This is where our ire should be focused going into next season...not the refs or CFP committee

[18IsTheMan]

The latter are distractions and things we cannot control.

What we CAN control: against LSU we had 3 turnovers and 13 penalties for 123 yards; against Bama we had 4 turnovers.

If we clean those numbers up, we almost certainly polish off an 11-1 regular season. Yes, I know the ref totally blew the call in the LSU game, but we did have a 17-0 lead and mostly played ourselves out of the game after that point. We should have had the game in hand to render that call irrelevant. Against Alabama, we had taken the lead, just intercepted Bama in the end zone and then had Bama with a pass interference on the first play of our ensuing drive. We were surging and had ALL the momentum and had Bama on their heels. Then Sellers had one of his fumbles. In that moment, momentum shifted.

I mostly see missed opportunities.

 

[will110]

The latter are distractions and things we cannot control.

What we CAN control: against LSU we had 3 turnovers and 13 penalties for 123 yards; against Bama we had 4 turnovers.

If we clean those numbers up, we almost certainly polish off an 11-1 regular season. Yes, I know the ref totally blew the call in the LSU game, but we did have a 17-0 lead and mostly played ourselves out of the game after that point. We should have had the game in hand to render that call irrelevant. Against Alabama, we had taken the lead, just intercepted Bama in the end zone and then had Bama with a pass interference on the first play of our ensuing drive. We were surging and had ALL the momentum and had Bama on their heels. Then Sellers had one of his fumbles. In that moment, momentum shifted.

I mostly see missed opportunities.

We also drastically improved as the season progressed and turned those missed opportunities into game-winning plays. It's hard for me to call those early season mistakes missed opportunities as sometimes that's the kind of thing that turns into growth.

We just as easily could have had those mistakes grow and expand, and what turned into a great season could have gone the opposite direction. We're only 3 or 4 plays from losing to Missouri and Clemson.

I think it shows the "character" (for lack of a better term) of the team and the coaching ability of this staff to keep the team together and improving, despite gut punching mistakes and blown calls that could have resulted in the season spinning out of control.

 

[18IsTheMan]

We also drastically improved as the season progressed and turned those missed opportunities into game-winning plays. It's hard for me to call those early season mistakes missed opportunities as sometimes that's the kind of thing that turns into growth.

We just as easily could have had those mistakes grow and expand, and what turned into a great season could have gone the opposite direction. We're only 3 or 4 plays from losing to Missouri and Clemson.

I think it shows the "character" (for lack of a better term) of the team and the coaching ability of this staff to keep the team together and improving, despite gut punching mistakes and blown calls that could have resulted in the season spinning out of control.

Well, no doubt about that. We are just as close to being a 6-6 (ODU, Mizzou, Clemson) as we are to being 10-2/11-1.

However, just looking at those games, both were there for the taking. Beamer certainly did an outstanding job getting the team to rebound and close strong. We just can't fall victim like FSU did and let our perceived snub spiral into next season. Own the missed opportunities and use that as motivation to get better.

 

[92Pony]

Well, no doubt about that. We are just as close to being a 6-6 (ODU, Mizzou, Clemson) as we are to being 10-2/11-1.

However, just looking at those games, both were there for the taking. Beamer certainly did an outstanding job getting the team to rebound and close strong. We just can't fall victim like FSU did and let our perceived snub spiral into next season. Own the missed opportunities and use that as motivation to get better.

If we don't have a miracle of a rebuild, our D may spiral next season more than anything else.

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

What we CAN control: against LSU we had 3 turnovers and 13 penalties for 123 yards; against Bama we had 4 turnovers.

1 of those turnovers should have been negated by a roughing the passer penalty on LSU when Sellers was clearly hit on the head as he was throwing the interception in the end zone. Again, conveniently, Jason Autrey & crew didn't drop the flag. Also, negate numerous penalties we incurred in the LSU game that were just blatantly false. These atrocities are something we should never forget & never fail to bring up if the conversation yields it.

 

[Lakemurraycock]

If we don't have a miracle of a rebuild, our D may spiral next season more than anything else.

Well a key player is returning in Dylan Stewart. Hopefully we can keep/build an elite D.