So, UGA went for it on 4th and 5 from the TCU 24 while leading the game 52-7 with 10 minutes left in the game

[18IsTheMan]

I was long gone to bed by this point. Consensus on social media is that Kirby was sending a message to the committee: Don't let the little guy in again.

Alternative opinions:
It was a chance to get the backups some reps, so let 'em play

TCU hype train was in full force following their win over Michigan, with even a couple Gameday hosts picking TCU to win. Kirby wanted to make it abundantly clear who the better team was.

I'd say it was a combination of the 3. Mostly a message to the committee and a response to the TCU hype.

 

[will110]

What else was he supposed to do in the situation? I wouldn't read anything into to it other than that Georgia was playing football. You can't punt from the 24. Kicking a field goal really seems like rubbing it in. You don't take a knee with 10 minutes to go. You have to go for it there.

 

[18IsTheMan]

What else was he supposed to do in the situation? I wouldn't read anything into to it other than that Georgia was playing football. You can't punt from the 24. Kicking a field goal really seems like rubbing it in. You don't take a knee with 10 minutes to go. You have to go for it there.

Hey, don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with it. I'm of the Bobby Bowden school of thought, but I think a lot of coaches in that situation would have just sent out the FG unit to limit the humiliation or called a simple run play up the middle, not a pass play.

Again, I love the outcome. I was hoping for an absolute beat down, and I got more than I could have hoped for.

 

[Lurker123]

As long as backups were in the game for georgia, I'd have no problem. If it were still starters, I'd lean towards kicking the field goal.

 

[will110]

Hey, don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with it. I'm of the Bobby Bowden school of thought, but I think a lot of coaches in that situation would have just sent out the FG unit to limit the humiliation or called a simple run play up the middle, not a pass play.

Again, I love the outcome. I was hoping for an absolute beat down, and I got more than I could have hoped for.

I don't have a problem with it either...if he wanted to keep his starters in the whole game and shoot for a 100 that would have been awesome.

I just don't see going for it, even with a pass play, on 4th and 5 at the 24 as running up the score, especially since it was the backups.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

Correct call. You don't attempt a field goal there unless it's with a backup kicker just to get him in the game. You run a simple play to give your defeated opponent a fair shot of stopping you.

 

[Prestonyte]

I don't have a problem with it either...if he wanted to keep his starters in the whole game and shoot for a 100 that would have been awesome.

I just don't see going for it, even with a pass play, on 4th and 5 at the 24 as running up the score, especially since it was the backups.

But again, if it's the backup QB he's wants to throw the ball, not hand it off. May be his only opportunity to throw a pass in a CFP game.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

That was an awkward situation for UGA.

 

[OneIsTheWarrior]

But again, if it's the backup QB he's wants to throw the ball, not hand it off. May be his only opportunity to throw a pass in a CFP game.

Exactly. Try telling a bunch of 18-22 year olds that live for the game not to try... in the national championship game. Not many folks in this world get to sit around and tell their kids or grandkids that they scored a touchdown in a national championship game.

 

[18IsTheMan]

That was an awkward situation for UGA.

Yeah. Like I said, I think it was probably a combination of all things.

Kirby wanted to let his kids play. I'm sure, at least in the back of his mind, he was also sending a message.

 

[KingWard]

I was long gone to bed by this point. Consensus on social media is that Kirby was sending a message to the committee: Don't let the little guy in again.

Alternative opinions:
It was a chance to get the backups some reps, so let 'em play

TCU hype train was in full force following their win over Michigan, with even a couple Gameday hosts picking TCU to win. Kirby wanted to make it abundantly clear who the better team was.

I'd say it was a combination of the 3. Mostly a message to the committee and a response to the TCU hype.

Did he pass the football? Many coaches in that situation give the pummelled opponent a chance to stop them rather than adding almost automatic points. Usually they keep the ball on the ground.

 

[The Reel Ess]

I was long gone to bed by this point. Consensus on social media is that Kirby was sending a message to the committee: Don't let the little guy in again.

Alternative opinions:
It was a chance to get the backups some reps, so let 'em play

TCU hype train was in full force following their win over Michigan, with even a couple Gameday hosts picking TCU to win. Kirby wanted to make it abundantly clear who the better team was.

