Yes there were some mental and execution errors on the part of players at times but there were key coaching mistakes that changed the outcome of the game.
1. Before the end of the 1st half the uncovered receiver Vandy had "hide" on the sideline. The coaches should have spotted this and called a time out to adjust. Result 7 points for Vandy with 25 seconds left on the clock - horrible mistake. This is just not having your head into the game.
2. When the TD was scored to make the score 21-16 at the end of the 3rd quarter the coaches should have gone for 2 to make it a 3 point game, then all they would need is a field goal to tie. The one point did them absolutely no good at all going into the 4th quarter of a tight game.
3. The one everyone saw - the failure to call timeout when the clock was running out on the field goal try. Result backed up 5, missed a field goal that would have been good from the original spot.
#2 and #3 in combination would have resulted in a tie at the end of regulation and put the game into OT. #1 by itself changes the outcome to a UK win.
Another mistake that may or may not have changed the outcome of the game was the decision to punt with 4th and 2 on the 35 YL with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game. Look no one wants to go for it from their on 35 YL but damn it we put ourselves into that situation and we needed to man up and play out way out of it. Instead we took the cowardly option and punted. That one just flat pissed me off more than the other ones.
I realize no one is perfect and even the best coaches occasionally miss one but this is too many costly errors to shrug off. What is surprising to me is I actually think that the coaches did a pretty good job of in-game coaching last year, so the fact that a lot of mistakes like this are popping up this year is inexplicable for me.
This staff has done an exceptionally fine job recruiting. We need to see if Coach Stoops can make the necessary changes during the off season and have most of these issues resolved next season. I'm all for giving him a chance to do that, but if next season is still more of what we have seen this year than some hard decisions are going to have to be looked at.
1. Before the end of the 1st half the uncovered receiver Vandy had "hide" on the sideline. The coaches should have spotted this and called a time out to adjust. Result 7 points for Vandy with 25 seconds left on the clock - horrible mistake. This is just not having your head into the game.
2. When the TD was scored to make the score 21-16 at the end of the 3rd quarter the coaches should have gone for 2 to make it a 3 point game, then all they would need is a field goal to tie. The one point did them absolutely no good at all going into the 4th quarter of a tight game.
3. The one everyone saw - the failure to call timeout when the clock was running out on the field goal try. Result backed up 5, missed a field goal that would have been good from the original spot.
#2 and #3 in combination would have resulted in a tie at the end of regulation and put the game into OT. #1 by itself changes the outcome to a UK win.
Another mistake that may or may not have changed the outcome of the game was the decision to punt with 4th and 2 on the 35 YL with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game. Look no one wants to go for it from their on 35 YL but damn it we put ourselves into that situation and we needed to man up and play out way out of it. Instead we took the cowardly option and punted. That one just flat pissed me off more than the other ones.
I realize no one is perfect and even the best coaches occasionally miss one but this is too many costly errors to shrug off. What is surprising to me is I actually think that the coaches did a pretty good job of in-game coaching last year, so the fact that a lot of mistakes like this are popping up this year is inexplicable for me.
This staff has done an exceptionally fine job recruiting. We need to see if Coach Stoops can make the necessary changes during the off season and have most of these issues resolved next season. I'm all for giving him a chance to do that, but if next season is still more of what we have seen this year than some hard decisions are going to have to be looked at.
