably lose that game. Am I grateful we caught those breaks, came up with a few big plays, etc. against Utah & USF? Sure, but that isn’t anything to rely upon consistently. There is no way that USF, KY nor TN have more talent than us. USF should never be within 2 TDs of us, regardless of the prior staff(s) shortcomings. That’s just as much coaching/preparation as anything else. There is no reason for us to get shut out at home in the 2nd half against Kentucky. Again, coaching. Sucking up to the USF staff post-game and bragging about how great a job Jeff Scott is doing and showing little fire/disappointment in our team’s performance…a week before USF got blown out 41-3 by a crappy Louisville team. Pathetic.
As far as my problem with the 2 point conversion, I disagree that there is little difference between going for it on the first vs. second TD.
Analytics are just that- crunched data/statistics. What’s the old saying…statistics are like bikinis, what they reveal is suggestive, what they conceal us vital. I also question exactly what data points they account for and how much historical data they have to validate their thesis.
Interestingly enough, I’m not even sure the analytics do say to go for it down 11 like some posters here & BN claim. The chart that another GCMB posted here saying go for it-I believe that is based on NFL data & wouldn’t be accurate for college. If we’re paying a coach $7m per year and he’s relying strictly on some general analytics chart (possibly wrong analytics) to make his PAT/2 pt conversion decisions then this most likely will not end well.
There are reasons other than lose of momentum to go for it the 2nd time rather than the first. Here’s one example. Go for it the first time & miss, now you need to make a FG & then go for it/convert it the second time to tie. So what happens if on the second try, you get a false start penalty. Now it’s a 2 point attempt from 8 yards instead of 3 yards, just to secure a tie & force the game into OT. Huge difference in the odds of successfully converting it. Is that reflected in the analytics? I highly doubt it. On the contrary, kick the PAT the first time and make the FG & if you get a stupid penalty, change to a slightly longer PAT attempt to tie with much better odds of success. There is much more flexibility saving it for the second TD and you’re not as boxed in.
Anyway, we’ll see how things go with BN. I wish him much success but for now I’m like the state of Missouri…show me.