I'd say it was a combination of the 3. Mostly a message to the committee and a response to the TCU hype.

I scoffed when Saban said Bama should get consideration for the playoff with 2 very close losses. But he was right.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Did he pass the football? Many coaches in that situation give the pummelled opponent a chance to stop them rather than adding almost automatic points. Usually they keep the ball on the ground.

Yep, pass for 11 yards.

I also think for sportsmanship or whatever most coaches would have called a simple run up the middle. If they can't stop it, well so be it.

 

[KingWard]

Yep, pass for 11 yards.

I also think for sportsmanship or whatever most coaches would have called a simple run up the middle. If they can't stop it, well so be it.

I agree with that.

 

[Uscg1984]

I think if backups are in the game, they deserve a chance to run the offense. You shouldn't run trickeration flea-flickers, but I always thought it was insulting to tell you backups to go in and sit on the ball. If your 2nd string players continue to grow the lead, then put your 3rd stringers in. These are all grown men; coaching staffs with multiple guys making 7-figure salaries and now the players are making big money too. They will land on their feet.

 

[KingWard]

I scoffed when Saban said Bama should get consideration for the playoff with 2 very close loses. But he was right.

His defense - or lack thereof - took him out of the playoffs. They were not championship caliber. They have only themselves to blame, except for that highly questionable (to be kind) roughing the passer/targeting no-call up at Tennessee - the most inexplicable officiating incident of the season.

 

[KingWard]

I think if backups are in the game, they deserve a chance to run the offense. You shouldn't run trickeration flea-flickers, but I always thought it was insulting to tell you backups to go in and sit on the ball. If your 2nd string players continue to grow the lead, then put your 3rd stringers in. These are all grown men; coaching staffs with multiple guys making 7-figure salaries and now the players are making big money too. They will land on their feet.

I agree with that also. All I know for certain is that lots of coaches wouldn't go field goal there and there wouldn't be anything unsportsmanlike about it. The onside kick by East Carolina near the end of the East Carolina/Coastal game was way more questionable than that.

 

[BigJC]

His defense - or lack thereof - took him out of the playoffs. They were not championship caliber. They have only themselves to blame, except for that highly questionable (to be kind) roughing the passer/targeting no-call up at Tennessee - the most inexplicable officiating incident of the season.

I agree with all of that and will add that Bama should have lost a couple other games. Saban was pathetic begging to get in when he was a 2 loss non division winner. I thought having Saban as part of the broadcast Monday night was in poor taste. It appeared to be either rubbing salt in Bama's wound or ESPN trying to keep their darling Bama relevant, I couldn't decide which was more likely.

 

[The Reel Ess]

His defense - or lack thereof - took him out of the playoffs. They were not championship caliber. They have only themselves to blame, except for that highly questionable (to be kind) roughing the passer/targeting no-call up at Tennessee - the most inexplicable officiating incident of the season.

Would they be more competitive than 65-7?

 

[Tngamecock]

I was long gone to bed by this point. Consensus on social media is that Kirby was sending a message to the committee: Don't let the little guy in again.

Alternative opinions:
It was a chance to get the backups some reps, so let 'em play

TCU hype train was in full force following their win over Michigan, with even a couple Gameday hosts picking TCU to win. Kirby wanted to make it abundantly clear who the better team was.

I'd say it was a combination of the 3. Mostly a message to the committee and a response to the TCU hype.

Or he would have really looked like he was rubbing it in if he kicked a fg. I don’t like Kirby but you can’t win at that point. You go for it and people say you’re rubbing it in, and if you kick a field goal, people say you are rubbing it in, maybe people just need to shut up.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I agree with all of that and will add that Bama should have lost a couple other games. Saban was pathetic begging to get in when he was a 2 loss non division winner. I thought having Saban as part of the broadcast Monday night was in poor taste. It appeared to be either rubbing salt in Bama's wound or ESPN trying to keep their darling Bama relevant, I couldn't decide which was more likely.

