The 4th and 10 touchdown from Reynolds to Tucker is the perfect distillation of the 180 we did in hiring Healy. The reason that play worked is simple. Brad Lambert was thinking, as D-Coordinator, about what he would have done as HC in Healyās spot. He fully expected us to try to run it between the tackles and take more time of the clock. There is no way on earth he would have ever thrown it there. And what happened? He stacked the box, Tucker was out in 1-1 coverage, and Healy/Atkins dialed up the perfect, aggressive, go-for-the-fucking-win play that sealed it. Iām certain that Lambert would have just tried to run power there and would have left Marhsall plenty enough time to march down the field and dick-punch us for the loss. Not Healy. Winner.
This team lost a heartbreaker to a (now-ranked) App team on the road, then got walloped by Clemson and reeled through 4 straight losses where we looked like absolute trash. 99% of teams in that scenario would have mailed it in. We didnāt. We fought, we rallied, we improved, we buckled down, and Chris Reynolds especially put this team on his back when Benny went out. This is 100% reflective on this coaching staff. They not only got the kids on our team to care, they got them angry, furious, and ready to make some heads roll. We beat the conference leader to win our 4th straight game, and become bowl eligible. How many of us thought weād be here after the F_U games? Only our team believed in themselves, and now we get to believe in them again, too.
great post. not to change the subject but this is the reason iām trying not to overreact to any basketball game this season, especially early on. we were left for dead in football and look where we are now. sometimes, these things take time but i trust hillās hires and am confident we will be quite happy at the end of the season in both sports.
At least you get coverageā¦ App will agree heās a hack. Having said that the reason for my visit is to congratulate Charlotte on becoming Bowl Eligible. Itās a significant milestone for your young program. Outstanding locker room celebration!
I think the 4th and 10 call was the only call to make.
Weāre at the 25yd line so a punt is risky and could only net 5 yds if it goes in the end zone.
A FG is risky as well and not a sure thing at that distance in the rainā¦and Cruz with one miss already.
Running the ball would only take 4-5 secs off the clock because the clock would stop for change of possession.
Throwing it in the end zone was the only call that made senseā¦especially considering how many PI calls were made. It would take just as much time off the clock as a running play but could result in a TD or PIā¦or incomplete pass still means they start at the 25ā¦or an interception in the end zone brings it out to the 20.
The only call that made sense.
Butā¦Healy still had to call it and the guys still had to execute it to seal the game on that play. It was beautiful!!!
I just donāt think it was a crazy ballsy call to go for it.
This analysis is entirely correct, it really was the best call under the circumstances. But you know how many coaches play not to lose, rather than playing to win. That was a hallmark of Bradā¦playing āconservativelyā even when the analytics and the gut should tell you to play aggressively. That was the only point I was trying to make.
Itās a hell of a world when App State and Charlotte are the two best programs in the state. Letās keep our creeks pristine, the smack talk flowing and maintain this new world order.
And though I thought it was the only call that made senseā¦I agree with you 100%ā¦Lambert (and some others) would not have called it for fear of being questioned about it.
They should cover ALL sports but as a hometown paper it really should be expected that the hometown school (the ONLY D1 hometown school I might add) should get preference. Look at todayās paperā¦UNC and Mercer got a larger spot on the frontpage than the LOCAL teamsā FIRST EVER BOWL ELIGIBILITY WIN. Seriously? And itās been this way for 20+ years. They treat us like we are located in Wisconsonā¦not the same city they are in.
Look at Mike London at the Salisbury post. He covers EVERY Catawba sport regardless of how good they are. Scores, write ups, articles about every Catawba sport and every Catawba game. He is promoting the local school while also covering all local, state and national sports. It can be doneā¦and IS done at most every paper in the countryā¦except at the O.
They have a duty and a responsibility to promote and prioritize all things localā¦yet they do all they can to ignore us specifically. Most all journalists come from the mothership I knowā¦but itās a little ridiculousā¦or a lot ridiculous actually.
I canāt wait to celebrate their next round of layoffs,
But they consider regional to mean as long as it is ACC or SECā¦thatās the region. Again, the constant mocking (during guest appearances on local radio) and refusal to prioritize or promote any success from the only D1 school in the city limits and alienating the fanbase over the years has been a very real public stance of theirs.
So now I take great pleasure in knowing that their refusal to embrace their local alum/fans/readers as a central customer base is at the core of why they are hemorrhaging money and dying a slow death.