For all you naysayers, in all 3 losses

[chakka3421]

we have been in the game within 1 score up or down in the 4th quarter. What more can we ask for besides winning (and we will win some) - and I'm encouraged by that. What I see is just freshman & sophomore mistakes, especially with the late hit in the USF game and the facemask in the UVA game. I chalk those up to youth, not coaching. Their is nothing to suggest that we won't be up or down by 1 score in the 4th quarter from here on out in all remaining games - we just need to finish smarter because we are beating ourselves especially in the last 2 games. Sticking with my original prediction 6-6 - Go Orange!

 

[OrangeXtreme]

We're not yet good enough to overcome mistakes / bad calls.

We're close.

 

[MadNY3]

we have been in the game within 1 score up or down in the 4th quarter. What more can we ask for besides winning (and we will win some) - and I'm encouraged by that. What I see is just freshman & sophomore mistakes, especially with the late hit in the USF game and the facemask in the UVA game. I chalk those up to youth, not coaching. Their is nothing to suggest that we won't be up or down by 1 score in the 4th quarter from here on out in all remaining games - we just need to finish smarter because we are beating ourselves especially in the last 2 games. Sticking with my original prediction 6-6 - Go Orange!

But when you blow a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter and allow an extremely mediocre QB to lead an 18-play drive to end regulation, you do start wondering about...lots of things.

Finish smarter is well said. Start smarter too.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

There are things that can get a pass because of the youth.

On the other hand, there are a few things we can rightly question. Why were we content to let UVA likely push the game to overtime? We could have stopped the clock, let them kick a field goal or run another play, and have some time left on the clock to attempt to close out the game. We didn't choose that. Why? That's just one example.

 

[MikeSU02]

But when you blow a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter and allow an extremely mediocre QB to lead an 18-play drive to end regulation, you do start wondering about...lots of things.

Finish smarter is well said. Start smarter too.

I'm hoping being at home will allow for a better start.

Fingers crossed.

 

[baggerbob]

We're not yet good enough to overcome mistakes / bad calls.

We're close.

That's not good enough for some people, they either weren't around from 1968-1986, or choose to forget that 19 years. Our best record in those years, were two years of 7-5, 1979, and 1985. We also had 2 years of 6-4, 1968, and 1970. That is a long time of being less then average. The wins may not show it, but progress is being made.

 

[skytop44]

We're not yet good enough to overcome mistakes / bad calls.

We're close.

We are close but some of the decisions and moves are still head scratching and that hasn't gotten any better. We're getting there but we still have a ways to go. I hope we can get these things corrected and Shaf can right the ship these last 6 games but with each game we lose to a team we should beat, I have my doubts we can overcome all of that with the schedule for the last 6 weeks.

 

[Halfmooncuse]

Close only counts in Horseshoes!

 

[SU68]

I've watched the OrangeMEN for more than fifty years. With probably two exceptions, we seem to have a What loss each year. I think yesterday was the 2015 example.

 

[RICuse44]

we have been in the game within 1 score up or down in the 4th quarter. What more can we ask for besides winning (and we will win some) - and I'm encouraged by that. What I see is just freshman & sophomore mistakes, especially with the late hit in the USF game and the facemask in the UVA game. I chalk those up to youth, not coaching. Their is nothing to suggest that we won't be up or down by 1 score in the 4th quarter from here on out in all remaining games - we just need to finish smarter because we are beating ourselves especially in the last 2 games. Sticking with my original prediction 6-6 - Go Orange!

Please leave rationale thought at the door sir