There was a gem of a moment, though, in the pregame when David Pollack, sitting next to Saban, said that UGA has "taken hold of college football." Pollack was just doing his job, of course, and I'm sure he wasn't trying to zing Saban, but you know Saban took that to heart. Lots of funny posts online about Saban's "death stare" but it really wasn't all that bad. Watching it live, there was no stare, but it can look that way with a screen shot. Saw someone joke "this is the moment when Saban decided he's going to win 3 more titles."

 

[KingWard]

Would they be more competitive than 65-7?

Maybe lots of people would. Maybe Utah would. Maybe we would. But it doesn't work that way. You have to go by the record at hand.

 

[KingWard]

I agree with all of that and will add that Bama should have lost a couple other games. Saban was pathetic begging to get in when he was a 2 loss non division winner. I thought having Saban as part of the broadcast Monday night was in poor taste. It appeared to be either rubbing salt in Bama's wound or ESPN trying to keep their darling Bama relevant, I couldn't decide which was more likely.

Well, that Georgia boy on the set with him was downright insulting.

 

[DeBoer31]

I scoffed when Saban said Bama should get consideration for the playoff with 2 very close loses. But he was right.

without question he was right. If every other team played a schedule 80% as hard as a regular, random SEC conference schedule....then 2 losses should prevent you from being included.
Our conf. is a different animal obviously, no matter how much the rest of the country hates considering that absolute fact.

 

[The Reel Ess]

Maybe lots of people would. Maybe Utah would. Maybe we would. But it doesn't work that way. You have to go by the record at hand.

Wasn't Bama #5 at the time? Not a big stretch. I didn't want them in the playoff. And they did lose two (by a hair). But I didn't really enjoy the championship game one bit because it was over as soon as UGA scored. Only the fans of one team enjoyed that game. Rest of the nation went to bed on time.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Wasn't Bama #5 at the time? Not a big stretch. I didn't want them in the playoff. But I didn't really enjoy the championship game one bit because it was over as soon as UGA scored. Only the fans of one team enjoyed that game. Rest of the nation went to bed on time.

Yes. The committee's job is to pick the 4 best teams, with one caveat. An undefeated P5 conference champion is getting in. Period. That aside, there is wiggle room. I know it sounds harsh to some, but a 2-loss Bama is better than a 1-loss Big 12 team.

 

[Uscg1984]

There was a gem of a moment, though, in the pregame when David Pollack, sitting next to Saban, said that UGA has "taken hold of college football." Pollack was just doing his job, of course, and I'm sure he wasn't trying to zing Saban, but you know Saban took that to heart. Lots of funny posts online about Saban's "death stare" but it really wasn't all that bad. Watching it live, there was no stare, but it can look that way with a screen shot. Saw someone joke "this is the moment when Saban decided he's going to win 3 more titles."

That was kind of funny.

I'll say this, though, I wouldn't want Nick Saban to have a football-related vendetta against me as long as he is in charge of Alabama's program. As long as he still has the drive to give it his all, Alabama isn't going away.

 

[The Reel Ess]

Yes. The committee's job is to pick the 4 best teams, with one caveat. An undefeated P5 conference champion is getting in. Period. That aside, there is wiggle room. I know it sounds harsh to some, but a 2-loss Bama is better than a 1-loss Big 12 team.

I think if Bama played Michigan, TCU or OSU played, Bama stands a good chance of winning. What if there were 5 undefeated P5 teams? And I honestly believe the ACC should be stripped of P5 status. Hopefully, they prove me wrong and give clemson a little competition. When the playoff field is expanded, clemson will again stand a good chance of making the playoff based solely on winning a pretty dang bad conference.

 

[Prestonyte]

I still think not winning your conference championship should be enough to keep you out of CFP.
Would have prevented the TCU massacre!

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

I can see people saying TCU didn't belong if they lost the semifinal 65-7.But they won a game.They beat the Big 10 Champ Michigan...By my thinking Michigan then didn't belong either......Michigan whipped Ohio State on the road decisively.So OSU didn't belong.....Maybe they shouldn't have held a playoff and declared Georgia the Champ after the Conference Championship games...

