With all those graduating players you'd think we'd learn how to hold onto the football and what the rules against taunting are.
It's been a year since Declan Sullivan's tragic accident. There is an article about this in the Trib and Declan's dad was interviewed for the first time. It's a very good article, and quite moving IMHO to read the words of Declan's dad. The most surprising thing in all of this is that according to his father they did not recieve a settlement from the University, did not ask for one, did not seek one, and never thought about it. Declan Sullivan
Regarding Carlo's taunting penalty.... while I do not condone taunting or stupid penalties, that was the only sign of life all night from anyone wearing blue and gold. The rest of the team looked like they were auditioning for the "Walking Dead".
Maybe so, but it gave them back the football and they got points out of it. It wasn't what cost us the game, but it's a critical error that we've made far too many of this year. He's a Jr, this isn't his first rodeo, he should know better...and the only stupider taunt is the one I see by CB's who have been beaten but do make a tackle and jump up and taunt the WR ...I'm thinking dude he just beat you for a 20 yd game, you look stupid.
In this team's biggest game of their careers at ND they came out flat and disinterested. At least Carlo acted as if he cared, stupid or not.
Yeah you're right, and if he'd followed that up by blowing up the USC inside runnig game then you could say OK he fired us up. But the way USC was running the ball up the middle he was bound to have their RB's cleat marks on his chest.
while the penalty hurt, I don't fault Carlo for that. I really don't. I must watch... Jesus, almost 20 football games a week and now that Carson's season is over I'll be able to actually catch the noon kickoff games... What Carlo did isn't even a penalty in the SEC or Big12. It's not a penalty in the Pac12, unless you're playing at Oregon with the Ducks trailing or USC when the stock market is up.. I mean, could he act better? sure... but did I see far worse than that go on without a single flag being thrown? absolutely..
What's going on here? I can't believe you guys are excusing it. I know Carlo is the son of George's friend and is a great kid, but he's not the first - or last - outstanding student-athlete to make a mistake. I'd be saying the same thing if it was my son who had done it. If we get the ball back, who knows how momentum may have shifted? Maybe the outcome of the game is different. We'll never know. It was a stupid penalty. Period. He knows the rule. It shouldn't have happened. As soon as he did it, I and millions of viewers shouted Nooooo! at the TV. There is no....I repeat, NO....justification for his actions. I'm guessing that it's been dealt with internally and will not happen again. We need a mentally alert Calabrese on the field. P.S. I'm a fan of Carlo. I hope he moves on from this and has a great season.
I know what you're saying Sid, I really do and to an extent, I agree. At the same time, watching so many games side by side exposes one thing to me... actually several, but one thing is glaring... officiating is really the one variable in college football you can't count on. Watch the Alabama-Tennessee game.. What Carlo was flagged for is something that took place at the end of damn near every play. I'm not picking on Alabama or Tennessee, far from it. What I am saying is that the officials let it go or 'talk them off the ledge' when they start doing that stuff. Please take note, I am actually defending SEC officiating for once. Carlo's penalty reminded me of a Ron Powlus penalty (against either USC or Michigan, I forget which opponent) years ago.. Throwing the ball away, even rows into the stands had become the norm in that time of the game. Powlus chucked one about 5 rows into the bleachers and was flagged for it. I saw countless QBs that day do the same exact thing without ever being flagged...not even a warning. I don't know what the answer is but it is an ongoing problem with ND football and it no doubt comes from their lack of conference affiliation in my opinion. There is a general 'flow of conduct' that is tolerated and it is variable depending upon the conference that you're watching.. With ND, we have to just expect our kids to make the hit, tuck tail and head back to the huddle.. That's what I'd like to see, but it's not realistic. That's not how the game is played now. There is more chest thumping and celebration. I'm not trying to pull a Dave here, but I'd bet if that tackle took place on 1st down... that's not a penalty.
I'm not excusing the penalty. I'm putting it in context. Our offensive line all 6'6" and 308 lbs of it was knocked on its ass all night long. Our defensive line, same measurements, was blown off the ball all night long. They didn't get close enough to Barkley to read his number. Our All-Everything WR was completely taken out of the game by a CB who was 6" shorter and spotted him 50 lbs. Our LBs, and I mean all of them, got run over and around all night. Our DBs got burnt short all night and burnt long as well in spite of giving an 8-10 yard cushion. Our coach played musical QBs on the key drive of the game and then slumped to the locker room with his head down and a pocket full of time outs. So thoroughly out coached by the much maligned Lane Kiffin that it is not even debatable. And he has spent the last five days blaming the players exclusively. And Carlo got a 15 yard taunting penalty and lost us the game, I guess. Perspective. Oh, did Teo play?
Corey, I didn't see the play but the problem I have with the SEC officials is that I think they think they should be part of the game. Instead of policing play and making sure that the game is played fairly, it seems that they need to make sure they call something, anything will do. Illegal formation is an interesting call that they use alot. When you look at it on replays, it appears to be a matter of inches, is called inconsistently and is called alot. I think consistency is the key. Like in basketball, if they are going to call a close game, do it from the beginning, and stick with it throughout the game. :x
Corey, I understand your point about referees, but I can't agree with the "everybody else is doing it" argument. Taunting is taunting. It's different from jumping up and pumping your arms as you walk away from the play. I recognized it before the flag was thrown. It's not my concern if refs elsewhere don't call it. My only concern is that if the coaches excuse it, it becomes the seed for a Miami-of-the-80s-esque attitude. George, I agree with all of your statements regarding why we lost except one....I do not think Carlo's penalty lost the game for us. I never attribute a loss to one or even a couple of plays. It's a combination of many factors over the entire 60 minutes. Yes, without the penalty the 4th down stop might have changed the momentum and the course of the game, but IMO we lost because of the reasons you outlined above, not the penalty.
In yesterday's post practice media session Kelly made the following comments. I watched the video on UND.Com last night when he said the following, I went uh oh...that's not smart. So today it's sort of blown up with upper class players tweeting that they are pissed, etc. I'm sure the national media will get a hold of this and roast Kelly.
I'm not sure I see where the problem is with his comments. If you want to say he's calling out the upperclassmen, then I say fine. They deserve to be called out. I don't know what the players are saying, but in principle I agree with Terry. They should just shut up. If they want to prove him wrong, then prove it on the field. Personally, I'm glad he's saying something, albeit back-door, about the upperclassmen's failure to, as they say, get with the program. This is yet another instance when I defer to his experience and successful track record in building winning programs. No doubt there are contrary opinions out there, but that's how I feel.
When ever there is a coaching change there is always that undercurrent of the old coaches players vs the new coaches players. I don't blame Kelly for being pissed at the players with some of things that have happened on the field. Maybe the team needs a lockerooom fight like the old Oakland A's and get it all out of their system and then go out and kick some ass.
Take Navy and the points. Somebody on BGI has intercepted some FaceBook and Twitter passages and there is a significant revolt going on within the ranks. I won't repost them because I cannot vouch 100% for their authenticity but there are some scorchers with the main theme being it s every man for himself tomorrow.