The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty

[Eric15]

I mentioned this in the game thread... I can't remember an SU game where literally all the momentum changed based on one penalty. It was like a switch was flipped.

From mid first quarter until mid third quarter, Wake dominated us in every facet of the game except the scoreboard, and it just felt like they were about break open the lead. If that offensive unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on their WR doesn't happen, they are 2nd and 1 deep in our territory and moving the ball very comfortably to potentially go ahead 24-13. But instead, it becomes 2nd and 16, and we completely took control from that moment on.

I guess that's the amazing (and gut-wrenching) thing about college athletes is letting their emotion get the best of them. Karma owed us one after Hunt throwing that punch against Nova.

 

[JoeSU]

Another pivotal play was on 2nd & 7 from our 32, clinging to a 20-17 lead, Dungey was sacked and fumbled the ball. Fredricks was able to pick it up and fall forward a couple of yards. Turning the ball over deep in our own territory could have been a huge game-changer. Not only that, but on the next play Dungey completed a long pass to Moore at mid-field for a 1st down, and a few plays later Dungey tossed the back-breaking TD to Ishmael.
That heads-up play by Fredricks isn't the sort of thing that stands out in the box score, but it lead to a major turn of events in our favor.

 

[HtownOrange]

My take is a little different. To me, watching on TV, it seemed as if the team wanted desperately to make things happen, the crowd seemed to be of the mindset of "here we go again" when bad things happened. The kids fought through the ebb and tide of emotion and stuck to what they knew, they were the better team.

Good and bad things will happen in every game, the kids seemed to know this, they just needed to keep playing hard to overcome. The fans still have the fear of falling apart (justifiably so). Just my take.

 

[tbonezone]

definitely changed the momentum. third quarter felt like we were in the "swirl" going down the kohler. we couldn't move the ball on the first two downs and they were easily picking us apart with a 10 point lead. that turd seemed to clog the toilet.

 

[dasher]

I mentioned this in the game thread... I can't remember an SU game where literally all the momentum changed based on one penalty. It was like a switch was flipped.

From mid first quarter until mid third quarter, Wake dominated us in every facet of the game except the scoreboard, and it just felt like they were about break open the lead. If that offensive unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on their WR doesn't happen, they are 2nd and 1 deep in our territory and moving the ball very comfortably to potentially go ahead 24-13. But instead, it becomes 2nd and 16, and we completely took control from that moment on.

I guess that's the amazing (and gut-wrenching) thing about college athletes is letting their emotion get the best of them. Karma owed us one after Hunt throwing that punch against Nova.

1000% agree.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I actually liked big Jon dropping the hammer late. Yes it cost us 15 but Wolford looked like he may start crying after the fact. He had to feel good for a split second thinking he evaded Simmons and had a play off from being hit... then a man big enough to block out the sun rumbled by and dumped him. I will rewatch the game of course but one of the things I noticed live was Wolfords confidence fade with every hit. His facial expressions and body language just deteriorated as the 2nd half wore on.

 

[longtimefan]

I actually liked big Jon dropping the hammer late. Yes it cost us 15 but Wolford looked like he may start crying after the fact. He had to feel good for a split second thinking he evaded Simmons and had a play off from being hit... then a man big enough to block out the sun rumbled by and dumped him. I will rewatch the game of course but one of the things I noticed live was Wolfords confidence fade with every hit. His facial expressions and body language just deteriorated as the 2nd half wore on.

The boxing theory of the cumulative effect of many body blows.