 

[TheByrdman]

Yes, UGA passed the ball. Yes, TCU had their starters on the field while UGA had mostly backups on the field. The ball was passed to a backup WR short of the first down against a starting DB for TCU who had a chance but couldn’t make a play.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I can see people saying TCU didn't belong if they lost the semifinal 65-7.But they won a game.They beat the Big 10 Champ Michigan...By my thinking Michigan then didn't belong either......Michigan whipped Ohio State on the road decisively.So OSU didn't belong.....Maybe they shouldn't have held a playoff and declared Georgia the Champ after the Conference Championship games...

TCU should have been the #4 seed (since they were allowed in). They were the #3 seed prior to their conference championship game, and the committee, for some crazy reason, left them at #3 even though they lost. Since TCU was allowed in, the semis should have been Michigan/OSU and UGA/TCU.

They went with the matchups they did to give TCU a more favorable matchup in the semis (at least in part).

 

[BigJC]

That was kind of funny.

I'll say this, though, I wouldn't want Nick Saban to have a football-related vendetta against me as long as he is in charge of Alabama's program. As long as he still has the drive to give it his all, Alabama isn't going away.

Saban looked old and tired to me. He is 71 years old. I don't care how good of shape you are in at 71, you are still 71 years old. and you don't have the energy level of a younger man. I saw Bobby Bowden hang around for years after he should have retired and while FSU didn't go down the tubes, they were never the power they had been.

Saban may storm back and win a couple more championships but his age says his best days are behind him. Kirby is 47, he has a lot of years ahead of him with the energy to bring to the program. Shane is 45, he too has years ahead of him. Being a big time college coach is a grueling job. It is not a job for old men.

 

[BigJC]

TCU should have been the #4 seed (since they were allowed in). They were the #3 seed prior to their conference championship game, and the committee, for some crazy reason, left them at #3 even though they lost. Since TCU was allowed in, the semis should have been Michigan/OSU and UGA/TCU.

They went with the matchups they did to give TCU a more favorable matchup in the semis (at least in part).

ESPN was hoping, praying really, for a Michigan/Ohio State rematch for the championship. That is why the seeding was the way it was.

 

[18IsTheMan]

ESPN was hoping, praying really, for a Michigan/Ohio State rematch for the championship. That is why the seeding was the way it was.

Yes, I think that was a factor as well. The seeding they chose served both purposes. And blew up spectacularly in their faces. When will college football learn not to try engineering an outcome?

We're still waiting on that FSU/Miami ACCG.

 

[KingWard]

Wasn't Bama #5 at the time? Not a big stretch. I didn't want them in the playoff. And they did lose two (by a hair). But I didn't really enjoy the championship game one bit because it was over as soon as UGA scored. Only the fans of one team enjoyed that game. Rest of the nation went to bed on time.

But you can't plan that - or plan around it. It's just the way the mop flops. I didn't plan on us losing the SECCG in 2010 by the largest margin in history, either. I'm sure a lot of sets got turned to other channels during that one as well. Mine was one of them.

 

[DarkCock]

Yep, pass for 11 yards.

I also think for sportsmanship or whatever most coaches would have called a simple run up the middle. If they can't stop it, well so be it.

Georgia was playing in the national championship game, not The Citadel in week 10. No sympathy from me for TCU.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Georgia was playing in the national championship game, not The Citadel in week 10. No sympathy from me for TCU.

We are in agreement there.

 

[Lurker123]

Not that I disagree, or even feel real strong about it, but this jogged a memory.

I believe the score was even much closer too. But would our minds change if it was us losing, and worse, if it was clemson on the other end?

 

[KingWard]

Not that I disagree, or even feel real strong about it, but this jogged a memory.

I believe the score was even much closer too. But would our minds change if it was us losing, and worse, if it was clemson on the other end?

If we were getting our @$$e$ beat like that, I'd be so p!$$ed off at us that I would laugh if the other team poured it on. I'd be talking about who ought to be fired and who ought to be run off. I'm not a waifish woman like some of the "masculine" fans who cry about the score when they're getting their @$$e$ beat. It's not time to whine at what the other team did to us; it's time to get p!$$ed off at how lousy and unprepared we were.